Consistent High MPG with one SECRET!!!!

[jacqnbill]

I rented a mid size Opal gasser last summer in Europe and drove 2200 Kilometers. I drove 100 MPH plus most of the time and averaged around 45 MPG. The power was low but the gearing was tall. I found few mountain passes with lots of tunnels. Drove thru Austria, Switzerland and Southern France.



Why can't we sell cars like that in the US and yes they have pollution control devices on the cars.

 

[DJW]

Gee, $30. 00 and $45. 00 per hour, Really? now I understand the saying,"Working Poor"

 

[BTowler]

DJW, for those of you who aren't self-employed let me explain, that is not what you make eight hours a day, five days a week, that is your billable time for service and you are not paid for driving time. There are times where you might bring in that much for over 40 hours a week, but there are also times when you may not work for an entire week! And if your service is outdoors weather can be a big influence, this season we have had the wettest year on record, and July was the wettest July ever recorded for Texas, and that was by the 7th!!! It all balances out, I make more per hour but work less hours than the average guy.

 

[Wyomingcowboy]

By the way, it is not the president's job to lower speed limits! If he REALLY wanted to decrease fuel economy, he would ease restrictions and allow more manufacturers to bring their diesel vehicles here. That alone would cut our consumption by 30+% with no lifestyle changes! European cars like BMW's and Mercedes are built for efficiency at highway speeds. People who desire a powerful car that is efficient at interstate speed should have the choice of a diesel. That will cut consumption, even at high speed, while not losing performance.

SCREW 55mph!!!! That would be MISERABLE on cross country interstate travel! We need LESS government laws, not MORE!



Dieselnut59..... AMEN!!!

 

[Whiskey]

Guys

Do any of you remember back in the seventies when we had the big gas shortage????



They had a 55mph limit and we all saved a lot of money,but the best was the prices went down, because the big oil company's had a big surplus!



So think about it,if all of just drove 55mph for six months what would happen?



I've been doing this for the last year with great results. .



whiskey

 

[BTowler]

Yes I remember those days, those shortages depended on where you lived. Never once did I see long lines or "out of gas" signs here in Texas. And the cars back then got worse mileage on average at 55 than we get at 70 now. And driving 55 on a 70mph interstate is dangerous, the safe practice is to keep with the flow of traffic.

 

[Grizzly]

Do any of you remember back in the seventies when we had the big gas shortage????

They had a 55mph limit and we all saved a lot of money,but the best was the prices went down, because the big oil company's had a big surplus!

So think about it,if all of just drove 55mph for six months what would happen?

I've been doing this for the last year with great results. .

whiskey

You didn't mention the best part, it also saved a lot of lives.

 

[hammersley]

Do any of you remember back in the seventies when we had the big gas shortage????



They had a 55mph limit and we all saved a lot of money,but the best was the prices went down, because the big oil company's had a big surplus!



So think about it,if all of just drove 55mph for six months what would happen?



I've been doing this for the last year with great results. .



whiskey

I'm with you and many more that understand these words - I too was one of the "unsaved" who wanted to drive a zillion miles per hour - slow down and screw the oil companies - and maybe not SUPPORT A TERRORIST COUNTRY !

 

[BTowler]

Actually, if you look at the historical data you will find that the drop in deaths was not directly attributable to the 55mph speed limit. If it was then there should have been an increase in deaths when the speed limit went back to 70, well guess what, it didn't. Per capita death rates, depending on the group analyzing the data, either stayed the same or went down when we went back to 70. And I really don't think 70 counts as a "zillion miles per hour"!

 

[ezcurra]

The German autobahn, with no speed limit, has a lower casualty rate per mile/car than the US interstate system. There is more to it than speed...

 

[steved]

We make the cars safer for an unsafe, under-educated driver.

steved

 

[Bluebird]

MPG update...

Set my cruise at 61mph, on last tankfull, with mixed driving rig produced 22. 41mpg. Just changed my fuel filter also, filled it with fuel conditioner. I wonder what highway only will yield Thanks for the suggestion. Sure makes talking on the cell phone easier Oh yeah, hands free of course in CA:-laf... Can anyone tell me what RPMs should be at 61mph?



Patrick.

 

[BTowler]

The German autobahn, with no speed limit, has a lower casualty rate per mile/car than the US interstate system. There is more to it than speed...

Like stupid drivers. Too many people here think driving is a right, it is not! It is a priveledge and more education and regular testing should be required. Also, the Safety Nazis report accidents unfairly. If you are going thorugh an intersection and someone runs a stop sign and hits you and there is proof that either car was going even one mile over the speed limit the federal statistics will reflect a speed related accident, not an accident because some idiot ran a stop sign.

 

[TboneMan]

The German autobahn, with no speed limit, has a lower casualty rate per mile/car than the US interstate system. There is more to it than speed...

I've driven on the autobahn. Sure there's no speed limit. But they don't have the idiots that we have on the roads.



Driving the autobahn requires 110% concentration on what you're doing, DRIVING. Not talking on the cell phone, eating, listening to books on tape, bopping to the tunes on your satellite radio, watch videos, reading newspapers or books (all things I've seen while driving).



Traffic is monitored and speed limits imposed in real-time based on traffic volume, hazards, weather and so on.



Tailgating is illegal and enforced. Passing on the right is illegal and enforced. Heavy trucks have placards on the backs of their rigs which indicate their maximum speed (base upon GVW). Sure they are going a lot slower than the rest of the traffic, but you know that and you adjust accordingly.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Gee, $30. 00 and $45. 00 per hour, Really? now I understand the saying,"Working Poor"

I work salary, I don't get an hourly rate. I used $30 as an example.



anyways, $30/hour is $62K/year, now bad. assuming you are salary or work the 2080 hours and no vacation.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Set my cruise at 61mph, on last tankfull, with mixed driving rig produced 22. 41mpg. Just changed my fuel filter also, filled it with fuel conditioner. I wonder what highway only will yield Thanks for the suggestion. Sure makes talking on the cell phone easier Oh yeah, hands free of course in CA:-laf... Can anyone tell me what RPMs should be at 61mph?



Patrick.

This hands free crap is just that crap. It's not your hands being distracted, it's your mind! really now, do you leave your hands at "10 and 2"on wheel more so now then with the hands free? Prolly not. 9 and 3 and writs at wheel when arms extended and seat up right not leaned back is TRULY the correct position, are you doing that or blabbling on the phone while "cruise" at 61 in traffic, something else you shouldn't have enabled while in "traffic".



Some people can chatter and pay attention, most can not. You should be able to get an endorsement or something on your license if you can pass a few tests. Personally, If I get on the phone and then off as soon as possible and it depends largly on traffic there or I'm the only one of the road naturally.

 

[JasonCzerak]

I rented a mid size Opal gasser last summer in Europe and drove 2200 Kilometers. I drove 100 MPH plus most of the time and averaged around 45 MPG. The power was low but the gearing was tall. I found few mountain passes with lots of tunnels. Drove thru Austria, Switzerland and Southern France.



Why can't we sell cars like that in the US and yes they have pollution control devices on the cars.

You have mixed measuring systems in your post.



Was is 100mph / 160Kph? or 100Kph and a more modest to use Americans 62mph.



45kilometers per liter?



arrgh, I hate conversions some times.

 

[Joe G.]

9 and 3 and writs at wheel when arms extended and seat up right not leaned back is TRULY the correct position, are you doing that .

A little bit off topic. Being a NASCAR fan, I was watching one of the shows a few years ago when someone emailed a question about why the drivers sit so close to the wheel. The answer from Ol' DW was for driver comfort in long races. Driving close to the wheel gets the weight of your arms off your shoulders. Lot's better hanging down than extended for long races. I tried it and it works. On long trips I sit as close to the wheel as I can and still easily use the pedals. Not nearly as tired when I get there.

 

[JimBeck]

Don't recall, but if that's enforced, Best traffic law/sign EVAR!



See, it's not the 80mph that's inefficient, it's the 80 --> 55 --> 80 when the moron finally decides to get over to the right and stop pacing the guy in the right that will hit the wallet hard. What most don't put in the equation for money spent on fuel is the "time" you save by going a little faster vs money spent of fuel.



750miles at 60mph is 12. 5 hours.

750miles at 85 is 8 hours.



4. 5 hours at say your worth working at $30/hour difference in time cost more then the fuel burnt going 85 as apposed to 60.



my problem is that it takes 13 hours to do this 750mile trip with the speed-o at 80-85mph most of the time some how averages 60mph. imagine only going 60? for sure an 18 hours trip. Now if these tolls, and slow pokes just get out of the way and suggested speed limits be installed... .

8x85=680miles and I don't think a steady 85 works most places.

 

[JasonCzerak]

A little bit off topic. Being a NASCAR fan, I was watching one of the shows a few years ago when someone emailed a question about why the drivers sit so close to the wheel. The answer from Ol' DW was for driver comfort in long races. Driving close to the wheel gets the weight of your arms off your shoulders. Lot's better hanging down than extended for long races. I tried it and it works. On long trips I sit as close to the wheel as I can and still easily use the pedals. Not nearly as tired when I get there.

Pro road racers is where I learned my technique from in typical "cars". I can understand the long term thing and driver comfort, and if you lose power steering, you have better leverage.



You DO NOT HAVE A 5 point restraint in your truck do you? You have an Air bag right? Should the air bad deploy, your nose will not be happy with you! Also, should you be in a collision your seat belt will extend some prior to locking, so you move even closer to the wheel prior to being held back and then the air bag is deployed. In a NASCAR, or any other race car, the 5 points will not let you move. This is the #1 reason why my GF will not drive my truck, she is less then 12 inches from face to wheel.



In road racing you actually turn the wheel more then 1/2 turn. with your body so close you can not steer the wheel nearly as much and as quickly as you have to make a few complete turns of the wheel here and there depending on the track should this be a stock vette it'd be rather difficult.



Watch a Rally race and see if you can steer as much and as fast in that position as them guys have to!!!



If you have a modified steering gear box, or a progressive steering like on some of the BMW's it's not as much as a concern, but the idea is still there.



Does anyone have any information on driver seat position when the NASCAR races hit up some of the road courses?





Edit:

TurnFast : Seating Position