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Old 12-08-2011, 12:51 PM   #1
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Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

Just read and enjoyed the piece about air dams for economy. What about disc type wheel covers. Would they be of any benefit? Guess a guy would have to make them as well.

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Old 12-08-2011, 10:34 PM   #2
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

you be talking bout these??



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Old 12-11-2011, 09:21 AM   #3
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

Like many things it depends on how many miles you drive. Usually the longer the vehicle those types of smaller things help. I dont think on it would be a huge on a school bus.

Large fleets use things like this to pick up fractions of a gallon but those fractions over a fleet of thousands of trucks add up to a savings?

I dont know how much they are but I think it would take a while to get your return on them.

Just my opinion.
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Old 12-13-2011, 11:16 AM   #4
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

Where can you buy them ?
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Old 12-13-2011, 11:25 AM   #5
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

just google wheel aero cover

also check this guy out http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...nner-6342.html he seems to be getting all kinds of mileage. also sounds like the wheel covers give you 1mpg better mileage per wheel.

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Old 02-03-2012, 05:36 PM   #6
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

i have made a set of fender skirts for mine..like they had on the old 44 gruyhound bus's
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Old 02-27-2012, 11:09 AM   #7
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

Some people buy these for looks, others swear that they get 5% better gas mileage. Personally I think that they would help 1%-2% tops. Such a small surface will not have that much overall effect.
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Old 04-26-2012, 11:14 AM   #8
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

Just be aware that those wheel covers will reduce the cooling of your brakes! If you get in a situation where brake use is heavy, say hills or mountains, you may overheat them and lose your brakes altogether.
Yes, the wheel covers work, just look at pictures of 'lakes racers' on the salt flats...any streamlining helps reduce horsepower and drag loads. NOTE: they do not need a lot of brakes to stop, they have a freaking bunch of MILES to do so....

Keeping in mind the relative speeds and distances skoolies go, they are more decorative than anything else.
If you want to improve mileage, look into front air dams, there's a link around here somewhere.....
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Old 04-26-2012, 01:02 PM   #9
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

I'd gladly pay 1 mpg to keep my wheels from looking that ugly.
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Old 04-27-2012, 08:30 AM   #10
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

I would think you're not going to get 0.01 MPG better, let alone 1 MPG better. It's the total cumulative that makes for savings, over a long time/distance.

Instead, consider streamlining the bus as much as possible. Air dams on the front and sides of a bus will pay off faster.
Look at exotic high-speed cars: they even streamline the UNDERSIDE of the vehicle to reduce parasitic drag, and they ALL have air dams on the front and sides.
You can use heavy conveyor belting, the fabric-and-rubber stuff. It'll take the occasional curb or stone without complaint.

Want more proof? Look at the new buses coming out, they have sloped windshields to reduce drag.
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Old 04-27-2012, 08:34 AM   #11
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

Here ya go, a popular thread:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=250
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Old 05-02-2012, 10:42 PM   #12
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

gotta remember that was off a site where the guys are obsessed about a fraction of a MPG lol
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Old 05-21-2012, 11:57 AM   #13
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Re: Wheel cover for fuel mileage ?

OK, we've been spammed, how do we address this?
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