suspension lift
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 19:52
ThreadID:
60331
Views:
2474
Replies:
6
FollowUps:
4
This Thread has been Archived
marcus
Hi Guys,
I have heard some say that by raising the
suspension from standard that fuel economy will suffer.Would this be true as it is the same mass only slightly raised?
Reply By: Vivid Adventures - Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 19:55
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 19:55
I've not particularly heard that...
But that said, the mass will be more if not significantly more, depending on what rated coils and shocks you go for.
There may also be a larger frontal area in all...
AnswerID:
318192
Reply By: Member - Madfisher - Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:00
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:00
Unfortunalty it seems to be true. The higher your body sits above the ground the more turbulance created around diffs etc. Most 4bys have a untidy unbody so its creates plenty of drag. Have a look at modern cars, big spoiler at the front to create a vacum underneath. Thats why modern cars are hopeless on even a dirt rd.
I tend to lift the rear end a bit and leave the front alone.
Cheers Pete
AnswerID:
318193
Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:07
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:07
It takes more horse power to turn larger
wheels so if you lift and then put bigger
wheels on you will use more fuel.
AnswerID:
318194
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:09
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:09
Don't see too many lifted vehicles running GrandTreks.
IMO, its the heavier tyres with more rolling resistance.
AnswerID:
318195
Reply By: Off-track - Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:36
Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 at 20:36
Yes of course it will as a lifted vehicle has a larger frontal area to push through the air. Similar situation to adding a roofrack.
AnswerID:
318206
Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Friday, Aug 01, 2008 at 01:17
Friday, Aug 01, 2008 at 01:17
Could you please expand on the 'larger frontal area' theory for me please, as I am too thick to see/imagine/envisage as to how a vehicle lift increases anything other than distance of the body from the ground.
FollowupID:
584882
Follow Up By: Off-track - Friday, Aug 01, 2008 at 08:33
Friday, Aug 01, 2008 at 08:33
Body is higher, diffs are same height from ground = more frontal area
FollowupID:
584894
Follow Up By: Member - Olcoolone (S.A) - Friday, Aug 01, 2008 at 23:01
Friday, Aug 01, 2008 at 23:01
Has nothing to do with it, what causes more fuel to be used is the increase in drag coefficient.
Just a quick fact_: A late model car can have a drag coefficient .30 and a cab over Kenworth can have drag coefficient .29 so in theory a Kenworth is more aerodynamic then the car.
Drag coefficient is a hard thing to explain over the Internet.
The higher the ground clearance is the higher the drag coefficient is because increased under vehicle turbalance.
When you add roofracks you are changing the vehicle aerodynamics from something slippery to a brick.
FollowupID:
585066
Follow Up By: Off-track - Saturday, Aug 02, 2008 at 10:02
Saturday, Aug 02, 2008 at 10:02
You are only half right Ol. Think about it.
FollowupID:
585105
Reply By: ross - Saturday, Aug 02, 2008 at 00:20
Saturday, Aug 02, 2008 at 00:20
I guess its true in theory,after all race cars are kept as low to the ground as possible.
But I cant see it being all that noticeable between a standard lift and 2 inch lift on 4wd.
Either way there is a lot of dangly stuff janging down from a 4wd.
I think a roof rack would have a much bigger effect on fuel economy
AnswerID:
318600