Front air dam for better aero?
#1
Front air dam for better aero?
Has anybody added to the front air dam on the 2009 FEH, to possibly improve highway mileage? I thought perhaps adding a flexible piece, perhaps another 2", may help. According to Ford, the front air dam was added to the 2009 to improve highway MPG. I just thought that adding more would help--I do not go off road, so ground clearance isn't an issue.
Please avoid MPG lectures about speed, frontal area, tires, etc.--got it. Don't need to hear it again. Just curious. Thanks.
Please avoid MPG lectures about speed, frontal area, tires, etc.--got it. Don't need to hear it again. Just curious. Thanks.
#3
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
I would not add any more dampers to the front of my '09 FEH for fear of making things worse than Ford's already attempt to improve air flow. I did move the roof cross bars together all the way to the rear of the rack to help air flow at the rear of my '09 FEH. If you watched Mythbusters auto air flow and MPG, the rear suction of the car is more of a concern than people would think. I've found this true when I wax my FEH I see a drop in MPG till it gets dirty again. Even at slower speeds I can see a drop in MPG and glide distance with a clean and waxed FEH. Never have I seen an improvement in MPG after washing and waxing my FEH and I think Mythbusters found the reason why. I think this may also be why the dimples on a golf ball improves distance in the air.
GaryG
#4
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
Good point! If you look at the 2010 X6 Active Hybrid you will see BMW also added the little air dams to the front of both the front and rear tires. That may be something to consider for the '08 and earlier Escapes because those front dampers are so small in the front and there is no rear tire damper. The front air damper on the '09 is much bigger and covers the front wheels much better than the '08 so the little dampers are not needed. The '09 Escapes with side steps don't need the rear tire dampers because the side steps direct the air like the rear tire dampers already.
I would not add any more dampers to the front of my '09 FEH for fear of making things worse than Ford's already attempt to improve air flow. I did move the roof cross bars together all the way to the rear of the rack to help air flow at the rear of my '09 FEH. If you watched Mythbusters auto air flow and MPG, the rear suction of the car is more of a concern than people would think. I've found this true when I wax my FEH I see a drop in MPG till it gets dirty again. Even at slower speeds I can see a drop in MPG and glide distance with a clean and waxed FEH. Never have I seen an improvement in MPG after washing and waxing my FEH and I think Mythbusters found the reason why. I think this may also be why the dimples on a golf ball improves distance in the air.
GaryG
I would not add any more dampers to the front of my '09 FEH for fear of making things worse than Ford's already attempt to improve air flow. I did move the roof cross bars together all the way to the rear of the rack to help air flow at the rear of my '09 FEH. If you watched Mythbusters auto air flow and MPG, the rear suction of the car is more of a concern than people would think. I've found this true when I wax my FEH I see a drop in MPG till it gets dirty again. Even at slower speeds I can see a drop in MPG and glide distance with a clean and waxed FEH. Never have I seen an improvement in MPG after washing and waxing my FEH and I think Mythbusters found the reason why. I think this may also be why the dimples on a golf ball improves distance in the air.
GaryG
#5
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
I owned a 2008 fehl and now a 2009 fehl. Same options on both, the 09 DOES NOT get better mileage than the 08, even with the air dam.
Without getting into heated discussion, I don't think it will help your older Escape get better mileage.
Without getting into heated discussion, I don't think it will help your older Escape get better mileage.
#6
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
Sounds like you feel a little guilty about your purchase of a V6 AWD '09 Escape and posting on a hybrid forum, don't be. I stated nothing about saving money in my post or weather I pay to wash and wax my FEH. The topic is about aero mods to improve highway MPG in a FEH. My comments may also help you improve MPG in your gas version Escape AWD also.
I just spent $17,000 on a new Honda 150 4 stroke outboard motor, controls and advanced Honda digital MPG gauges on my boat to save gas. Believe me I don't like giving all my money to Big Oil. It's not always about saving money but it can be about waste. BP is sure wasting our livelihood and the food on our plates trying to sell us gas to make profits. Now that's what I call extreme!
GaryG
#7
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
[in the idealized golf ball sphere, laminar BL flow imparts more drag than turbulent BL flow, hence the dimples to trip the flow to turbulent sooner - the 'roughness' of the dirt is potentially the same as the dimples] [ however, too much turbulence in the wake area can then cause the suction in the rear that Gary spoke of]
#8
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
A) There is no such thing as suction - but I understand you were trying to say "low pressure area"
B) Dang! GaryG's car must be a filthy mess right out of a Jeep commercial to actually create "dimples".
C) Regarding B), why not use a ball-peen hammer and not worry about the rain washing your "dimples" off?
B) Dang! GaryG's car must be a filthy mess right out of a Jeep commercial to actually create "dimples".
C) Regarding B), why not use a ball-peen hammer and not worry about the rain washing your "dimples" off?
#9
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
OK, back on topic....
Many newer trucks ( can't call 'em 18 wheelers any more, many use 10 wide tires now, vs. 18 skinny ones, but I digress.... ) have an air scoop on the cab of the tractor, to divert air up and over the trailer.
About 4x a year I tow. I tow a trailer that is 9 feet tall, 7 feet wide.
I get 19 MPG at 55-60 MPH. Not worse than most pick-ups would get towing, but I'd like to improve that.
I'm wondering about putting an air scoop on the top of the FEH just when towing. What should the shape look like? A simple wedge? A "quarter pipe" like a skate board ramp? Other?
Ideas for materials to use? Needs to be very sturdy to take up to 100 MPH winds, and be light weight also. ( 60 MPH road speed + 40 MPH headwind )
Many newer trucks ( can't call 'em 18 wheelers any more, many use 10 wide tires now, vs. 18 skinny ones, but I digress.... ) have an air scoop on the cab of the tractor, to divert air up and over the trailer.
About 4x a year I tow. I tow a trailer that is 9 feet tall, 7 feet wide.
I get 19 MPG at 55-60 MPH. Not worse than most pick-ups would get towing, but I'd like to improve that.
I'm wondering about putting an air scoop on the top of the FEH just when towing. What should the shape look like? A simple wedge? A "quarter pipe" like a skate board ramp? Other?
Ideas for materials to use? Needs to be very sturdy to take up to 100 MPH winds, and be light weight also. ( 60 MPH road speed + 40 MPH headwind )
#10
Re: Front air dam for better aero?
Hi Bill
Sounds like you feel a little guilty about your purchase of a V6 AWD '09 Escape and posting on a hybrid forum, don't be. I stated nothing about saving money in my post or weather I pay to wash and wax my FEH. The topic is about aero mods to improve highway MPG in a FEH. My comments may also help you improve MPG in your gas version Escape AWD also.
I just spent $17,000 on a new Honda 150 4 stroke outboard motor, controls and advanced Honda digital MPG gauges on my boat to save gas. Believe me I don't like giving all my money to Big Oil. It's not always about saving money but it can be about waste. BP is sure wasting our livelihood and the food on our plates trying to sell us gas to make profits. Now that's what I call extreme!
GaryG
Sounds like you feel a little guilty about your purchase of a V6 AWD '09 Escape and posting on a hybrid forum, don't be. I stated nothing about saving money in my post or weather I pay to wash and wax my FEH. The topic is about aero mods to improve highway MPG in a FEH. My comments may also help you improve MPG in your gas version Escape AWD also.
I just spent $17,000 on a new Honda 150 4 stroke outboard motor, controls and advanced Honda digital MPG gauges on my boat to save gas. Believe me I don't like giving all my money to Big Oil. It's not always about saving money but it can be about waste. BP is sure wasting our livelihood and the food on our plates trying to sell us gas to make profits. Now that's what I call extreme!
GaryG
Please don't call it AWD. A better term would be A4WD because that's all it really is. The closest to real AWD is the Acura SH-AWD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SH-AWD
The only thing I feel guilty about is that I was fooled by the sales brochure on the so-called "Intelligent 4WD" which really isn't!