[ANSWERED] Added cooler on 2016 Z51 A8 - Air Flow?
10-30-2015, 06:55 AM
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[ANSWERED] Added cooler on 2016 Z51 A8 - Air Flow?
Original question is here.
BrittHealey asked:
The added cooler lies parallel and very close to the bottom cover that would seem to minimize air flow and reduce its effectiveness. Please comment.
The added cooler lies parallel and very close to the bottom cover that would seem to minimize air flow and reduce its effectiveness. Please comment.
Tadge answered:
Good question BrittHealey.
Intuitively, it would seem that panel under the horizontal cooler blocks the exiting flow, thus reducing its effectiveness. We thought the same thing. And we wanted to maximize the cooler's effectiveness. We were also worried that dumping more air under the car would hurt front down force. So we tested it both ways. Tests with the bottom panel opened up didn't help cooling and resulted in lost down force. The reason it works that way is that hot airflow exiting the transmission cooler has enough open perimeter area above the bottom panel to keep from losing cooling effectiveness. That airflow exits from the spaces aft of the cooler and is reintroduced with underbody airflow without adding front lift.
If you look at the undersides of high performance cars, you will see that a lot of engineering work has been done to balance the aerodynamic priority of a smooth, closed-out underbody with the necessity of exiting cooling air from a variety of heat exchangers.
Good question BrittHealey.
Intuitively, it would seem that panel under the horizontal cooler blocks the exiting flow, thus reducing its effectiveness. We thought the same thing. And we wanted to maximize the cooler's effectiveness. We were also worried that dumping more air under the car would hurt front down force. So we tested it both ways. Tests with the bottom panel opened up didn't help cooling and resulted in lost down force. The reason it works that way is that hot airflow exiting the transmission cooler has enough open perimeter area above the bottom panel to keep from losing cooling effectiveness. That airflow exits from the spaces aft of the cooler and is reintroduced with underbody airflow without adding front lift.
If you look at the undersides of high performance cars, you will see that a lot of engineering work has been done to balance the aerodynamic priority of a smooth, closed-out underbody with the necessity of exiting cooling air from a variety of heat exchangers.
Last edited by jvp; 10-30-2015 at 06:55 AM.
10-30-2015, 05:59 PM
#2
Safety Car
I love it when Tadge speaks about cooling and downforce! Developing more cooling for the A8 guys is a great move from GM, and from what I can tell, the second auto cooler has been executed great. Thank you Tadge and please don't stop here.
Great direction from the new GM on this issue, let's see some engine cooling solutions. At least bring the Corvette engine cooling on par with 2016 V8 Camaro and Caddilac systems.
Great direction from the new GM on this issue, let's see some engine cooling solutions. At least bring the Corvette engine cooling on par with 2016 V8 Camaro and Caddilac systems.
10-31-2015, 03:19 AM
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Original question is here.
11-05-2015, 08:37 PM
#4
Does anyone understand the path of the air going into the cooler?
I assume the air will pass parallel to the cooler straight into the radiator. If so, how would the air go through the cooler?
Will the space above the cooler build some pressure the pushes air through the cooler?
I assume the air will pass parallel to the cooler straight into the radiator. If so, how would the air go through the cooler?
Will the space above the cooler build some pressure the pushes air through the cooler?
11-12-2015, 06:46 PM
#5
Does anyone understand the path of the air going into the cooler?
I assume the air will pass parallel to the cooler straight into the radiator. If so, how would the air go through the cooler?
Will the space above the cooler build some pressure the pushes air through the cooler?
I assume the air will pass parallel to the cooler straight into the radiator. If so, how would the air go through the cooler?
Will the space above the cooler build some pressure the pushes air through the cooler?
Anybody track one yet? Anybody hear about solutions for the 2015 Z51 A8 from GM yet?
11-13-2015, 12:48 AM
#6
11-15-2015, 10:27 AM
#7