Front splitter position.
Discussion
I've just got hold of a replacement front splitter that fits under the front of my '98 500. Trouble is it didn't come with any instructions or diagrams.
Can someone tell me which way round it should be? Does it fix on like a scoop, or like an aerodynamic wing? I know it was designed to create a low pressure area under the nose, increasing downforce, but is that because it is deflecting air up into the engine bay, or because of its upsidedown wing-like shape?
Where is the best place to attach it? I can see the place the original one was, but I've read some people have moved them forward or aft and got better results.
And I've just found out I'm not going to be in country for the Growl - how stink is that?!!
Can someone tell me which way round it should be? Does it fix on like a scoop, or like an aerodynamic wing? I know it was designed to create a low pressure area under the nose, increasing downforce, but is that because it is deflecting air up into the engine bay, or because of its upsidedown wing-like shape?
Where is the best place to attach it? I can see the place the original one was, but I've read some people have moved them forward or aft and got better results.
And I've just found out I'm not going to be in country for the Growl - how stink is that?!!
I lost mine recently on an already dead animal in the road that other cars just went over. Took the splitter clean off and a following lorry destroyed it totally.
I tried leaving it off but found the front going light at high speed so fitted a new one. Didn't affect my water temp either way though.
I tried leaving it off but found the front going light at high speed so fitted a new one. Didn't affect my water temp either way though.
I fitted my new splitter at the forward edge of the flat panel under the nose. The idea (mine anyway) is that it will generate a high air pressure area in front of it, and will force more air through the radiator helping cooling. This air will then travel back into the engine bay, then the low pressure area behind the splitter will drag the air down and out of the engine bay helping with high-speed front-end down force.
Before it was fitted the front end was a little light at high speed (100+), and a little waffly turning in to high speed corners. I could also see the bonnet back-edge flapping around a bit. The car temp would be 85-90 during hard driving.
Now the car feels fine at high speed and stable in to corners and the bonnet is rock-solid. The temp has also dropped 5 degrees.
Seems my car enjoys the splitter. I've just got to avoid the road-kill though.
Before it was fitted the front end was a little light at high speed (100+), and a little waffly turning in to high speed corners. I could also see the bonnet back-edge flapping around a bit. The car temp would be 85-90 during hard driving.
Now the car feels fine at high speed and stable in to corners and the bonnet is rock-solid. The temp has also dropped 5 degrees.
Seems my car enjoys the splitter. I've just got to avoid the road-kill though.
Maybe regarding cooling mine behaves differently without the splitter because I have a very small number plate, so the air flow around the front could be quite different to most. But after these comments I'm thinking of trying a new one nearer the front to maybe improve high speed stability.
This is an interesting and quite complex subject. As I understand it the normal purpose of a splitter is to send the air flow in two directions whilst adding as little additional drag and turbulence as possible. From a performance point of view a splitter and air dam low down at the front tends to reduce overall drag because less air comes into contact with the lumpy bits under the car like suspension, ARB drop links, exhaust ect. Generally if the splitter has an air dam mounted which deflects air up over the car it is thought that the additional drag of the air dam is more that gained back by the reduced drag under the car, if the splitter works well most of the air should turn up and over the car before hitting the air dam anyway. Most current cars have an air dam and some sort of splitter as standard.
With this sort of arrangement in place cooling when on the move is greatly enhanced as all the air entering the front has to find it’s way through the rad and past the engine, In fact if anything it is too good and you can end up blanking off part of the rad. Although difficult to measure it does also give the impression that cooling at idle when the fans are running is also more effective, possibly because warm air is not being re-circulated
If the splitter element is lower to the ground than normal there can be a reduction in lift. This is because the air that does pass under the car has a smaller gap to pass through so the velocity increases, in this situation higher velocity equals reduced pressure so the front is sucked down slightly.
The scoop arrangement that is often used to direct a little more air via the rad may help cooling ( a bit) but I fail to understand how it helps handling. It would seem reasonable to think that pressure would be increased in front of the scoop with I would think fairly significant turbulence behind it, both of which would hinder nice clean air flow rather than help it. As with all aero tweaks you can only really tell what happens by trying them. Some have tried it and say it works so it must do somehow.
To increase air flow via the rad without adding turbulence under the car it would seem that a flat plate rather than an angled one would be better. Even better would be a flat plate with a radius on the upper side of the leading edge. That sort of arrangement should turn the air flowing close to the splitter upwards into the rad without upsetting the remaining air that is travelling under the car.
Based on personal experience it may be worth saying that if you do get the front a bit more planted the rear end then needs a comparable amount of attention.
With this sort of arrangement in place cooling when on the move is greatly enhanced as all the air entering the front has to find it’s way through the rad and past the engine, In fact if anything it is too good and you can end up blanking off part of the rad. Although difficult to measure it does also give the impression that cooling at idle when the fans are running is also more effective, possibly because warm air is not being re-circulated
If the splitter element is lower to the ground than normal there can be a reduction in lift. This is because the air that does pass under the car has a smaller gap to pass through so the velocity increases, in this situation higher velocity equals reduced pressure so the front is sucked down slightly.
The scoop arrangement that is often used to direct a little more air via the rad may help cooling ( a bit) but I fail to understand how it helps handling. It would seem reasonable to think that pressure would be increased in front of the scoop with I would think fairly significant turbulence behind it, both of which would hinder nice clean air flow rather than help it. As with all aero tweaks you can only really tell what happens by trying them. Some have tried it and say it works so it must do somehow.
To increase air flow via the rad without adding turbulence under the car it would seem that a flat plate rather than an angled one would be better. Even better would be a flat plate with a radius on the upper side of the leading edge. That sort of arrangement should turn the air flowing close to the splitter upwards into the rad without upsetting the remaining air that is travelling under the car.
Based on personal experience it may be worth saying that if you do get the front a bit more planted the rear end then needs a comparable amount of attention.
Interesting views 
I wonder if Aston Martin have the same problem damaging them ..would be slightly more expensive to replace
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carbon-Fibre-Splitter-Aston-...
BB
I wonder if Aston Martin have the same problem damaging them ..would be slightly more expensive to replace
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carbon-Fibre-Splitter-Aston-...
BB
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