VIDEO: Mythbusters test golf ball-like dimpling effect on fuel economy (*Spoiler Aler

[1SICKLEX]

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/m...-dimpling-mpg/



The Mythbusters must be closet car fans, because the hour-long show on the Discovery Channel seems to be producing more and more experiments involving automobiles than ever before. Their latest again involves fuel efficiency, this time testing if a dirty car is more fuel efficient than a clean one because of the golf ball-like dimpling effect of the dirt. Turns out dirt doesn't make a difference, but Adam and Jamie went one step further to test if covering a car in actual golf ball-like dimples would improve its fuel efficiency. According to cable's most crack scientists, yes, it will.

The show's team completely covered a last-gen Ford Taurus with modelers clay and figured out that it would achieve about 26 mpg at a constant 65 mph. They then went about adding over 1,000 dimples to the car's exterior. To keep the experiment consistent, all 1,082 dimples removed from the clay exterior were put in a box and set in the back seat so that the car would weigh exactly the same as before dimpling. The theory is that, like a golf ball, the dimples would reduce the car's drag through the air, thus allowing it to travel the same distance at the same speed using less fuel. The result? Over 29 mpg.

Follow the jump to watch the whole episode for yourself, though if you're only interested in watching the dimpled car do it's thing, skip ahead to about 40 minutes in.

[JessePS]

It was an interesting episode

[The G Man]

I saw that episode a couple of nights ago. The 1st thing I thought of was Lexus had started using the dimpling effect design in the under carridge of the LS a few year back.

[oohpapi44]

Their reaction to the findings was a good one. They each were thoroughly impressed. Gonna be interesting to see if this transfers over into a speed contest in the near future.

[The G Man]

While the mythbusters makes for a good TV show, popular mechanics did a more controlled scienctific test on the dimpling effect and fuel economy. Their result was quite different from the TV show:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto.../4316702.html#

[Allen K]

But the dimples that the mythbusters used were much larger than the popular mechanic ones.

First thing I thought of was the golf ball LS they had at the US Open

[The G Man]

Originally Posted by Allen K

But the dimples that the mythbusters used were much larger than the popular mechanic ones.

First thing I thought of was the golf ball LS they had at the US Open

Man, that thing must be a nightmare to wax and claybar

[eyezack87]

Originally Posted by The G Man

Man, that thing must be a nightmare to wax and claybar

Forget wax and claybar. Imagine polishing it lol

[oohpapi44]

Originally Posted by Allen K

But the dimples that the mythbusters used were much larger than the popular mechanic ones.

Exactly and PM was testing the wrap product more so than they were testing the theory itself.

[G Star]

I tried to watch this episode but sometimes their mythbusting is dragged out so long and gets boring but their projects are cool and really prove/disproves many things people tend to argue about.

[I8ABMR]

kind of like SNL they are stretching it. I think they are running out of ideas

[felixsc300]

Very interesting read. Perhaps they should check out the tennis ball-like fuzziness and see if that improves mpg? :P

[muhbuhtuh]

wow im actually suprised at result myself. i love mythbusters

[RXSF]

i love this show so much. I cant believe the girl is pregant. lol, havent seen it in a while

[RXSF]

btw, they seem to be very proud in havng the only dimpled car, but the LS one looks much better. lol