Does the spoiler actually do anything? Is it fucntional? When (at what speed) does it start to provide any downforce or is it just an aerodynamic benefit derived from wind tunnel testing?

It just doesn't look big enough to work.

 

Helps keep dirt & trash off the backend around the taillights.

 

It isn't. Basically it serves two functions. It is a housing for the high 3rd brake light required by law, and it serves as a styling element.

 

From the Owners CD they say that it is a very functional spoiler.... I don't know... I guess if you could find pics of it in a wind tunnel you could tell if it's functional or not.

sorry this wasn't more help.

 

...sure it's functional....at 110mph+

 

It obviously doesn't help much, if at all, for that purpose. If it actually was performing a significant spoiler role, it would create an even lower pressure zone in the rear of the car, making it even more of a vacuum for road dirt and debris than it is.

To fill that vacuum, the spoiler would have to be turned the other way, deflecting air down instead of up. Some minivans and SUVs have such a spoiler, and it works to help keep the rear window clear. But ours isn't built that way.

 

I guess it just seems like it is helping with the road dirt. The backend of my C4 got really dirty and I don't remember it having a spoiler.

 

Of course this "styling element" would not be on the car if there was no law for the high 3rd brake light.

It is just a light, not a spoiler.

 

Yes it does work, here are the figures for the C6 Z06. Other than the front wheel opening leading edge extensions I think you could lower the reduced lift %s for the C6.
The rake of the vehicle plays a role also, some people that lower the rear too much experience front end lift at speed.

Some aerodynamic info on your Z06.

From: "The Chevrolet Corvette: New Vehicle Engineering and Technical History" published by Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. It's a collection of SAE and other papers.

2005-01-1943 2006 Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06 Aerodynamic Development pages 328-333.

"...develop the 2006 Z06 to provide it with improved high speed stability, increased cooling capability and equivalent drag compared to the 2004 C5 Z06."

"...improve front brake flow by 400%." "...200% of the previous flow rate to cool the rear brakes."

Breakdown of lift reduction @ 300 kph

Total 138 kg
Splitter 92 kg 66.7 % of total
Front wheel opening leading edge extensions 10 kg 7.4 % of total
CHMSL spoiler 36 kg 25.9 % of total

CD is the same as the C5 Z06 at .342

and the thread
Breakdown of lift reduction @ 300 kph

Total 138 kg
Splitter 92 kg 66.7 % of total
Front wheel opening leading edge extensions 10 kg 7.4 % of total
CHMSL spoiler 36 kg 25.9 % of total

CD is the same as the C5 Z06 at .342

and the thread
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...2&forum_id=100

So the C6 front spoiler or splitter is the majority of lift reduction and the rear spoiler would be the rest, aerodynamics starts to have a measurable affect at around 30 mph.

 

I purchased the Z06 spolier, At speeds above 120 it should provide that extra down force to the rear and i assume it should keep the dust to a minimum on the rear end, I dont have my Vette yet but im sure there has to be more than a few on this forum that have replaced the stock spolier for the Z06 spolier that can give you a better answer.

 

Know this, spoilers and splitters are for lift reduction, only wings and venturi tunnels produce down-force.

 

Great post and very interesting information.... thanks....

 

...and front wheel opening leading edge extensions not only provide lift reduction but create a low pressure area outside of the front wheels that then helps pull cooling air for the brakes through the front wheels.

 

I have it on my C6. It looks nice and you get a piece of a Zo6 for 34 bucks. As for any other benefits, the jury is still out!

 

At speed it's actually a detriment as your car is aerodynamically unbalanced rear to front.

 

I put one on my Vert and it looks bad-*** compared to the stock one. Only Vette guys would notice the difference, though. Oh...I remember Fred Beans (Eric & Dan) saying they're dumping these below cost.

 

Interesting data, any similiar research done on the GCA "G.M. Racing spoiler" that looks just like the one that rides on the rear deck of the C6R?

 

Note that the Cd of a non-Z06 coupe is 0.28, so that lift reduction comes at a significant cost of increased drag. Also note that aerodynamic forces are proportional to the square of velocity. So that 36 kg at 300 kph is only 0.36 kg at 30 kph. Sticking your hand out the window to give the wave would have more effect.

 

IMO the C6 spoiler is about as useful in terms of actual benefits in everyday real world driving as the Z51s cross drilled rotors.

All this talk about downforce at 300kph is bull IMO. That's 180 mph if my math is correct. Who the heck is going to drive a C6 that fast? Anyone think the car is even remotely safe at that speed?

The spoiler is for styling mostly IMO.