Community Forums

Dutch Star Don · 06-13-2012, 04:30 AM

I think the only way wax would improve mpg would be if it was 95 octane and you could pour it in the tank.

LSC9901 · 06-13-2012, 04:38 AM

My understanding has always been that it does nothing at all for DP's but gassers do in fact improve by 1-2 MPG's.

Dunner · 06-13-2012, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

I think the only way wax would improve mpg would be if it was 95 octane and you could pour it in the tank.

Don, I'm going to ignore you said that and let you think about it for a while.

Steve N Sal · 06-13-2012, 04:48 AM

I wouldn't be spending any extra time waxing the front of the coach to be picking up any type of increased mileage. To help clean up easier maybe but not for gas mileage.

clyon51 · 06-13-2012, 05:47 AM

The theory is sound. However a huge cracker box is hardly aerodynamic to begin with. No matter how slick you got "open this end" it just ain't a gonna make no difference at 65mph.

Now keeping your 600mph Lear Jet nice and shiny WILL make a difference.

Kathryn · 06-13-2012, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

I thought funny cars were shiny to make them funny, not faster. If smoothness improves speed, why do race cars have so many stickers and vinyl letters on them?

'Cause they gotta have all those sponsors to pay for the fuel!

Kathryn

TXiceman · 06-13-2012, 06:07 AM

SOme years back, it was proven that a less than polished surface works better on a boat. If you look at the racing boats, they wet sand the hulls to get the shine off. With the very slightly rough finish, you get a boundary layer of water attaching to the hull and you wind up with water on water as the surface which provides for less drag. If the surface is polished and slick, you can never get a boundary layer to attach and the drag is higher.

When I was racing R/C model sailboats, I kept the hull wet sanded and consistently won...so everyone else started doing it and I had a harder time winning races.

ken

Dunner · 06-13-2012, 06:12 AM

That is also called surface tension, which will slow a boat down. Not so with non-boat applications. That is also why a boat will go faster on a slight ripple than it will on a glass surface.

vraines · 06-13-2012, 07:08 AM

I spent over thirty years as a pilot and was involved in some interesting tests with waxed airfoil surfaces. Wax does make a very slight improvement in drag factors, but it is so slight at any speed that it is not worthy of serious consideration. But when I wax my motor home, it sure feels faster, just slips through the air. I am waxing it the old fashioned way and my arms will be much stronger when I finish.

fla tom · 06-13-2012, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by henderson

The brand I use is good for 3.5 mpg on a DP

Ill sell you some wax that will get you 15 mpg or your money back only $20 per bottle(Pluss $50 shipping and handeling)

djbmsu · 06-13-2012, 11:18 AM

Turtle Ice Rain is all I use, Race car teams spend thousands a year on polishes that make the surface slicker. And it makes my coach purdy

TheArnolds · 06-13-2012, 11:34 AM

Wax makes it look nice but does little for MPG!

wa8yxm · 06-13-2012, 12:33 PM

Does was really make a difference YES It does.

I have seen my own motor home pick up 1-2 MPG when waxed, (And considering it got 8 before waxing that is kind of amazing) and I had a car once that got comparable results (16 became 19.x when waxed) howver that was a full Simonize job.. Have not tried that on the house yet. Same driver, Same roads, Same driving methods and styles, All me.

WeatherTodd · 06-13-2012, 12:39 PM

lol... ask John Force if he waxes his Funny Car?? Or a military flight line mechanic how much wax they use.
The measure the frontal area of your rig. Most class As are in the 80+ sq ft area. The physics is pretty elementary from there.