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Fuel savings realized?

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gun guru

04-23-2008 18:09:48

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For the last week I have drove 55-60 all the way to work, no jackrabbit takeoffs, do a lot more coasting up to red lights, consoladate trips. All this has improved my MPG by about 8-10% really. I have a Chevy car, not a truck. I see guys in big pickups driving 70+ on the freeway, SUV's big and small driving 70+ and a few cars like me driving 55-60 in the right lane. I am lucky, only 50miles/day of driving. used to be 70miles/day a few years ago. Bottom line, save some gas, drive real casually, be smart.

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Tim B from MA

04-24-2008 13:55:24

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

If we all slowed down to the speed limit, we would drive the price of oil down to $50 a barrel again in a couple months.

At the risk of being called all kinds on names again ...

45 to 50 mile commute each way, almost all highway, 2008 Toyota Yaris generally getting 380 to 400 miles between fill-ups

Cruise control at 65 mph get 37.5 to 38 mpg

Cruise control at 70 mph get 34 to 35 mpg

In one tankful, doing 65 most of the time but drafting close (aka tailgating) to big trucks (usually doing 70 to 75 mph) for 30 to 40 miles of the tankful 40.5 mpg

Last tankful, drafting about 100 feet behind any vehicle that is handy - usually doing 75 to 80 mph (not comfortable in my little Yaris) also go 40.5 mpg. Driving signficantly faster and getting 6 ot 8 percent better milage seems signficant.

I'm a bit tired of my experimenting - my best bet is driving 65 in the right lane, and getting 100 feet behind a vehicle doing likewise on the rare occasion that I come across one. If you happen to be behind me doing 65 or so, jump aboard!

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Mano

04-24-2008 09:44:33

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. It's not about speed it's about motor RPMs. Most modern vehicles can run 70 mph with about the same RPMs it takes to run 55. Try it and look at your tach. Plus a 100 mile trip at 55 takes 109 minutes, a 100 mile trip at 70 takes 86 minutes, difference of 23 minutes. Question? does your engine burn gas while idling? how about during those extra 23 minutes? Think about it. Anybody who says different is just confused, or trying to deceive.

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john in la

04-24-2008 19:21:14

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to Mano, 04-24-2008 09:44:33

I recon jackrabbit starts and quick stops save gas also since you are moving from one red light to the other much quicker.

Sorry Mano but all I can do is shake my head and laugh after reading your post.

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gun guru

04-24-2008 13:21:11

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to Mano, 04-24-2008 09:44:33

My tach at 70MPH is 2,500 at 55 it is 2000. Nuff said.

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02XLT4X4

04-24-2008 19:24:16

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-24-2008 13:21:11

gun guru said: (quoted from post at 13:21:11 04/24/08) My tach at 70MPH is 2,500 at 55 it is 2000. Nuff said.

So is mine.

As speed doubles drag quadrouples. But an engine is happiest (most efficient) about where it makes peak torque, which for me is about 2k RPM's which puts me at about 55 mph. I can almost hit 20MPG, which isn't bad for a 2002 F-150 with a 5.4.

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Bob

04-24-2008 13:17:20

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THAT'S an odd statement... in reply to Mano, 04-24-2008 09:44:33

"Most modern vehicles can run 70 mph with about the same RPMs it takes to run 55."

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mlauk

04-24-2008 10:28:20

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to Mano, 04-24-2008 09:44:33

Aerodynamic drag causes the fuel mileage to go down at higher speeds.

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Goose

04-24-2008 07:26:55

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

Coming to work this morning on I-80, with the cruise set on 77mph my Olds was reading out 30 to 31 average mpg on the driver info display. On a two lane hiway with the cruise set on 60, it gets about the same.

Doesn't seem like it makes much difference. And that's with R225-60-16 tires. I don't know if skinnier tires would make a difference.

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john in la

04-24-2008 06:44:30

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

Like others have said it would be a complete personality change for most people to drive and try and save gas.
The thing that chapps me is these are the same people that are first in line to complain about how high the price of gas is.

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buickanddeere

04-24-2008 05:58:58

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

My favorite is the yahoo that passes me. Then less than a mile later they nearly lock the brakes a couple of hundred feet from an intersection/laneway. And forcing me to brake hard for their last minute turn.

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jdemaris

04-24-2008 05:35:43

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

I've got one truck where it doesn't hardly make any difference, regardless of speed driven. That's my 85 Ford F250 with a 6.9 diesel, 4.10 axles, and C6 auto-trans. I took a few 1000 mile plus highway trips at 65-70 MPH and got 13.5 MPG. Also took a long road trip through the upper peninsula of Michigan. We drove a couple of days on flat roads at 50 MPH. What'd we get for mileage? 13.5 MPG. Yeah, defies logic, but true just the same.

In regard to super high mileage attempts - we've tried it with all our small diesels. Out 91 Volkswagen Jettas with 1.6 diesels get an absolute best of 51 MPG but 45 is more the usual. Our two 81 Chevy Chevettes with 1.8 diesels get 47-48 MPG at best. We're at a 1500 foot elevation, and any non-turbo diesel loses 1% of its fuel mileage and power for every 328 feet above sea-level. So, that means someone who lives at sea-level should be doing 4 1/2% better then I do.

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jason, NW Ontario

04-24-2008 04:24:20

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

Volume per volume, ethanol is between 25-30% less dense as gasoline, depending on which study you read. Either way, it means less distance travelled per volume with an ethanol blend. If you can find pure gasoline, use it for best efficiency.

Jason

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Mathias NY

04-24-2008 04:53:08

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to jason, NW Ontario, 04-24-2008 04:24:20

Around here Mobil, Sunoco, Hess, BP, and Citco all contain 10% Ethanol across all grades. Kwik Fill is the only station that sells 100% gasoline.

(100%power)*(90%gasoline)+(70%power)*(10%Ethanol)=97% So crudely you will get 3% less power with the 10% Ethanol mix. So on a 30mpg vehicle you would get 29mpg. On a 15mpg vehicle you would only get 14.5mpg.

Tires probably have a larger impact on fuel milage, but every little bit helps.

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jose bagge

04-24-2008 03:46:56

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

sounds like a complete personality change for me- casual and smart.

I'm screwed

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Tractor,Tractor

04-24-2008 03:15:45

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

Huntingreen--Walmart sells 10 Ethanol that will cut your milage. BP is probably pure gasoline.

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36 coupe

04-24-2008 02:00:07

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

I drive 45 to 50, always have.My truck shifts into overdrive at 45.F150 4wd got 19.3 mpg on a 100 mile trip half the milage was on the interstate at 55 mph.Driving fast eats fuel, drivers dont seem to understand this.Dosent really matter if it takes 5 or 10 minutes longer to get there.Reaction time and braking time gets real hairy at 75 mph.

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fergienewbee

04-24-2008 01:04:25

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

My son, a Jr. at Michigan State, liked to drive fast when he first started. If the limit was 75 go 75. He's since learned his best gas mileage is around 65. Hardly ever drives the 70 speed limit.

Larry in Michigan

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noncompos

04-23-2008 22:21:33

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

Be careful about upping your tire pressure--it"s true a tire aired up hard will get you better mileage than one left a little soft, but if you overdo it you sacrifice traction because the tire has "rounded out" where it hits the road, and less tire surface firmly on the ground can get dicey if it"s wet, frosty or an emergency swerve/stop situation.

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jose bagge

04-24-2008 03:50:12

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to noncompos, 04-23-2008 22:21:33

Not really....guys road racing on DOT approved tires routinely run them way up over max. Stiffens sidewall, prevents roll-over onto side wall.
Most of these modern strut cars go through so much camber change through suspension travel that they hardly ever put the tire down square.

You'll get the best handling and mileage out of a tire right at maximum inflation- but it may ride like a rock

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noncompos

04-24-2008 09:18:23

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to jose bagge, 04-24-2008 03:50:12

Good point re" the road racers airing up tires, as long as you remember they make their living on the edge between traction and sliding, and your wife and/or kids going to visit Grandma don"t... With tires varying so much in construction, composition etc, probably only each mfr knows where his best traction point is (which could well vary on different road surfaces and under differing conditions), and they don"t tell...but it"s for sure you don"t want your tires soft these days.

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huntingreen

04-23-2008 20:20:48

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

For some reason I have been getting about 1.5 miles to the gallon better on the last 2 tanks. I usually buy at Wal Mart but the last 2 tanks came from BP. 6 cylinder Grand Cherokee.

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IH2444

04-23-2008 20:09:54

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

Some people just love to buy tires and fuel it seems. I see em all the time, big diesel pickups and such roaring out from a stop, black smoke rolling. I just chuckle to myself.

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utupuller

04-23-2008 20:08:55

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

I have a 03 Merc Mountaineer with the 4.6 in it. Dropping my speed down to 55 from 60 I am averaging 4 mile per gallon better. Of course I am in west central mn where Jan- Feb we where very lucky to hit zero and March I dont think we say many days above 20. Hit 74 today and talking snow again on Friday. Anyway warmer weather helps milage. As far as ethanol E-10 don't know if you will see a differnce in MN all gas is 10%. E-20 will typically cost a you a penny more gallon to get you the same distance with a regular engine not a flex fuel.

Remember ethanol will give about the same milage in stop and go traffic, but go down on the open road.

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RobMD

04-23-2008 19:48:46

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

I do 60 miles a day every day for the past 4 years. I've always driven 60-65. I KNOW how much gas I start to use when i'm running late some days. I'd use a quarter tank those days whereas, on good days, i'd use only an eighth of a tank. This is a 4 cylinder ranger 5 speed. 26 mpg highway.

I don't understand people with tahoes and suburbans and navigators and huge trucks with big tires on them. Status symbol.

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Larry59

04-23-2008 19:29:24

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

I find useing my cruse control on highway seem to get me better gas miles per gallon. Also that dang gas with Ethnol .."Spelling? " causes my car to get 5 miles to the gallon less with lack of power on top end when needed. Have Ford Escort 4 cyl and it runs great as a rule with out that gas in it.

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Spook

04-23-2008 19:28:55

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

I got a neighbor of mine who is a "hyper miler", he goes all out to save gas. He has a small Volkswagon car, diesel. He worked for Ford in Monroe, and drove from Howell every day. 70+ miles each way. He was real slow accelerating, but he worked out a scheme to drive 53 mph on the xway. Always stayed to the right. When he first started doing this, he worked night shift, and the police pulled him out of the car a couple of times for sobrietey checks! He claimed to average 58 mpg.

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Dan-IA

04-24-2008 17:24:41

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to Spook, 04-23-2008 19:28:55

When my Buick started making a weird noise I limped it home. Drove just above 40mph all the way. Just fast enough for the lock-up torque-converter to lock up, when I heard the engine speed fall to a slow idle I planted my foot for the long haul.

There's something to that fuel efficiency argument: the trip home was 230 miles, it usually takes a full tank of gas. I made it home with about half that. Okay, I also took an extra 90 minutes, but I don't get paid by the hour so I can't approximate a dollar value for my time.

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Gerald J.

04-23-2008 19:12:35

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Re: Fuel savings realized? in reply to gun guru, 04-23-2008 18:09:48

You may gain another 5 to 8% by airing up the tires to the maximum pressure allowed on their sidewalls.

The ride will be harsher, but longer.

Gerald J.

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