A thought on headlight drag...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 308
From: Mont Belvieu Tx
A thought on headlight drag...
I've been watching the C6 section because I am considering going from my Nassau Blue C5 to a C6 in the next few months and I've noticed a lot of talk about how horrible the popup headlights are on the C5 in terms of wind-drag. While I have to agree that the flat-vertical planes that the headlights produce when in the up-position would definately have SOME impact on wind-drag, I have to wonder if it really a significant amount. Some posts say that it makes a big difference when doing 150+ on the track with the lights up. How often would someone be doing that speed at night? I'd assume that most C5 peeps don't raise their headlights unless they have to (which would be at night). So, for like 99% of the C5 drivers out there, they wouldn't be doing massively high-speed driving in the middle of the night.. .atleast not at speeds that would make that big of a difference with lights up or down. Hmmm.. Of course, the stock C5 headlights are so darn dim that normal-speed night driving probably isn't that safe anyway 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
On a trip on I35 in Oklahoma I averaged about 29 with the lights down and 27 with them up. You could actually see the difference on the Instant Milage reading when you raise them. This was at a fairly constant 70-75 mph on flat roads.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 2
From: Wesley Chapel Fl
Gotta love when people talk about wind drag or weight reduction a street car. "yes the headlights down allowed me to pass 5 cars at once instead of 4" or my favorite " I want to save weight in my car....see you at DUnkin Doughnuts" These things make difference but not on a street car. If you plan to race the car yes it is something you should look at it. But nothing to be concerned with on a street car.
Mileage is something I did not think of. Every time I read a thread like this it is about performance and not a practical application like mileage.
Mileage is something I did not think of. Every time I read a thread like this it is about performance and not a practical application like mileage.
Waka, Waka, Waka!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 2
From: Richmond Virginia
CI 4-6-8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by EatRice
...
Mileage is something I did not think of. Every time I read a thread like this it is about performance and not a practical application like mileage.
Mileage is something I did not think of. Every time I read a thread like this it is about performance and not a practical application like mileage.
For comparison, I ran the next 100 miles with the lights down, but the AC on. I noticed a bit over 3 mph difference, but the terain was beginning to get a bit more uneven, so some if it may have been 'environmental'.
So from what I have personally seen, on the highway, the lights cause almost as much drag as the air conditioner.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
with EatRice. Most add Lloyds mats, aftermarket subwoofers, sound insulation, bigger, heavier wheels/tyres and other heavy things to their C5 without a thought. Yet they complain about gas mileage and pop up lights.These are street cars and they are performance cars. Drag - and mileage for that matter are not important, IMHO.
And if both are that important, then I suggest a Honda or Toyota Hybrid.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 12
From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
FIX:
Don't drive the friggin Vette at night, and/or
Keep the lights off at all times.
Will address:
Gas mileage issues, and/or
'Wind resistance'.
Don't drive the friggin Vette at night, and/or
Keep the lights off at all times.
Will address:
Gas mileage issues, and/or
'Wind resistance'.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by AC54ME
FIX:
Don't drive the friggin Vette at night, and/or
Keep the lights off at all times.
Will address:
Gas mileage issues, and/or
'Wind resistance'.
Don't drive the friggin Vette at night, and/or
Keep the lights off at all times.
Will address:
Gas mileage issues, and/or
'Wind resistance'.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
Likes: 4
From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
Originally Posted by AC54ME
FIX:
Don't drive the friggin Vette at night, and/or
Keep the lights off at all times.
Will address:
Gas mileage issues, and/or
'Wind resistance'.
Don't drive the friggin Vette at night, and/or
Keep the lights off at all times.
Will address:
Gas mileage issues, and/or
'Wind resistance'.
Also, don't drive in the rain. The car will melt and distort, causing serious wind drag.
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