When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
It's my equivalent of the cool runnings lucky egg. I always deploy it manually. When you cycle the ignition off with it manually raised, the wing will stay up until you start rolling, then it'll go down. You have to manually lower it and raise it again before each run to get it to stay up, unless you leave the car idling between runs.
"The spoiler stabilizes the air-flow at the rear-end of the vehicle by means of a defined burbling of the air-flow while simultaneously increasing the pressure around the front of the rear spoiler.
This reduces both drag and rear-axle lift.
An additional side-effect of this increase in pressure is an increase in the volume of air drawn in by the engine as well as in the flow of air through the engine compartment ventilation system whose inlets are located at the rear lid.
At low speeds, aerodynamics play only a minor role in the composition of road resistance values. For this reason, the spoiler is only extended at approx. 75 mph and is retracted again at approx. 37 mph. As a result of detailed and intensive work on the aerodynamics, it has been possible to reduce the size of the spoiler on the new 911 Carrera compared to that of the old 911 Carrera."
Also (as far as cooling and ventilation) ...
"The engine compartment is ventilated by an opening in the rear cover positioned beneath the spoiler. An additional opening beneath the spoiler grille is used to draw in the required combustion air.
The extended rear spoiler, by increasing the pressure around the spoiler, improves the air-flow in the engine compartment and thus the cooling process itself. The engine compartment scavenging air is blown into the engine compartment (assisted by the fan) if the switching temperature is exceeded."
I think I will also kiss that lucky egg ... I may not always hit the 75 mph trigger speed to have the spoiler deploy, but closing in on the rev limiter in 2nd gear (close to 70 mph), I think some of the effects of lifting the spoiler manually could be beneficial. I will surely try it out. If just for the cool factor!
just realize it's a spoiler, not a wing. It's going to reduce lift by "spoiling" the air and creating a nice low pressure bubble between the rear window and the spoiler itself.
If anything, you're raising the center of gravity of the car . . . .
I deploy the spoiler manually, mainly on the theory that it can't hurt.
Most pics I've seen of 996s autocrossing didn't have the spoiler deployed... Thought it didn't make sense... Thanks for sharing your experience, as I'm trying to gather a general consensus...
Seat of the pants wise, any improvement? More rear grip? engine breathing better? More understeer?
I always deploy the wing on my 964, because it aids cooling. Since the auto deployment is around 48mph it would be up when the car reaches speeds where the spoiler would have an effect.
Most all SCCA prepared and street prepared cars run some sort of spoiler.
I always deploy the wing on my 964, because it aids cooling. Since the auto deployment is around 48mph it would be up when the car reaches speeds where the spoiler would have an effect.
Most all SCCA prepared and street prepared cars run some sort of spoiler.
They run 10" tall blade spoilers . . . . . . there's a difference between that and the factory spoiler that's designed to reduce rear end lift at 75+ mph (as a result of Porsche's slavish devotion to the slope back "Beetle on Steroids" shape).
They run 10" tall blade spoilers . . . . . . there's a difference between that and the factory spoiler that's designed to reduce rear end lift at 75+ mph (as a result of Porsche's slavish devotion to the slope back "Beetle on Steroids" shape).
The effect starts at lower speeds....don't forget there is a vertical panel on the 964 between the spoiler and lid that effectively also acts as a "blade" and of course directs air directly into the engine compartment
The mathematical formula for lift (Negative lift is what we are looking for in our particular situation)
where
L is lift force,
ρ is air density,
v is true airspeed,
A is planform area, and
Cl is the lift coefficient at the desired angle of attack
The lift force increases exponentially in relation to airspeed. At low speeds the spoiler has very little effect, but in the fast swepers & slalom gates of a run where speed is generally higher, the spoiler should have a beneficial effect. In theory.
On the other hand, all the slots on the spoiler have a negative effect on the Cl (Lift coefficient). Was Porsche aiming to cool the engine better at speed, or generate negative lift (read reduce rear-axle lift & drag)? That remains to be seen.
Last edited by SPEEDEM0N; Jan 23, 2015 at 03:19 PM.
Porsche's Top 5 Most Questionable Naming Decisions
Slideshow: For a company obsessed with engineering precision, Porsche has occasionally named its cars in ways that left even loyal enthusiasts scratching their heads.
Pogea Racing's 964 Porsche 911 Reimagination Stands Out in a Crowded Field
Slideshow: Pogea Racing's latest Porsche 964 project blends carbon-fiber construction, modern chassis upgrades, and up to 500 horsepower while keeping the air-cooled 911 experience firmly analog.
Talos Takes Your 991 Porsche 911 GT3 to the Next Level for a Cool $1.13 Million
Slideshow: Talos Vehicles has transformed the Porsche 911 GT3 RS into a carbon-bodied, race-inspired machine that costs well over $1 million before the donor car is even included.
9 Vehicles Porsche Helped Engineer that Aren't Porsches
Slideshow: Long before engineering consulting became trendy, Porsche was quietly helping other automakers build everything from supercars to economy hatchbacks.
9 Features and Characteristics That Only Porsche People Understand
Slideshow: Some brands build cars. Porsche builds traditions, obsessions, and a few habits that stopped making sense decades ago but somehow became part of the charm.