Posted on 05/02/2006 11:56:18 AM PDT by finnman69
Driving style has a big impact on fuel economy. Backing off can save big.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - You can get 35 percent better fuel mileage out of your current vehicle by using a device most drivers already have.
That would be your right foot.
Most drivers agonizing over the cost of gasoline fail to realize the enormous impact their driving style has on fuel consumption.
During the last run-up in fuel prices, we wrote about Edmunds.com's tests of common fuel-saving driving tips. Some common tips, it turned out, had little or no effect on fuel economy. (Edmunds.com provides data and content for CNN.com's automotive Websites.)
For example, using the air conditioner at highway speeds had no appreciable effect on fuel economy compared to rolling down the windows.
Keeping your tires properly inflated, while important for safety, has only a small effect on fuel mileage, according to Edmunds.com's tests.
Using cruise control on the highway, though, really does have a noticeable effect on fuel economy.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
I sense this will be an 'interesting' thread.
CNN's suggestions are just that. When the RATs get back into power they become mandatory as does the reduction of speed limits back to double nickels.
"I sense this will be an 'interesting' thread."
Why?
All Freepers are law-abiding, speedlimit-observing citizens.
This is a well known fact.
INCREASE SUPPLIES NOW!!!!
I had a car where pressing an inch resulted in some pretty quick acceleration.
Own a Ford, huh?
Air conditioning can draw up to 20 HP, when it only requires on the order of 18 HP to maintain 55 MPH:
how could turning ON the A/C possibly "save gas?"
R's fuel-saving tip of the day: don't buy gas having an appreciable percent alcohol, since alcohol has only about half the energy content as gasoline.
For example, 10% ethanol fuel will cost you about 5% in gas mileage.
It depends how sophisticated your foot is.
Lots of heavy acceleration and braking is obviously bad. But it's ridiculous to claim that cruise control saves gas. I sometimes use it on a long drive, but it constantly causes downshifting on hills and unnecessary acceleration near the top of hills that are bound to waste gas.
It would only save gas, IMHO, if you are a poor driver.
20 gallons a week should be enough for anyone.
/Cowering in corner
Oh NO!
Back to the Jimmah Cartah, 55MPH Federal speed limits
ARGH!
Lotus.
"Keeping your tires properly inflated, while important for safety, has only a small effect on fuel mileage..."
I guess that would depend on how underinflated they were to begin with.
---how could turning ON the A/C possibly "save gas?---
At highway speeds rolling down the windows on an aerodynamically slick car can cost more in drag than an efficient air conditioner.
Using air conditioning could only save gas if it allows you to keep the windows closed at high speeds. Open windows cause a lot of drag. But there again, there are compromises. It's not usually a choice between using the air conditioner all the time or opening the windows wide all the time, unless you are down south in the summer.
The old addage used to be to drive as though there were an egg betweern your foot and the gas pedal.
Rolling down the windows increases your aerodynamic drag, requiring more power to push the car along the road. The faster you go, the better A/C is since A/C is relatively constant while drag increases with speed.
I get an extra mpg at 65 & 70. My truck uses more fuel at 55.
I drive sensibly, and get 17MPG in town, short trips, in my 1989 Crown Vic 302/5L EFI V-8. This is an average over the last 3 months.
I haven't taken it on a highway trip yet.
You need a more powerful car. :)
Let's assume I can get 35 percent mileage driving at 70 miles an hour than 55 miles per hour. For the sake of argument, we'll round off and say I get 20 miles per gallon at 70 MPH and 30 miles per gallon at 55 MPH.
Let's say I have to drive 385 miles. I would save 90 minutes if I drove 70 miles an hour. I would also use about six gallons more gas.
I value my time at about $20 an hour. Thus, I would save $30 of my time at a cost of about $18.
Clear the left lane, I'm driving by.
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