60… 65… 70
I think I’m going to debunk the “the slower you drive the better your mileage” story. I have been driving 60 mph for a couple weeks now, and I’ve noticed some great gains. However, this weekend, I think I noticed something different.
This weekend, I paid no attention to my speed. Partly because I wanted to hear the Charger roar again, but mainly because we had to haul-ass to Austin to hop a train that the girls and I have been wanting to ride. I didn’t do anything crazy like 90 on the interstate, but I did go 70-75-80 when appropriate by traffic.
When I got back, dropped the girls off at their mom’s, and made it home, I noticed it was time to fill up as indicated by the excessive beeping and the fuel light. So I pulled up to my local gas station and filled up, to the tune of a beautiful 26.5mpg ;)
This has me thinking… is the 55 mph-most-efficent-gas-”rule” possibly not correct for all/most vehicles? Am I leaving mileage on the table for driving 60 mph? Could 65, or 70, give me more?
I’ll continue this week at 65 to see what becomes of it, maybe it’s just a matter of finding what’s right for my drive?
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May 5th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
55mph is absolutely not a catch-all. It completely depends on engine speed, and I suspect engine size. I’ve been meaning to figure this out for some time, for my truck. It’s a standard transmission (which of course is more fuel efficient), so I can pretty consistently keep it in the same gear, but I got to wondering what the trade-off was in both directions when considering the slower I go, the longer the engine is running and using gas.
Another thing you should consider is drafting, especially off of tractor trailers. MythBusters showed you can get a pretty good gas savings while following one at a close-yet-safe distance. I don’t have any proof of it’s effects personally, but I did do this quite a bit when I had a long ass commute on the turnpike last year. I’d find a truck that I thought was going a reasonably fast speed and hang out behind them for a bit. Then I’d get sick of going that speed, pass them, find another truck a mile up the road, repeat. Obviously not the most efficient way of doing it, but I’m sure I gained a little here and there.
May 6th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Well whatever it turns out is the right speed, you’re getting some great gas mileage, keep it up!
I agree. I’m not fixated on 60, just surprised that faster could get me better gas mileage… now I don’t have to get the finger anymore ;) –Mike
May 6th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Well thats a relief! 60mph is tough!
Heck yeah, now you won’t be zooming by anymore… more like just crawling by… lol! –Mike
May 7th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Wow. I had no idea the Charger isn’t such a gas hog after all.
Then again, most of my driving is suburban. I get about 26MPG in my Pontiac Vibe.
There doesn’t seem to be only one magic bullet to save gas. It seems like all the little things just add up.
May 8th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
hmmm… interesting. I’m curious to find out how 65 goes.