How do you maximize fuel economy?

[rumblebelly]

Based on what you say above, the following should help:

1. SLOW DOWN. You will get NOTICEABLY better mileage at 65MPH rather than 75MPH. (Remember, the power required to push the car thru the air goes up as the SQUARE of the speed, and at 75MPH, most of the power you are using is in pushing the air out of the way.)
QUOTE]
Let me clarify my point a bit about speed versus fuel economy:

If you slow down to 65MPH from 75MPH, you need only 75% of the power to push the car thru the air that you did at the higher speed. YES, you read that right, only 3/4 as much.

That's interesting, I'd be curious to see the math on this. I might consider dropping down from 75MPH to 65 if it cut my gas costs down 25%. However, 1/3 of my driving is in town so that might only net a change of 16%. I figure that would save me about $10/month. Naw, I'll keep driving fast. It'll save me from getting rear ended by over caffienated lunatic on a cell phone inside his huge 3/4 ton truck that's never seen dirt in the past 6 months.

 

[AZ Jeff]

That's interesting, I'd be curious to see the math on this. I might consider dropping down from 75MPH to 65 if it cut my gas costs down 25%. However, 1/3 of my driving is in town so that might only net a change of 16%. I figure that would save me about $10/month. Naw, I'll keep driving fast. It'll save me from getting rear ended by over caffienated lunatic on a cell phone inside his huge 3/4 ton truck that's never seen dirt in the past 6 months.

Do the math. As I posted earlier, the POWER needed to push the car thru the air goes up as the SQUARE of the speed.

That means a car going twice as fast needs FOUR TIMES the power to push it thru the air.

It's not hard to see how a 10mph change in speed (which is a 13% reduction in speed) will result in a proportionally LARGER reduction in fuel consumption.

 

[rumblebelly]

Do the math. As I posted earlier, the POWER needed to push the car thru the air goes up as the SQUARE of the speed.

That means a car going twice as fast needs FOUR TIMES the power to push it thru the air.

It's not hard to see how a 10mph change in speed (which is a 13% reduction in speed) will result in a proportionally LARGER reduction in fuel consumption.

Gotcha, now it makes sense. The first time I read that second sentence I wasn't sure what you were talking about.