Vortekz™ Generators are on, and ... .

[lookin]

Well, my friend and I, put a set of Vortekz™ Generators on my van a few days ago. I am sure they are on there right, because we followed their instructions to the letter.

They did ZIP as far as keeping my van's back window clean, and so obviously the whole laminar flow separation thing, is still happening. Bill put them on there but good. They are going to be a real bear to get off now.

I got one of those Lund rear air deflectors coming in the mail. I know those actually 'do' work. I just hope it doesn't look too ridiculous is all.

[moparfwdsleeper]

pics of the van now...

[NoDestiny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moparfwdsleeper pics of the van now...

Yes, lets see these bad boys.

[lookin]

You guys just need a good hoot don't ya?

I don't have any pictures, because our camera died a while back. They are coming off there tomorrow anyway.

I have been doing more reading, and I think I just put them in the wrong place. Now I am trying to decide if I want to keep the Lund deflector or not. I think if the little VGs aren't destroyed in the removal process, then I will just try putting them on again in a different area.

Got any ideas about this?

[itsbudda]

I should have seen this coming when i saw a pic of a badly riced out subaru with them. Sorry they didn't do anything. I guess that's just one more myth busted. Unless putting them somewhere else may help. I imagine that they won't move enough air to have any real effect on air flow though. Good luck. I hope it works out in some way for you.

[lookin]

Hi Jason

The aero principle is definitely sound, but I think you are right about the ones I have being too small perhaps. Or maybe I just need to move them to the roof, about 200 mm before the downturn to the rear window, instead of having them right there on the curve of the downturn itself.

If that doesn't work, I think I will have better luck with the rear air deflector, when it finally arrives.

I will let you guys know how it works out, and I promise to get pictures for you guys. Gotta get a camera.

[itsbudda]

Yeah i totally understand the principle. I hope they work out in some way. I know all the cars at that site are cars. Doing it on a van is obviously a different principle. Hopefully moving them will do the trick. A possibility is maybe they're not wide enough, and the air is mostly just moving around them. Are the edges rounded, or square?

[reliantwagon]

to get them off... try using a hair dryer... just lay the hair dryer on the roof pointed at them and leave it sit there for a couple minutes should heat up the tape and melt the glue pretty well... might melt the lil shark fins to tho...

[lookin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by itsbudda Yeah i totally understand the principle. I hope they work out in some way. I know all the cars at that site are cars. Doing it on a van is obviously a different principle. Hopefully moving them will do the trick. A possibility is maybe they're not wide enough, and the air is mostly just moving around them. Are the edges rounded, or square?

I bet you know way more about it than I do.

Those VGs I got are pretty tiny, and so I think they will have little effect around town under 65 mph. Here is their website for pics to see what they look like. Vortekz™ Generators

I may not even be able to put those in the right position. The way my gate opens, for clearance, they would have to be too far forward. I think the Lund air deflector may be the way to go for me, and I believe it will work at even low speeds around town.

I am really trying to learn about aero now. A van needs all the help it can get. So next I want to fab up an extender to lower the air dam. I am guessing heavy rubber for that.

[lookin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by reliantwagon to get them off... try using a hair dryer... just lay the hair dryer on the roof pointed at them and leave it sit there for a couple minutes should heat up the tape and melt the glue pretty well... might melt the lil shark fins to tho...

Thanks. Good idea. I think goo-gone may help too. You know how it is. If you want them to stay on they wont, and if you want to take them off it takes dynamite.

[reliantwagon]

or a big sledge YEA! LOL

uhhh and if you use rubber for the air dam thing... it might flex and make the dam deflect at higher speeds....but idk what exactly youre doing with it to...

[Reaper1]

The aero principle works, but not for that big of a curve. Those things will help when there is a small deviation or (as the website shows) if there is something else downstream that the air can pick up, such as a taller spoiler. I think that possibly Daytona's might bennefit the most from something like this...to keep the air stuck the the rear window longer. I really want to try it in one of the tunnels at school...but that's going to have to wait either a few years, or until I get a hook-up!

As for the Lund deflector, that will probably be your best bet. It's still not going to solve the problem completely, but it will at least get a little better. The issue is the HUGE void behind that van..it creats a suction that deposits all that crap on your window, and the vortex that it is actually developed from induces a LOT of drag. The faster you can get higher velocity air to this section, the better off it will be. Now, is this thing going to allow you to hit 150mph easily? Eh..I think not, but it *should* help with the dirty window and possibly a bit of the drag.

There will be the trade off of reducing the drag behind the van, but increasing it with the airfoil on top to redirect the air. So, unless there is something else helping with the rear of the van, I think the two are going to probably cancel each other out pretty much...

[Avenger]

With my 98 Grand Voyager, if I open the rear windows, the rear glass stays pretty clean. I don't even have to open the fronts, just the change in airflow around the sides seems to make the difference. I don't know if the older vans would get as much of an effect, since the roof and sides are so much differently shaped.

[lookin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper1 The aero principle works, but not for that big of a curve. Those things will help when there is a small deviation or (as the website shows) if there is something else downstream that the air can pick up, such as a taller spoiler. I think that possibly Daytona's might bennefit the most from something like this...to keep the air stuck the the rear window longer. I really want to try it in one of the tunnels at school...but that's going to have to wait either a few years, or until I get a hook-up! As for the Lund deflector, that will probably be your best bet. It's still not going to solve the problem completely, but it will at least get a little better. The issue is the HUGE void behind that van..it creats a suction that deposits all that crap on your window, and the vortex that it is actually developed from induces a LOT of drag. The faster you can get higher velocity air to this section, the better off it will be. Now, is this thing going to allow you to hit 150mph easily? Eh..I think not, but it *should* help with the dirty window and possibly a bit of the drag. There will be the trade off of reducing the drag behind the van, but increasing it with the airfoil on top to redirect the air. So, unless there is something else helping with the rear of the van, I think the two are going to probably cancel each other out pretty much...

Hi Reaper

Thanks for your feedback on this. I am definitely open to ideas. If I break even between increased drag for the deflector and reduced separation drag, 'and' get a clean rear end, then I will be very happy. I will just have try something like adding some air-tabs to the side at the back, .... and I have this other idea.



You see that black handle above my license plate? What if I removed that and added a horizontal lip to it, that protrudes out 2", at a slight upturn? Do you think that would help? I am pretty sure a BIG ledge there would help, but I don't want anything that noticeable. My van looks silly enough as it is.

[lookin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avenger With my 98 Grand Voyager, if I open the rear windows, the rear glass stays pretty clean. I don't even have to open the fronts, just the change in airflow around the sides seems to make the difference. I don't know if the older vans would get as much of an effect, since the roof and sides are so much differently shaped.

Good point. It helps on mine too. So I think a few air-tabs on the sides would help.

OR maybe I could add a vertical lip, protruding 1.5" or thereabouts, right on the mainbody where the gate close at the sides? You have inspired me Avenger. Thanks!