Comments on: Fuel Economy Tip – Drive in the Highest Gear http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/driving-habits/fuel-economy-tip-drive-in-the-highest-gear/ Increase Fuel Economy and Save Money at the Pump Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:42:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tony http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/driving-habits/fuel-economy-tip-drive-in-the-highest-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Tony Sat, 22 Jul 2006 22:11:00 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=22#comment-65 To illustrate the above, in my diesel it's not happy below about 1400rpm, and is optimal at between 1800 and 2200rpm, but going into 4th gear at 30mph (urban driving) will put it outside that.. the engine still *runs* but it's struggling. In 3rd it's right in the lower range of its optimal band. I was told the 'keep in the highest gear' mantra and was wondering why my fuel economy was so poor. A better way is to know what rpm your engine runs best/most effiently at and choose your gears to stay within that. To illustrate the above, in my diesel it’s not happy below about 1400rpm, and is optimal at between 1800 and 2200rpm, but going into 4th gear at 30mph (urban driving) will put it outside that.. the engine still *runs* but it’s struggling. In 3rd it’s right in the lower range of its optimal band.

I was told the ‘keep in the highest gear’ mantra and was wondering why my fuel economy was so poor. A better way is to know what rpm your engine runs best/most effiently at and choose your gears to stay within that.

]]> By: penty http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/driving-habits/fuel-economy-tip-drive-in-the-highest-gear/comment-page-1/#comment-64 penty Fri, 02 Jun 2006 06:42:00 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=22#comment-64 Hope I'm not posting here too much. "Drive in the highest gear" isn't all that great by way of advice. Engines are designed to run most efficiently with in a certain RPM range. Either TOO high OR TOO low outside this band and it's less efficient (meaning more gas/mile). BTW that is what helps hybrids do better on their mileage. The gas engines can be designed for a narrower band of RPMs. The more specific an engine's task the more efficeintly it can be desiged. Hope I’m not posting here too much.

“Drive in the highest gear” isn’t all that great by way of advice.

Engines are designed to run most efficiently with in a certain RPM range. Either TOO high OR TOO low outside this band and it’s less efficient (meaning more gas/mile).

BTW that is what helps hybrids do better on their mileage. The gas engines can be designed for a narrower band of RPMs. The more specific an engine’s task the more efficeintly it can be desiged.

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