I didn't think aerodynamics could improve gas mileage on a truck by that much. Though it wouldn't be practical for an off road vehicle.

Link:
http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=870

That's not that bad at all if its proven. My Corolla gets 39-41 mpg on the highway and that T-100 is a big truck.

Is it time to convert my car to full electric yet? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Show me the numbers because 28% is smoking crack high <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />
Also those moon caps on the wheels cause your brakes to overheat. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />
I like the idea but don't like BS high numbers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

>>>*I have spent a lifetime dealing with airflow and what it really does, sometimes I think I still don't fully understand it.

But some modern vehicles have drag co-efficient ratings that actually should be impossible mathematically.

I know my Corvette has a rather hi-tech engine and management system. There is a mileage counter on the dash that gives readings every couple of seconds. With a tool like that one can relearn how to drive, and the system adds just enough fuel to certain cylinders to make enough power to hold the speed..coasting it just shuts it off entirely.

Plus that machine is rather slick in the air and as speed increases it lowers closer to the ground by quite a bit.

Oddly, at 75 MPH I can make the counter read right around 33 MPG, at 55 MPH the best I can get is right at 30 MPG.

The difference is ground effects and less air being pushed.

One thing I did notice, in our Monte Carlo I can draft behind a big truck and the air around gets quiet, plus I have to back off the throttle to hold position.

The Corvette doesn't draft behind trucks worth a hoot, the air spilling around makes it move back and forth. It is best out in clean air or following at extremely high speed, I have run up tight to other Corvettes at double nickle speeds and she likes that.

I can easily believe that good ground effects and streamlining is worth 25% in mileage savings and more at crusing speeds, especially on a boxy type vehicle....*EB

Good thing my Dad isn't your Dad he would kick your arse for drafting a big rig. he caught me doing it one time and whipped my but,took my car away for a week,and dared me to do it again. His reasoning was if you cant see their mirrors they can't see you, and if they have to slam on the brakes someone will be scraping you off the back of a trailor. made perfect sense to me.Another thing is your comparing a vette to a monte carlo the vette sits lower so it is catching mor airflow from the bottom of the rig,whereas the monte sits higher so the upper part is catching no air at all and more goes under the car. If the monte is an 88 or older you also have the benifit of a full frame for better control,and more weight, meaning les being shoved around.

all that aerodynamic crap on the truck makes it about useless.If i bought a truck it would be for what it is designed for, hauling things.if i want fuel economy i would buy a honda,toyota,or a diesel vw.Heck GM on a whole gets better fuel milage on everything than other companies. their trucks and suv's get better economy then even toyota trucks. and their cars get near or the same as honda and toyota.

That doesn't have to sound that odd, you are doing more miles per hour with the same engine effort. That vette has a big displacement and torques like a big rig. If it's no difference in effort on the engine doing 75mph over 55mph the display will show more mpg because you do more miles per hour using virtualy the same ammount of fuel. My JGC does that sometimes when the circumstances are right.

Good thing my Dad isn't your Dad he would kick your arse for drafting a big rig. he caught me doing it one time and whipped my but,took my car away for a week,and dared me to do it again. His reasoning was if you cant see their mirrors they can't

Power go out, Ted?

might have run out of ink?

I was actually waiting for his response to the ass-whoopin Dad post.