Dirty Butt
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Burning Brakes
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From: West Chester PA
Dirty Butt
I have been fortunate enough to own 4 Corvettes so far. A C3, C5, C6, and now a C8. Anyone else notice one thing they all have in common is that the rear of the car gets filthy after even a short ride?
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It is normal....a vacuum occurs behind the vehicle and thus sucks up dust. It is similar with SUVs thus why they have back window wipers as rain mist sucks up in back.
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From: Ft Lauderdale
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here’s my guess: a spoiler smoothes out the turbulence that is created at the back end of the car when the surface ends, leading to better performance/gas mileage.a wing creates downforce on the rear end to push down for traction/control.
all that being said, I don’t think either makes any difference until you are above 130 miles an hour or some ridiculous figure. That’s what I read a couple years ago on a Porsche tech white paper.
all that being said, I don’t think either makes any difference until you are above 130 miles an hour or some ridiculous figure. That’s what I read a couple years ago on a Porsche tech white paper.
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The combination of the side spoiler extensions and white car had black spots after a short drive. Did NOT have that with my prior two C4's, C6 and even my 2014 C7 Z51 was not than bad. I added a shelf between garage doors with waterless cleaner, microfiber towels and my Mini California Duster. Had to use often!
When Dealer tech was performing my E-Ray PDI he was ready to add the high rear spoiler extensions, as on his GM To Do List. Stopped him, very happy with the very low ones it is shipped with BOTH esthetically and function as I don't Track. Did not want any more rear turbulence than necessary. My E-Ray is light Cacti. No way as bad a "dirty rear" as my 2017 Grand Sport. In a year have used that waterless cleaner once. And I often drive in the rain. Avoided driving my prior 6 Vettes in the rain because of handling BUT even 345 rear tires AWD E-Ray handles great in rain!
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2023 Z-51 C-8 coupe here, the dust sticking to the rear is not a problem and it looks like a lot of brake dust more than anything.
The rear wing is also a spoiler in this case, it appears to have 2 sections of a functional wing (outboard) as well as a spoiler in the center section.
It is obvious that there is a lot of air coming of the rear deck lid as well as the flat bottom of the car but all the dust sticks to the rear.
I'd like to see some wind tunnel laminar airflow tests, I think the aerodynamics here are very good.
The instructors at Spring Mountain did say the Z-51 wing/spoiler does help at higher speeds.
I just love the look even though the high wing still looks very nice as well.
I use a detail cloth and a few minutes with Adams Graphene spray detailer it is good as new, every time.
"wipe that butt"
The rear wing is also a spoiler in this case, it appears to have 2 sections of a functional wing (outboard) as well as a spoiler in the center section.
It is obvious that there is a lot of air coming of the rear deck lid as well as the flat bottom of the car but all the dust sticks to the rear.
I'd like to see some wind tunnel laminar airflow tests, I think the aerodynamics here are very good.
The instructors at Spring Mountain did say the Z-51 wing/spoiler does help at higher speeds.
I just love the look even though the high wing still looks very nice as well.
I use a detail cloth and a few minutes with Adams Graphene spray detailer it is good as new, every time.
"wipe that butt"
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From: San Jose CA
here’s my guess: a spoiler smoothes out the turbulence that is created at the back end of the car when the surface ends, leading to better performance/gas mileage. A wing creates downforce on the rear end to push down for traction/control.
all that being said, I don’t think either makes any difference until you are above 130 miles an hour or some ridiculous figure. That’s what I read a couple years ago on a Porsche tech white paper.
all that being said, I don’t think either makes any difference until you are above 130 miles an hour or some ridiculous figure. That’s what I read a couple years ago on a Porsche tech white paper.
A wing is an upside down wing as we think of aircraft. A car's wing creates lift on the underside thus pulling the car down. Wings are more effective for cornering at high speeds. If you want high speeds you don't want more drag that a wing creates. You're right about the speed needed to make any spoiler or wing to really be effective. There's a point at which wings become an asset and then can become a hindrance.
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From: Ohio
The 10 Commandments were created for garage queens. When I owned my C7 I did something most other owners never will — wore out my windshield wiper blades by driving in the rain and snow. My C8 is sporting the dirty butt right now, but I have a few more day of daily driving in the rain this week in Ohio.