Ameer Randolph
Making your car more aerodynamic can improve its fuel efficiency. Aerodynamics is the study of airflow around a car, and the smoother the airflow, the lower the drag, and the less fuel you burn at a specific speed. Drag increases with friction and wind resistance, so keeping your car as streamlined as possible is key. This can be achieved by removing roof racks and other permanent fixtures, ensuring your tires are the correct pressure, and keeping your car clean. Aerodynamic parts such as front dams, wings, and diffusers can also be added to improve airflow and reduce drag.
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What You'll Learn
- Remove excess items that trap air around the car's body
- Keep windows up when driving over 35 mph
- Ensure correct tyre pressure and use narrower tyres
- Add a front air dam to redirect airflow
- Keep the car's cooling system clean and unclogged to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency with aftermarket performance parts
Remove excess items that trap air around the car's body
Improving your car's aerodynamics can boost fuel efficiency. Drag is the force that acts in the opposite direction of a moving object to slow it down. With cars, drag increases with friction and wind resistance. Therefore, to decrease drag, you can remove excess items that trap air around the car's body.
Most car manufacturers design their models to be as aerodynamic as possible. However, when you add items to your car, you could be inadvertently slowing it down. Items such as roof racks, bike racks, flags, and wreaths attached to the car's grill can hurt your gas mileage. These items give the air lots of nooks and crannies to explore, creating detours that slow down your car and require you to accelerate harder to maintain speed.
Similarly, keeping your windows down while driving faster than 35 mph can negatively impact aerodynamics. The air flowing around the car is forced to navigate through the open windows, causing more drag. Rolling up the windows and using the air conditioning instead helps the air flow more smoothly around the car, improving aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
In addition to removing external items, lightening the load inside your vehicle can also help improve aerodynamics. Removing unnecessary items from your car reduces its weight, which can enhance fuel efficiency. However, it is important to always keep essential items like your roadside emergency kit.
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Keep windows up when driving over 35 mph
Keeping your windows up when driving over 35 mph is one way to improve your car's fuel efficiency. This is because drag increases with wind resistance, and by keeping the windows up, you reduce the amount of air resistance your car experiences.
When the windows are down, the air has more surfaces to explore, creating what are essentially "detours" for the airflow. These detours slow the car down, and to compensate, you need to press harder on the gas pedal to maintain a high speed. This means that the engine has to work harder, using more fuel.
At low speeds, keeping the windows down is more fuel-efficient than using air conditioning. This is because the engine is producing less power at slower speeds, so it would have to work harder to power accessories like the air compressor. However, at higher speeds, the engine is already producing ample power, so the additional power required for accessories is minimal compared to the extra power needed to overcome the increased drag caused by open windows.
In addition to keeping the windows up, you can also improve your car's fuel efficiency by ensuring your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Underinflated tires create more contact with the road, generating more friction and drag, which again forces the engine to work harder. Narrower tires can also help improve aerodynamics as they interact less with the air flowing under the vehicle.
By reducing drag and wind resistance, you can make your car more aerodynamic and improve its fuel efficiency, saving money on fuel costs.
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Ensure correct tyre pressure and use narrower tyres
One of the main factors influencing a vehicle's fuel efficiency is its aerodynamics, or how the air moves around the car. The more aerodynamic your vehicle, the better your gas mileage. Therefore, it is important to ensure correct tyre pressure and use narrower tyres.
Firstly, tyre pressure is a crucial factor in fuel efficiency. Underinflated tyres create more contact with the road, generating more friction and drag, which forces your engine to work harder and reduces fuel efficiency. In contrast, overinflated tyres give a bumpier ride, compromising handling and causing uneven tread wear. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is essential for improving vehicle performance, decreasing fuel costs, and extending tyre lifespan. It is recommended to check your tyre pressure at least once a month and before long trips, using a tyre pressure gauge, to ensure optimal fuel efficiency and safety.
Secondly, using narrower tyres can also improve fuel efficiency. Wider tyres increase fuel consumption due to their larger contact patch with the ground, which results in higher rolling resistance. Narrower tyres, on the other hand, have a smaller contact patch, reducing friction and rolling resistance. Additionally, the slimmer shape and reduced weight of narrower tyres help lower wind resistance while driving, further improving aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
By ensuring correct tyre pressure and using narrower tyres, you can optimise your vehicle's fuel efficiency, reduce fuel costs, and contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These simple yet vital practices can also enhance your vehicle's performance, improve handling, and extend the lifespan of your tyres.
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Add a front air dam to redirect airflow
Improving your car's aerodynamics is a great way to boost fuel efficiency. One way to do this is by adding a front air dam to redirect airflow.
A front air dam is an attachment or extension of the front bumper that helps redirect air underneath the vehicle. It makes your car more aerodynamic by cutting down on wind resistance at the front of your car, thereby reducing the energy required to maintain speed. At higher speeds, wind resistance and lift can significantly affect your ride, and a front air dam can help minimize these effects.
The air dam works by forcing most of the air to go over the top of the vehicle, allowing only a minimal amount of air to pass underneath. This creates an area of recirculation directly behind the air dam, resulting in a lower static pressure below the front half of the car. This, in turn, "sucks" the car onto the road, improving traction and stability. Additionally, the air dam "neatens up the flow" under the car, reducing the amount of air that interacts with the messy components underneath, such as pipes, brackets, and other parts.
When considering adding a front air dam, it is important to decide whether you have the skills to install it yourself or if you should take it to a body shop. A poorly installed air dam that is loose or shakes in high wind will not only be annoying but could also defeat its purpose. It is also worth noting that while an air dam can improve aerodynamics, it can also spoil the aerodynamic character of the car if not designed or installed properly.
By adding a front air dam, you can reduce wind resistance, improve traction, and enhance fuel efficiency. It is a great modification to consider if you are looking to make your car more aerodynamic and improve your fuel economy.
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Keep the car's cooling system clean and unclogged to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency with aftermarket performance parts
Keeping a car's cooling system clean and unclogged is essential for maintaining optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency. Here are some detailed instructions and aftermarket performance parts to help you achieve that:
First, it is important to understand the purpose and function of the cooling system. Over 60% of the heat generated from the combustion of air and fuel is dissipated through the vehicle's cooling system and exhaust. As a result, the cooling system plays a crucial role in rejecting excess heat to maintain the engine's optimal operating temperature.
Now, to improve the cooling system's efficiency and reduce drag on the engine, consider the following aftermarket performance parts:
- Radiator: The radiator is responsible for dissipating excess heat from the coolant. When choosing an aftermarket radiator, consider the design parameters such as core length, width, thickness, tube spacing, and fin density. For high-performance applications, aluminium radiators are becoming popular due to their lightweight construction and increased surface area, which enhances heat dissipation. Ensure that the radiator is a direct fit for your vehicle, and if not, consult the manufacturer for the necessary modifications.
- Cooling Fans: Engine-driven fans may not provide sufficient cooling when idle or in stop-and-go traffic. Upgrading to electric fans can significantly improve cooling capacity by generating enough airflow regardless of engine RPMs or travelling speed. Consider a two-fan system, with one fan pushing air in front of the radiator and the other pulling air from behind, as pulling is more efficient than pushing. Additionally, curved-bladed fans are quieter than straight-blade fans but sacrifice airflow.
- Water Pump: The water pump circulates the coolant through the radiator. When modifying the cooling system, ensure that the water pump can handle the increased demands. MEYLE, for example, offers reliable water pumps with a 100,000-mile guarantee, requiring the cooling system to be flushed before installation.
- Coolant: The coolant is the medium that carries away heat from the cylinders to the radiator. Always use high-quality coolant that is compatible with your vehicle's cooling system. Consider additives such as Red Line's Water Wetter, which helps prevent bubbles and vapour pockets, improving cooling efficiency.
Finally, here are some maintenance tips to keep your car's cooling system clean and unclogged:
- Regularly flush the cooling system to remove contamination, corrosion, and deposits. MEYLE offers a tool that uses water and compressed air to clean the system without aggressive chemicals.
- When flushing, ensure the engine is completely cooled, and follow the vehicle manufacturer's instructions.
- If your coolant reservoir has sludge, remove it, clean it with dishwasher detergent and hot water, then rinse with cold water before reinstalling.
By following these instructions and considering the suggested aftermarket performance parts, you can effectively keep your car's cooling system clean and unclogged, reducing drag on the engine and potentially improving fuel efficiency.
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Frequently asked questions
Aerodynamics is the study of how air flows around and through objects, and how it affects their performance and efficiency. The more aerodynamic your vehicle, the better your gas mileage. Drag is the force that opposes the motion of an object through a fluid, such as air or water. The more drag a car has, the more energy it wastes.
To decrease drag, you can start by removing excess items that are trapping air in and around your vehicle's body. Things like roof racks, bike racks, and flags can hurt your gas mileage. You can also lighten the load in your vehicle. In addition, make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Underinflated tires create more friction and drag.
If you're travelling over 35 mph, roll up your windows. By having the windows down, you're giving the air more areas to explore, creating more drag. You can also add a front air dam to your bumper, which helps redirect air and improve aerodynamics.
A rear diffuser can improve downforce and reduce drag. A rear spoiler can also be added, but unless you are a racing technician versed in aerodynamics, it will likely only add wind drag and weight, hurting your fuel economy.
