shouldn't air flow through back window?

Question

I have a toyota 4runner and i usually drive with my driver side window down and also the window that's on the trunk.
Whenever I drive...there's a breeze shooting up from the trunk. Shouldn't the air that comes from my driver side window flow through the back window and go outside instead of being reflected back up the front of the car?

Answer 1

You also have a back seat, I assume. Perhaps the wind from the front window is being deflected upward by the back seat forming some sort of vortex that is blowing air back toward you.

Answer 2

in theory, yes. However, reality is always more complicated.

Your 4runner has a flat back...and at highway speeds, the air that moves across the top of the vehicle creates a vortex on the back. This vortex moves from top to bottom, then curves back IN towards the vehicle moving upwards. This air moving upwards and inwards is then caught on the inside roof the vehicle, just inside the window, and momentum carries the air along the roof and towards your head, back to front.

The best way to avoid this vortex is either to remove the top of your truck or knock out the windshield.

Or, you could close the rear window. The vortex will still be there, of course, but it won't bring air into the vehicle from the rear.

Answer 3

Brian L is correct. That's the reason you should NOT drive with the hatch window open. You will experience cumulative carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust gas drawn from your tailpipe directly into the car. Instead, get a nice air flow through your car by also opening a window in a back door, even just part way.

Answer 4

interesting...
you might be experiencing vortex of Von Karman
where vortices are formed after an obstacle in a turbulent flow...
that would explain the flux coming upstream...
for experiment: take a large cup of coffee, put some drops of milk (but don't stir yet) and move a spoon from one edge of the mug to the other... if you move quickly, you'll see some alternate vortices ...