I think what is being overlooked is the larger engines just do not get any significant better fuel economy by slowing down(and yes if you are driving 500,000 miles per year a .1mpg difference MAY be significant depending on your business operendi). I've noticed that those that have said they get a"1 MPG" savings, are either driving smaller engines or trucks pulling trailors, etc.
I tried driving 55 after 62 to 65 and found a solid 1.5 mpg improvement from 7 to about 8.5. If I drive 10,000 miles at 7 mpg, I will use about 1,400 gallons of fuel which comes out to $5,600. At 8.5 mpg, I get over a 20% improvement which means I save about $1,100. Not a bad tradeoff since I can get the equivalent of a month of "free rv sites" for that much saving. Something I will sure consider.
Cody47
2008 Winnebago Tour 40TD
http://fulltime-rv.blogspot.com/
You have plenty of replies, but yes. I don't like to slow down below 60-65 due to lack of patience, but it is simple physics, one does save money by slowing down, and I don't have much of that to spare right now. I think it helps make the roads safer too.
zaitzcj wrote: I've been driving a Class A for a year now, and always keep it at 55 mph on the open road. Economy is only one concern. The other is safety. Remember "Speed Kills"
Just drove down I-5 and reduced my speed from 62mph, which I use to cruise at, down to 57mph.......that's about a 16% reduction in drag......I don't know what I'm averaging on this trip as far as mpg.......but I did see 10.1 mpg for quite awhile on my workhorse computer readout.....the previous best I had ever seen was 9.1mpg. No, I'm not saying I'm averagin 10mpg, just that's what it read for awhile. I use to average 7.5mpg....if I can help that out by slowing down 5mph.......I'll do it. By the way, for the most part I was cruising and mixing in well with the 18 wheelers. It appeared that most traffic was travelling slower too.
Brian
zaitzcj wrote: I've been driving a Class A for a year now, and always keep it at 55 mph on the open road. Economy is only one concern. The other is safety. Remember "Speed Kills"
Correction, speed differential kills.
So are you pointing-a-finger at the slower driver --- driving at or above the legal minimum posted speeds?
* This post was
edited 03/31/08 01:48am by MasterBoondocker *
I just made the trip home after being gone for 5 months this winter. I'd decided I was going to "try" to keep it at 60mph or under. It worked for the first 800 miles. Then the closer to home I got, the faster I drove. When I fill up, I'll see if that slow 800 miles made any difference.
Larry & Ann w/Lucy the cocker
'00 Mountain Aire 350 Cummins/Spartan
Toad: '05 Jeep Liberty Ltd.
2cyber71 wrote: I just took my DP for a ride and kept it the speed under 55mph.....seems my mileage jumped from 7.4 to 8.5.
Anyone else test this lately?
That's a 13% discount which equals .52 at $4.00 a gallon.
I've been driving a Class A for a year now, and always keep it at 55 mph on the open road. Economy is only one concern. The other is safety. Remember "Speed Kills"
Correction, speed differential kills.
Correction...sudden stops kill...maybe me, or maybe you..so, try controlling that careening motel behind my sports car, when I hit the brakes suddenly for whatever reason....and no, no, no.....it will be your fault, no matter where you end up,... on top of me, in the opposite lane, or over the hill.
"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal, with a tag axle and one slide, on a 1997 P32 Chevy chassis....7.4 Vortec Engine
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