VetteOwner |
08-06-2008 12:44 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobc455
(Post 114201)
Actually turning a car takes almost no energy whatsoever.
If you ever get a car on a single-post center lift (like the next time you get a set of new tires), you will notice that you can rotate a car with your pinky finger.
At highway speeds you could remove the belt from your P/S pump, and you wouldn't feel any different. (Please, nobody try to remove their belt while driving at highway speeds!) The only time you need P/S is in parking lots.
Even if you take a hard corner, there is really no energy required to do that- the only energy required is to change the rotational inertia of the vehicle. Once you have started to take a corner, no further energy input is required. (To visualize this, think about a zig-zagging car instead of a car doing a single circle. The zig-zagging car will lose its momentum faster, since you are rapidly accelerating the rotation in opposite directions.)
Holding a car in a circle does load up the suspension, but those are static loads and do not require energy "input" once the car has started to rotate.
-Bob C.
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yup, to prove this, start your car and leave it in park, turn the wheel and listen to the power steering pump while while you turn, then leave the wheels turned, it doesnt strain anymore! cuz its not needing any hydrolic input from the pump so it will use virtually no energy. (kind like with a riding mower/gokart/atv. once the wheels are turned it doesnt take any effort to keep them turned. even while changeling lanes, next time SAFELY glance at the wheel and actually look how far you turn he wheel, your only rotating it maybe 1-2 degrees from normal and usually you turn the wheel, wait for the car to change then turn back.
if your gaining 2mpg by not changeling lanes u need to get the grease out of your power steering:D (PSF is like water, some use brake fluid, also like water)
if you ever have your serpentine belt off (any of you) give the pump a spin by hand, youd be surprised how little resistance it has.
yes u only need power steering in parking lots and even then not really.
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