Rear diffuser in the making
07-20-2008, 07:04 PM
#1
Rear diffuser in the making
Been working the idea for a few weeks now. The abs sheets came in last week and well this is what I got so for. This is the first "working" model I have done. The next will be wider on the drivers side and a filler panel for the passenger side of the muffler. Also I have the perfect piece left over to be placed on the axle. The familiar diffuser slates will be on v2. As for "does it even work?" Yes! the car is more stable at freeway speed and beyond. Its more of a mpg saver mod or suppose to be atleast anyway. Reduce drag yadda yadda you get the idea. But that remains to be seen. Anyway on to the pictures.
07-21-2008, 02:52 PM
#16
Ive considered that too trust me, but its alittle beyond what I want to do at the moment. This panel came in at 33"x36 or so, with the way the mounting braket turned out the next will be 48"x38" with a cut out for the muffler obviously. I do plan to make one for the front of the car as well to attach to the lip and run a couple feet back to the engine.
07-22-2008, 06:13 AM
#19
it look to me like it would just create drag and channel air up into your bumper. at least from the pic it does.
the whole problem our cars have is it acts like a big scoop back there especially with the rear lip or any aftermarket bumper.
can we see more pics possibly with better lighting.
i'm not trying to come down on what you are doing i'm just skeptical. also does this get in the way of a RSB?
rsb > air diffuser
the whole problem our cars have is it acts like a big scoop back there especially with the rear lip or any aftermarket bumper.
can we see more pics possibly with better lighting.
i'm not trying to come down on what you are doing i'm just skeptical. also does this get in the way of a RSB?
rsb > air diffuser
07-22-2008, 01:34 PM
#20
it look to me like it would just create drag and channel air up into your bumper. at least from the pic it does.
the whole problem our cars have is it acts like a big scoop back there especially with the rear lip or any aftermarket bumper.
can we see more pics possibly with better lighting.
i'm not trying to come down on what you are doing i'm just skeptical. also does this get in the way of a RSB?
rsb > air diffuser
the whole problem our cars have is it acts like a big scoop back there especially with the rear lip or any aftermarket bumper.
can we see more pics possibly with better lighting.
i'm not trying to come down on what you are doing i'm just skeptical. also does this get in the way of a RSB?
rsb > air diffuser
The panel does have a decent sized lip on the front of it so it doesnt channel air up into it. Believe me that was a major concern. I wasn't totally satisfied with its placement despite that fact. The front was just too low. It was slightly lower than the leading edge of the axle and I wanted it more inline with it. Well thats what prototypes are for I guess. The next one will be higher in the front and closer to level than the one pictured.
As for the RSB, um i dont see the need for one at the moment. My car had Eibach springs and Tokico Illumina struts, I don't really have much body roll. In any case the panel that I am going to attach to the bottom of the axle will leave no room for one. Im sure it can be mounted lower to allow room, but then it would be lower than the gas tank which I dont want.
07-22-2008, 04:25 PM
#22
will be interested in seeing how it works out, though I share concerns of it scooping air and causing drag rather than reducing drag. With a IRS car you would be able to run the front edge up to the body to eliminate that problem. I'm not sure what the workaround is with that beam axle in the way, though...
07-22-2008, 06:25 PM
#23
I was thinking of doing this....
http://www.nicoclub.com/articles.php?id=189235
IBdues but dues did a nice job
http://www.nicoclub.com/articles.php?id=189235
IBdues but dues did a nice job
07-22-2008, 07:16 PM
#24
will be interested in seeing how it works out, though I share concerns of it scooping air and causing drag rather than reducing drag. With a IRS car you would be able to run the front edge up to the body to eliminate that problem. I'm not sure what the workaround is with that beam axle in the way, though...
Last edited by PulsarGTS; 07-22-2008 at 07:29 PM.
08-06-2008, 01:29 PM
#34
Yes, but only at freeway speed. Using the carputer as a guide i've avg 33-34mpg @ 60mph where I used to avg 30-31. This is on a familar stretch of road. At 70mph I avg about 30-31 vs 28-29. Now we know that the our carputer mpg is usually 2-3mpg higher than realitly so keep that in mind. But as it is at the moment I've seen a 2mpg decrease in fuel consumption, which it about what I figured. I haven't had the chance to make any long highway trips lately, just here and there. The most I got out of a tank before the dte light came on was 405mi, so if I can get 420-430mi I will know for sure it is doing its job.
Now as for handling, oh yes it makes a difference on the hyw the car no longer feels like it has a fat *** switching lanes quickly. Far less tire swirm in the rear that before.
This diffuser is a work in progress, there are some little modification that I want to do to it yet. And I still have yet to finish the panel for the rear axle. This peice will make the car flat from the gas tank to the end of the bumper. As for the front underpanel well the material and the idea are there, but gotta take it one step at a time. Ill try to snap more pics today.
Now as for handling, oh yes it makes a difference on the hyw the car no longer feels like it has a fat *** switching lanes quickly. Far less tire swirm in the rear that before.
This diffuser is a work in progress, there are some little modification that I want to do to it yet. And I still have yet to finish the panel for the rear axle. This peice will make the car flat from the gas tank to the end of the bumper. As for the front underpanel well the material and the idea are there, but gotta take it one step at a time. Ill try to snap more pics today.
08-06-2008, 03:13 PM
#35
if nissan could improve their mileage by 2 or even 3 mpg with the addition of a $100 part wouldn't they have done this from the factory? nissan knows all about diffusers...
not trying to say you didn't achieve better mpg i'm just curious...
another 2-3 mpg is a HUGE selling factor especially when cross comparing similar cars. i only add this because i'v sold cars and know how much mpg means to people...if you look at the window sticker off all the options etc the 2 biggest numbers in bold in huge font are the mpg city vs highway
glad to see it helps!
not trying to say you didn't achieve better mpg i'm just curious...
another 2-3 mpg is a HUGE selling factor especially when cross comparing similar cars. i only add this because i'v sold cars and know how much mpg means to people...if you look at the window sticker off all the options etc the 2 biggest numbers in bold in huge font are the mpg city vs highway
glad to see it helps!
08-06-2008, 03:33 PM
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 213
it would have cost nissan a bunch to engineer those little things, plus they would need to be more secure than his will be and the materials price would add up. considering that most people dont make much of a deal about 2mpg when buying a car, they figured the extra several million to do it wasnt worth the thousand extra cars they would sell. remember, this was engineered around 2000, when gas was still pretty low
08-06-2008, 03:53 PM
#37
if nissan could improve their mileage by 2 or even 3 mpg with the addition of a $100 part wouldn't they have done this from the factory? nissan knows all about diffusers...
not trying to say you didn't achieve better mpg i'm just curious...
another 2-3 mpg is a HUGE selling factor especially when cross comparing similar cars. i only add this because i'v sold cars and know how much mpg means to people...if you look at the window sticker off all the options etc the 2 biggest numbers in bold in huge font are the mpg city vs highway
glad to see it helps!
not trying to say you didn't achieve better mpg i'm just curious...
another 2-3 mpg is a HUGE selling factor especially when cross comparing similar cars. i only add this because i'v sold cars and know how much mpg means to people...if you look at the window sticker off all the options etc the 2 biggest numbers in bold in huge font are the mpg city vs highway
glad to see it helps!
And like someone just mentioned when the maxima first came out gas was like $1.15.
08-06-2008, 05:40 PM
#39
