Fuel Efficiency dimpling

Experiments involving automobiles_ concept discussion; MythBusters: Dirty vs Clean Car

The theory is that, like a golf-ball's aerodynamic dimple, the car dimples would reduce the car's drag through the air and would improve its fuel efficiency.

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[Killer91109]

Yeah, but what happens when it rains? Do I have a bunch of lakes on my car?!

[cockbloker21]

volkswagon should totally put this on their golf's

[avellanmm]

@moonrockguy We're not talking about manufacturing costs, or esthetics. This discussion is purely into the field of fluid mechanics. Does it work or not? In my case, it will not work due to the fact I quickly explained below. This is a fact ( Fluid Mechanics Theory), and you can easily google it, and find a chart Re vs. Drag Coefficient, and you will see that by dimpling, Re increases and the drag coefficient increases. :)

[moonrockguy]

@avellanmm The problem with doing it to a plane is it increases the weight of the plane (a curve has more surface area than a flat surface hence more metal used). The cost of manufacturing dimpled surfaces is higher. The weight issue is again a problem in stop-start traffic. In long range cruising at constant speed it may be beneficial. It also looks terrible. You could dimple your own car with a lump hammer without increasing the weight but it won't do much to your resale value. but it works

[avellanmm]

@Floxflo Pointless math! Yes, I have seen the "real life experiment", but stop and think the following questions: Don't you think BMW, Ford, etc would have thought of this before? Don't you think the Army, Navy, etc engineers would have added dimples to their aircraft, etc designs if this argument is true? Are they doing POINTLESS Math? I'm pretty sure they have thought of this. It seems unlikely that one experiment done in Discovery will change fluid mechanics forever.

[lowfiwhiteguy]

@avellanmm Nope. It works, weirdly enough.

[Floxflow]

@avellanmm Have you seen the real life experiment by Mythbusters? See it and judge for yourself before you do any pointless math.

[christophelienard]

@cockbloker21 that made me lol :p best comment in a very long time :p

[avellanmm]

The theory is completely wrong. By dimpling, you're actually increasing the drag. You can easily check this by calculating Re of both a golf ball and a car, and check the drag coefficient for both. Thumps up if you agree!!!

[vampov]

I can't imagine it would be that hard to create a car with dimples. I mean most cars today are simple plastics you could easily mold a panel or use a steel press and just press the panel out with a dimple.

[vampov]

@BEMARist your idea is a pretty well known concept in fluid dynamics I wouldn't waste time on it.

[vampov]

@1Ryon No it's bad for radar. With radar you want very straight surfaces so it deflects it away from the receiver.