Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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We often take the same route from Colorado to the east coast almost every year. Wife keeps track of gas cost, etc, each time. We always towed at 63 mph on interstate, or 5 mph over limit on other roads.
This trip we did everything the same, EXCEPT, we used a maximum speed of 55 mph. Took very slightly longer to do the trip, but THE COST OF GAS FOR THE TRIP WAS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.
So if the price of gas is getting you down, try slowing down. I admit I was amazed!
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Sir Buffalo
Long Island, NY
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Joined: 03/23/2007
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It does help!
Sir Buffalo!
2006 Zinger by Crossroads 27BHS
2007 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 5.7
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ScarlettintheSouth
NC
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Joined: 04/27/2006
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Yes but I'm married to Mr. Leadfoot!!! The one that will drive 20 miles around just so he doesn't have to sit in traffic!
And I'm curious...Did your lovely wife say "I told you so"?
See Ya Around the Campfire!
Nancy & Jeff
DS-Garrett-14 loves Fishing & XBox 360!
Muffin-11 yr old Cocker Spaniel
Shadow-Black Lab puppy born 6/11/08
2008 Keystone Passport 280BH
2007 Ford Expedition (TV)
2004 Mustang Convertible (My Mid-life crisis)
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mike54
Woodstock,IL
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Joined: 04/23/2005
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ScarlettintheSouth wrote:
And I'm curious...Did your lovely wife say "I told you so"?
is there one that don't??????
Mike
2008 ZT25RK CrossRoads Zinger
Wi. rallys attended  IL. Rallys
2002 Silverado crew cab 2500HD 6.0 4:10 gears
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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If you look back on this forum, we have had numerous posts asking how to increase mpg. every one of the posts have several of us saying slow down, it works.You are prove that we were right.
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campingrandma
South Carolina
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Joined: 08/03/2007
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It does not always work to drive slower. Most of today's vehicles, maybe not trucks, are made to run optimally at lower RPMs at higher speeds than those in the 70s when we had a 55 MPH speed limit (which sucked!). I just completed a 700-mile round trip up I-85 and I-77 from Greenville SC to Hico, WV. Anyone who is at all familiar with that route knows it is not flat and has a lot of hills and curves even though it is interstate. I got 26 MGP running an average of 70 MPH (I wasn't towing the camper BTW). My van runs at 2200 RPM at 70 and at 55! I didn't use the cruise control except in the flatter areas for a few minutes to rest my bad knee as I can maintain a steady speed at much lower RPMs than the cruise control can in the more hilly areas. I was very conscious of watching the RPMs and held them down to under 2500 even when ascending a hill or passing. That is what makes the difference, find the sweet spot for your vehicle and run it there, whether at 55 or 70 (of course, not more than 65 if running ST tires.)
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Bob Shaw
Newnan Ga
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Joined: 06/26/2007
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I slowed from 70-75 mph to 60 and my mileage went frfom 5.5-6 mpg to 9 mpg, about a 50% improvement. Wow, that's significant! Slowing down is tough, because speed is addictive, but, it really pays off.
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2003Bigsilverado
Central Florida
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Joined: 06/17/2007
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I put on huge semi tires on my P/U and lowered my rpm's so 1800 at around 73 mph. now I get pretty good mpg but the rims and tires wiehged it at almost 1800 lbs. so I cancelled some of the gain out by the added weight. But now the truck just purrs down the road at 75. instead of scream.
2006 Wildwood LE 29bhs
2003 Chevy silverado
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Mike Schriber
San Diego, CA
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Joined: 10/29/2004
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That doesn't make sense. Unless you're in different gears, your RPM's can't be the same at 70 MPH and 55 MPH.
The biggest factor with speed and mileage isn't engine speed however, it's aerodynamic drag. Drag increases with the square of speed so the difference in drag between 55 MPH and 70 MPH is substantial.
Mike
campingrandma wrote:It does not always work to drive slower. Most of today's vehicles, maybe not trucks, are made to run optimally at lower RPMs at higher speeds than those in the 70s when we had a 55 MPH speed limit (which sucked!). I just completed a 700-mile round trip up I-85 and I-77 from Greenville SC to Hico, WV. Anyone who is at all familiar with that route knows it is not flat and has a lot of hills and curves even though it is interstate. I got 26 MGP running an average of 70 MPH (I wasn't towing the camper BTW). My van runs at 2200 RPM at 70 and at 55! I didn't use the cruise control except in the flatter areas for a few minutes to rest my bad knee as I can maintain a steady speed at much lower RPMs than the cruise control can in the more hilly areas. I was very conscious of watching the RPMs and held them down to under 2500 even when ascending a hill or passing. That is what makes the difference, find the sweet spot for your vehicle and run it there, whether at 55 or 70 (of course, not more than 65 if running ST tires.)
2005 Chevrolet Suburban K2500 LT (8.1 liter with 4.10 gears)
2004 Starcraft Homestead 29BHS (16,000 pounds combined)
Twin Honda EU2000i Generators - 12' Porta-Bote
Prodigy / Putnam XDR / Equal-i-zer
SoCal Family Campers
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Camper G
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 08/18/2006
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[quote=Mike Schriber]That doesn't make sense. Unless you're in different gears, your RPM's can't be the same at 70 MPH and 55 MPH.
The biggest factor with speed and mileage isn't engine speed however, it's aerodynamic drag. Drag increases with the square of speed so the difference in drag between 55 MPH and 70 MPH is substantial.
Mike
Quote:
Absolutely 100% correct Mike. Engine RPM does have a factor, but the combonation of the two (engine RPM and aerodynamic drag) are a big factor in fuel mileage. I also find myself shutting the engine off if I am stuck in traffic, waiting for a train at a RR crossing, or waiting in line at the drive-thru. Idleing really hurts fuel mileage as well.
1997 DODGE RAM 4x4, 2500 SERIES, , Reg. cab, 5.9L V8, AT, 4.10 gears. Prodigy Electric Brake Control
1995 BOOMER (Skyline) Model 2223
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