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Topic: A timely article from Consumers Report- gas mileage (Read 3 times) previous topic - next topic
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A timely article from Consumers Report- gas mileage
Yahoo Message Number: 57640
No loitering. Don't let the engine run at idle any longer than necessary. After starting the car in the morning, begin driving right away; don't let it sit and "warm up" for several minutes. An engine actually warms up faster while driving. With most gasoline engines, it's more efficient to turn off the engine than to idle for any longer than 30 seconds.

Easy does it. Driving smoothly and steadily makes the best use of your fuel. If you can, avoid hard acceleration or braking. Once up to speed, maintain a steady pace in top gear. Varying your speed a lot wastes fuel. A vehicle's gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking not only save fuel but also extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires.
 It's a drag. At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. Try not to add to the drag by carrying things on top of your vehicle. A loaded roof rack can decrease a car's fuel efficiency by 5 percent. Even driving with empty ski racks wastes gas. In addition, if you have air conditioning, use it only when you really need it. Running the air conditioner robs power from the engine and uses additional fuel.

Stay warm. An engine runs most inefficiently when it's cold. It not only uses more fuel but also creates the most exhaust emissions and suffers the most wear. Avoid many short, separate trips--and unnecessary cold starts--by combining as many errands as possible into one trip.

Getting regular. If your car specifies regular fuel, don't buy premium under the mistaken belief that your engine will benefit.
Most cars are designed to run just fine on regular gasoline.
Furthermore, many cars that recommend premium fuel also run well on regular. Check your owner's manual to find out if your engine is designed to handle either grade. And consider buying off-brand gasoline, which is most often identical to what is sold at franchised gas stations.

Watch the tires. Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which not only wastes fuel but also wears the tires faster. According to the EPA, a tire that is underinflated by only 2 pounds per square inch can cause a 1 percent increase in fuel consumption. Underinflated tires can also build up excess heat, which can lead to tire failure. Check your vehicle's tire pressures at least once a month, when the tires are cold. Also, check the tires before and after long road trips. The recommended tire pressure is found on a label inside the car--usually in a door jamb or inside the glove-box lid.

Stay tuned. Running a car in poor mechanical condition can dramatically lower your fuel economy. A poorly maintained engine can cut gas mileage by 10 to 20 percent. A clogged air filter alone can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption. Be sure to follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner's manual, and have the car promptly serviced if you sense any unusual sounds, smells, or vibrations.

Ed
Re: A timely article from Consumers Reports - gas mileage
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 57819
"If you have air conditioning, use it only when you really need it. Running the air conditioner robs power from the engine and uses additional fuel."
 Most of the tips in this article are good, but in this one, CU contradicts its own advice. A few years back, CU's automotive engineers ran tests comparing the gas mileage of a car driven with air conditioning on and a car driven with windows open (as you'd normally do if not using A/C). Their conclusion: at speeds of 50 mph and above, the additional aerodynamic drag of open windows had about the same effect on gas mileage as running the air conditioner.
 In other words, according to CU's tests, if you're driving slowly, turn off the A/C...but at highway speeds, you're no worse off using A/C than driving with open windows, so do whatever is comfortable. To that I'll add my own personal philosophy: a hot, sweaty, irritable driver is an unsafe driver...and that trumps considerations of fuel economy, as far as I'm concerned.

Andy Baird (catching up on old messages) Langhorne, PA
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: A timely article from Consumers Reports - gas mileage
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 57829
Quote
In other words, according to CU's tests, if you're driving slowly,
turn off the A/C...but at
 
Quote
highway speeds, you're no worse off using A/C than driving with open
windows, so do

Quote
whatever is comfortable. To that I'll add my own personal
philosophy: a hot, sweaty,

Quote
irritable driver is an unsafe driver...and that trumps
considerations of fuel economy, as far

Quote
as I'm concerned.
CU's tests were likely run with vehicles having an average coefficient of drag of about 0.3 - 0.4 with the windows closed. Purely a guess, but I would put that of a LD closer to 1.0, which would greatly skew the air vs. windows issue in favor of running windows open.

However, I don't run windows open on the freeway due to high noise levels from traffic, and the air makes little difference in our mileage.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit
Re: A timely article from Consumers Report- gas mileage
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 57830
Ed,
 Good tips, but they're falling on deaf ears. The networks love their little gas station clips where motorists bemoan the cost of fuel yet a drive on any interstate reveals drivers still driving like demons, exceeding the speed limit not to mention economical speeds.

Everyone but me :-) is tallking the talk but not driving the talk.

Paul NE 50

Oh, BTW, did you see where Exxon/Mobil's third quarter 2005 PROFITS will be in the BILLIONS. Price gouging? Naaaah.
Re: A timely article from Consumers Report- gas mileage
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 57833
Quote
Ed,
 Good tips, but they're falling on deaf ears. The networks love their little gas station clips where motorists bemoan the cost of fuel
yet a

Quote
drive on any interstate reveals drivers still driving like demons, exceeding the speed limit not to mention economical speed.
You're exactly right Paul. Just finished reading a study on the issue.
The test car in the study, they didn't say what it was,  got 31 mpg at 55 mph and 23 mpg at 75 mph. That is a very significant difference when you're burning $3/gallon gas. The study said the mpg figure drops dramatically at speeds over 60 mph.
During the last gas "crisis" FL instituted an "Arrive Alive at 55" campaign. Saved lives, saved gas.

Ed
 
Re: A timely article from Consumers Reports - gas mileage
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 57872
"CU's tests were likely run with vehicles having an average coefficient of drag of about 0.3 - 0.4 with the windows closed. Purely a guess, but I would put that of a LD closer to 1.0, which would greatly skew the air vs. windows issue in favor of running windows open."
 Good point, Steve! Yes, they were testing passenger cars. An RV's draggier shape would likely yield different results.

Andy Baird

Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"