How much drag does the antenna cause?

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Aug 2 2007, 10:15 AM) [snapback]489357[/snapback]</div>

Depends on which station you are listening to. If it's heavy metal the drag will increase :blink:

 

We swapped out the antenna for the shark fin, and I gained 2 MPG*

The antenna has this spiral wire on it, which causes the airflow to spin around it, creating a vortex. As the antenna is pointing back, this vortex is actually creating a vacuum effect, which is increasing drag. It's sucking the gas mileage right out.

Oh, and the shark fin is cuter.

*j/k

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Aug 3 2007, 12:13 AM) [snapback]489806[/snapback]</div>

Mine has even more drag as I have a "lightbulb" that says "hybrid" on the end. Great for spotting in parking lots. But I'm sure it adds even more drag. I still like it more than a sharkfin. After all....where would I put my lightbulb?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Aug 3 2007, 07:13 AM) [snapback]489806[/snapback]</div>

From what I've heard, the spiral wire on the antenna is actually to decrease the votrtex behind the antenna.

If you look at tall industrial smoke chimneys, you will se they have spirals as well. This is to disturb the wind so it does not form a vortex behind the chimney. Before they learned to do this, heavy winds could set chimneys into a resonans vibration tearing them apart.


Stein

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(burritos @ Aug 2 2007, 07:15 PM) [snapback]489357[/snapback]</div>

I remember reading about a 1% MPG impact somewhere. Can't find a reference though. At high speeds, it might be measurable. Just try holding the antenna in your hand, out the window, at 80 mph and feel the drag. You'd be surprised.

 

Thats the best one yet, :lol: I loose 2mpg because of my ant.

So what you do is buy a set of 4 of those spun aluminum wheel covers and get you 2mpg or mor back as you know the slotted wheels are going to add drag too..

 

I read an article a while back about the designing of the new Suburbans. They said that they were removing the mast antenna and going with the embedded one because they gained about a hundredth of a mile (0.01MPG).

Take it for what it's worth
James

 

.01 or .0001 percent is probably more like it. I would bet a dirty car would have more of an effect on gas mileage than one that is freshly clean and waxed.

In other words at the normal speeds that vehicles travel, it is insignificant at best.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jamesbugman @ Aug 3 2007, 02:10 PM) [snapback]490038[/snapback]</div>

 

Glass mounted antennas aren't nearly as effective as a whip antenna. The tend to be fairly directional, and have lower reception because they are blocked by the metal car body. Shark fin antennas are OK for FM , but still have less gain and selectivity than a whip antenna. They are awful for AM reception. In the case of antennas size does matter.

If you want to learn more than you wanted about the subject, check this web site:Estimation of The Drag of a Roof Mounted Antenna (AU Ford Falcon)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rae Vynn @ Aug 3 2007, 01:13 AM) [snapback]489806[/snapback]</div>

In many cases it is not a wire, just a thin cord wrapped around the antenna with usually a plastic like compound for attachment. The reason for the spiral cord is to eliminate the annoying whistle like resonance sometimes created by an antenna without the cord.

With respects to drag, you may be able to quantify the loss of the Prius antenna in perhaps pennies per month.

A shark fin antenna may look better, but it is even more of a compromise than the OEM Prius antenna. When it comes to FM broadcast reception the closer you can get to 31.5 inches in length, the better the reception of fringe FM stations.

Rick

#4 2006