Neat Tailgate Window Science Experiment

[Forenaftrunner]

This may work with different combinations of speed, temp., etc, but here's what I found out today.

Driving on the highway 60-75 mph. Front windows all the way down. Sunroof all the way open. Rear windows and back(tailgate) window closed. No air conditioning on. Outside temp. approx. 75 degrees.

Inside the cabin was cool and breezy. Bob Marley playing on the radio (probably not that important, but very enjoyable for the drive home after work).

Next, open the back window fully while maintaining highway speed. Cabin temperature instantly rises a perceived 5-10 degrees. Close the back window and the temp. goes back down.

Don't believe me? Try it yourself. Amazing!

 

[purrfactor]

lol I think that might depend on where you live...

 

[A10MileHusker]

On nice days I always drive with my front window(s) down and my back(s) (not tailgate) window about 50%. This way you dont get a lot of cross wind up front.

LOOOVVE your music choice by the way. :bigok::dancin: I'm listening to bob right now.

Doug

 

[diego]

If I drive w/ my rear window down ... I find myself dizzy when I get home from the exhaust getting sucked in

 

[Annoyed]

If it's warm enough to have to think about it, I just turn the A/C on.

 

[BROOKLYN]

i would love to take my back window down, but the sulfer smell gets so bad it becomes i become sick, i did the tsb twice already
whats the point of the back window

 

[4boer]

Funny, because I had an unplanned "experiment" over the weekend. Lowered all windows and then the tailgate window, which had some paper taped to the inside of it. In the process of cursing, as I figured the paper was getting pulled down inside the tailgate, the paper comes off and gets sucked forward at warp speed. Was probably going 30 at the time. A real eye opener concerning the airflow from the rear. Choke + Gag.

 

[EH007]

i would love to take my back window down, but the sulfer smell gets so bad it becomes i become sick, i did the tsb twice already
whats the point of the back window

The ONLY time I smell sulfer from my 4Runner is when I'm flooring the gas pedal. All other times there's no sulfer smell at all. I love to drive around with my back window down, so I'd be pissed if I had to smell sulfer all the time.

Do you drive your 4Runner hard all the time, or are you getting the sulfer smell even when you're taking it easy?

 

[EH007]

This may work with different combinations of speed, temp., etc, but here's what I found out today.

Driving on the highway 60-75 mph. Front windows all the way down. Sunroof all the way open. Rear windows and back(tailgate) window closed. No air conditioning on. Outside temp. approx. 75 degrees.

Inside the cabin was cool and breezy. Bob Marley playing on the radio (probably not that important, but very enjoyable for the drive home after work).

Next, open the back window fully while maintaining highway speed. Cabin temperature instantly rises a perceived 5-10 degrees. Close the back window and the temp. goes back down.

Don't believe me? Try it yourself. Amazing!

I tried it just today after reading your post. But I didn't get the same results. If anything, the opposite seemed true for me, but probably only because of the increased breeze from having the rear window down.

 

[dheeter]

Who has the spoiler? I am guessing that would have a significant effect on it. I have a spoiler and have no problem with the back window down, unless it is the only one open. With all the windows, the sunroof and the back window down, it is like a vaccum out the back.

 

[Forenaftrunner]

Re: Re: Neat Tailgate Window Science Experiment

I tried it just today after reading your post. But I didn't get the same results. If anything, the opposite seemed true for me, but probably only because of the increased breeze from having the rear window down.

That's what I assumed would have happened, but instead mine got much hotter. Very strange.

By any chance, were you listening to Bob Marley at the time?:

 

[gqr1c3boi]

Who has the spoiler? I am guessing that would have a significant effect on it. I have a spoiler and have no problem with the back window down, unless it is the only one open. With all the windows, the sunroof and the back window down, it is like a vaccum out the back.

I get the same results you do, everything goes out the back. i feel like i get a lot less wind resistance with the tailgate window down and fronts down too.

 

[cdoglesby]

station wagon effect - the different coefficients once air travels over the top and bottom of the 4R sucks air into the cabin... hot exhaust, heat from asphalt

 

[lonesouth]

I'll agree with the OP. I figure the rear window is pulling in a bunch of the hot air that exits the engine bay under the truck and recirculates it back in. I'd bet there is at least a 10* difference with the rear window down vs up.

 

[webby]

I haven't noticed any change in temp when running with the rear window down.

When our dog is in the back seat, she usually wants her window down, and even if I open one other side window, at speeds above 40-45 mph, I get buffeting in the interior that pounds our ears. So I open the rear gate window halfway, and the buffeting disappears.

I recently did the side exhaust mod, and haven't smelled any exhaust since.

 

[lonesouth]

I did the side exhaust about 3 months after getting my 4r in 2006. Cut off the resonator, had the shop weld on a 90 and come out just behind the rear tire. World of difference, but I still get the faintest bit when floored, which really never happens. Can't believe toyota is still putting rear exhaust on vehicles with a rear window...

 

[Trevloc]

i usually only drive with my driver window down, or a/c on full blast. too hot for anything else.

the only time my rear window is down is when someone is riding my ass. as soon as you roll it down, they back off real quick.

 

[Offroader5]

the only time my rear window is down is when someone is riding my ass. as soon as you roll it down, they back off real quick.

Would be interesting to see the look on their face if the window rolls down and they see a rail gun or something like in the movie Jackal mounted up on a tripod back there. Wouldn't even need to be pointed at them...they'd freak out even if it were just pointing at the floor

 

[magert54]

i usually only drive with my driver window down, or a/c on full blast. too hot for anything else.

the only time my rear window is down is when someone is riding my ass. as soon as you roll it down, they back off real quick.

:iagree: I cant only imagine his reaction!

 

[4RunnERD]

i usually only drive with my driver window down, or a/c on full blast. too hot for anything else.

the only time my rear window is down is when someone is riding my ass. as soon as you roll it down, they back off real quick.

I wonder why this works? Do they think you're going to throw something out of the back of the truck at them? I usually just pull over and let them pass.