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Fuel Efficiency and Slow Driving?
vile8 writes "With the high gas prices and ongoing gas gouging in my hometown many people are trying to find a reasonable way to save gas. One of the things I've noticed is people driving exceptionally slow, 30mph in 45mph zones, etc. So I had to take a quick look and find out if driving slow is helpful in getting better mileage. I know horsepower increases substantially with wind resistance, but with charts like this one from truckandbarter.com it appears mileage is actually about the same between 27mph and 58mph or so. So I'm curious what all the drivers out there with the cool efficiency computers are getting ... of specific interest would be the hemis with MDS; how do those do with the cylinder shutoff mode at different speeds?" Related: are there any practical hypermiling techniques that you've found for people not ready to purchase a new car, nor give up driving generally?
I wish people would use logic when they over take people. There is absolutely no reason to over take under dangerous conditions and, unless you're on a motorway it won't actually help you.
Thrashing your car and risking everyone's lives for a few seconds will not make up for driving slowly for a few minutes. It's not hard to prove either as anyone with a GPS tracker can see how little over taking does for your over all time but the damage it can do to your engine (and maybe your life) are greater.
As far as fuel efficiency, I think maintaining a constant speed, whether it be 30 mph or 50 mph is more efficient than going up and down. Since most people usually vary their speed for things like over taking and beating red lights and they may normally drive slower than I suppose the fact their trying to be consistent, even if it's at an annoyingly slower speed, are benefiting.
I've been car-less all my life. We rent a car when we need one. ~$100/month spent on a car. Live urban, not suburban, and this will be easy.
And don't forget to have your mechanic check out the assfor.