How to Reduce the Wind Resistance of a Car?
2 Answers
Methods to reduce the drag coefficient include: 1. Reduce the contact area between the car body and air: Because the magnitude of air resistance is related to the speed of the moving object. The faster the object moves, the greater the air resistance it experiences. 2. Reduce the lift generated by turbulence: This can be achieved by lowering the car's chassis. 3. Make the car's side surfaces smoother and reduce side protrusions: Solutions include integrating and hiding the door handles within the car body. 4. Reduce the vortex at the rear of the car. 5. Reduce speed: Because the magnitude of air resistance is related to the contact area between the object and air. The larger the contact area between the object and air, the greater the air resistance it experiences.
I just researched the issue of vehicle air resistance a few days ago. It becomes particularly noticeable when driving on highways—high wind resistance can cause fuel consumption to spike rapidly. The most basic approach is to keep the car body smooth and clean. Avoid installing flashy roof racks or oversized spoilers. Once, I helped a friend test this, and adding a roof box increased fuel consumption by half a liter. Opt for narrow tires with minimal tread patterns and inflate them to the manual-recommended pressure, as this allows air to flow more smoothly around the wheels. During regular car washes, focus on cleaning the front bumper and wheel arches, as accumulated dust and mud can disrupt airflow. Keep windows tightly closed on highways, and don’t open the sunroof too wide—cracking the side windows slightly creates less turbulence than fully opening them. Regularly check if the underbody panels are securely fastened. Once, I found loose screws on a panel, which not only caused rattling but also significantly increased wind noise.
