Air is Gross! (photo courtesy: exa.com)
Scott writes:
Hi Sajeev!
I have a 2015 Civic, but my question applies to lots of cars.
I live in Maine, which has lots of nice weather for driving around with the windows down. The buffeting, or “helicopter effect”, with the windows down is driving me batty! Also the “white noise” of the rushing wind is quite loud when the windows are open. I can adjust the windows to limit both issues somewhat, but is there anything else I can do?
Seems like they used to sell rectangular plexiglass air deflectors that mounted on a car’s A pillar. Is anything like that still available? Would stick-on side window deflectors help? I’m not keen on them because all of them I see are tinted, and visibility is already limited enough by the car’s thick A pillars. (True dat. – SM)
Sajeev answers:
Aeroelasticity is one of those fascinating sciences that scared me far, far away from a Mechanical Engineering degree. There’s even a software company hawking a solution toolbox to minimizing wind throb. I’m sure it’s only a million or so to get an R&D lab to work it out perfectly!
Cars have ways of reducing the air pressure concerns that lead to buffeting, wind throb, the helicopter effect or whatever you wanna call it. There are flapper ducts in the trunk that make it easier to close doors, circulate fresh air and maybe even to ensure the airbags inflate properly. Sunroofs have pop-up visors. Side view mirrors, headlights and fenders are sculpted to move air more efficiently/quietly around the body side. Everything is can be designed for good reason.
My first car, a 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 LTD, had a flow-through ventilation system; drawing in air from the kick panels (both sides), sucking it out behind the rear window. It rocked on those rare occasions when Houston had Maine-like weather. I never cracked open the windows unless I wanted the wind in my hair or to peep that sweet pillarless hardtop design. Ahhh, memories!
So can you improve the factory’s built-in tech? Probably. I’ve had good luck reducing buffeting by tilting my moonroof after finding no correct combination of cracking open my windows. If your Civic has one. If not? Well, I’d have it installed nearby: what a great way to enjoy Maine summers and/or global warming!
If a moonroof is not helping, too expensive to retrofit, not your cup of tea…well you could…
(photo courtesy: www.hondapartssuperstore.com)
Yeeeeesh, those are surprisingly unsightly! The tilting moonroof is the right answer.
What say you, Best and Brightest?
Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.
The post Piston Slap: Buffeting Past the Helicopter Effect? appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
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