It’s almost like someone got their Top Gear in my Mythbusters lately. First the duct tape holding up a car, and now the ‘golf ball’ effect on mileage. So what exactly does happen when you cover a car with clay, and then dimple it like a golf ball?
You can watch the video and find out, or just scroll past the picture of the lovely Kari Byron. The car part is about 40 minutes in.
Yes. Apparently, covering your car in clay and dimpling it like a golf ball will result in a significant increase in gas mileage. Who would of thunk it? The real trick it to make sure the dimples are scaled up to the proper size. I could get into the science, but it’s easier to let Jamie and Adam tell you all about it.
Kari is not part of the story, unless you consider her bun-in-the-oven one big “dimple”. Unsurprisingly it does not make her more aerodynamic, though MB apparently declined to even test that theory despite my protestations….
JK MB&KB; YKILY
ok, Kari had nothing to do with it. But she’s sure as heck easier on the eyes then walrus man’s mustache.
Bun-in-the-oven not withstanding, you still have to admit that Kari is one hot geekette. Now I just need to figure out where I can find 800 pounds of clay and dimpling tool….
Megavideo. Ad-filled. I’d say a bad choice for an embedded video.
Of course, if it’s the only one…
It’s a site that let international crunchgear readers to watch the video. So that’s good enough for me. Suck it, Hulu!
ugh.. create a new acct to sign in to watch a video? lame.
Adding 1000 pounds of clay to your car will most certainly drop your overall gas mileage. The test was done already going 65 mph. They didn’t check what the difference would be in starting from a dead stop.
If you could do dimpling without adding significant weight, or you drive 400 flat freeway miles on each tank, you would probably see a benefit. Otherwise you will see a decrease due to the added weight.
Well obviously the added weight would not help mileage. But I don’t think anyone here is considering throwing 800 pounds of clay on their car…we just have to convince car manufacturers to build them like that! Well. Maybe not.
YES, now I have a solid reason for not fixing the hail damage on the truck, thank you myth busters.