Joined: Oct 05, 2008
Posts: 79
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posted:
Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:44 pm
Not high speed!!
As you increase the speed above 50 mph or so, fuel consumption increases very rapidly. That's because the power required to overcome air resistance increases with the cube of the speed, i.e., if the speed is doubled, the power required to overcome air resistance is 8 times greater!! Although the efficiency of the engine increases with speed, the power required to overcome air resistance increases much faster.
The exact speed at which the car achieves its greatest fuel mileage depends on the car. Generally, it would be somewhere between 35 mph and 50 mph and at speeds greater than 50 mph, the air resistance rapidly increases.
Up through 1954, the air resistance of cars gradually decreased as cars became more aerodynamic. However, beginning in 1954 and 1955, that changed. For styling reasons, car manufacturers put eyelids over the headlights and had other projecting ledges which greatly increased air resistance. Then, sometime in the 1960s, car design became more sensible and more aerodynamic. Now cars are intentionally designed to be aerodynamic for fuel efficiency reasons, so the penalty for driving at high speeds is less than it was at one time. But, the fuel mileage penalty for high speed driving still exists; one cannot escape the laws of physics.
mmmm..... I do appreciate these tips, I have an acquaintance who always blames her poor gas mileage on the car! lololo I guess something should be accountable for her acceleration, deceleration, slam on brakes, low air in tires mentality! I believe she should switch to a bicyle or she will not survive this price of gas! lololo I am sending her a link to these tips.
Joined: Oct 05, 2008
Posts: 79
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posted:
Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:25 pm
Julianna wrote:
mmmm..... I do appreciate these tips, I have an acquaintance who always blames her poor gas mileage on the car! lololo I guess something should be accountable for her acceleration, deceleration, slam on brakes, low air in tires mentality! I believe she should switch to a bicyle or she will not survive this price of gas! lololo I am sending her a link to these tips.
Both the car and the driver are important. You can't get good fuel mileage with an inefficient car regardless of how you drive it, but the driver can reduce the degree of inefficiency.
For a good mileage cars every aspects comes under considerations. Engine tires, and of course gas. Saving gas can be done by brake free driving in long drives.
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