Comments on: Rules of Thumb Put to The Test http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/ Increase Fuel Economy and Save Money at the Pump Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:30:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Adriel http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-14355 Adriel Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:16:22 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-14355 Well, casey, there's also engine design to deal with...many cars can be more efficiant at higher speeds due to the engine being more efficiant at higher revs Well, casey, there’s also engine design to deal with…many cars can be more efficiant at higher speeds due to the engine being more efficiant at higher revs

]]> By: Casey http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-516 Casey Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:23:01 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-516 I'm operating under the assumption that as speed increases, So does air resistance on an exponential scale. Depending on the vehicle, More energy(fuel) is required to as the speed goes up. You may see small decreases in mileage up to a certian speed range but after that it starts falling off very quickly. It's an accepted truth in the world of land speed record cars that it takes huge amounts of power to increase speed percentage-wise. So I find it funny to hear people talk about how their Shoebox shaped family truckster gets better mileage at 90 than 55... Of course there is also engine RPM to deal with, The lower the RPM the lower the frictional losses. so it's plausible to get better mileage at say 4th gear and 2200rpm than at 3rd gear and 3500rpm. Possible But unlikely. There is the psychological factor also, People often try real hard to justify bad habbits when they don't want to change those habbits. I’m operating under the assumption that as speed increases, So does air resistance on an exponential scale. Depending on the vehicle, More energy(fuel) is required to as the speed goes up. You may see small decreases in mileage up to a certian speed range but after that it starts falling off very quickly. It’s an accepted truth in the world of land speed record cars that it takes huge amounts of power to increase speed percentage-wise. So I find it funny to hear people talk about how their Shoebox shaped family truckster gets better mileage at 90 than 55… Of course there is also engine RPM to deal with, The lower the RPM the lower the frictional losses. so it’s plausible to get better mileage at say 4th gear and 2200rpm than at 3rd gear and 3500rpm. Possible But unlikely. There is the psychological factor also, People often try real hard to justify bad habbits when they don’t want to change those habbits.

]]> By: fred cooper http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-508 fred cooper Sat, 30 Sep 2006 13:40:39 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-508 intelligent internet = oxymoron intelligent internet = oxymoron

]]> By: anon. http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-497 anon. Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:36:59 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-497 Before this is all over I'm going to end up naked in the middle of a feild and still wondering if my weight on the ground is disturbing some cockroach ecosystem. Save the earth! Kill yourself! Before this is all over I’m going to end up naked in the middle of a feild and still wondering if my weight on the ground is disturbing some cockroach ecosystem.

Save the earth! Kill yourself!

]]> By: chaositect http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-473 chaositect Thu, 28 Sep 2006 22:17:45 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-473 Mass of the car takes energy to get up to speed. The exact same as it will impart with momentum (minus friction). JoeB is right there. Way too many variables and unsubstantiated claims here, to say nothing of the grammar pedants. Good point on the energy to make / recycle cars, even if it is based on false facts. I'm thinking a Prius will last longer than a Hummer myself even if it does cost more energy to make / recycle. I'm not saying you should give up your truck (though I'm sure that's just what many other people ARE saying). Especially if you use it for it's intended pupose. I'm not saying to save the environment either. The planet will survive, we're just ousting ourselves out of a place to live. Bequething it to the cockroaches. Do what you want. I just want the facts presented properly. Grandstanding is no proper way to present or sway an argument, and it seems the human race has lost the faculty for a logical debate. It has me rather depressed. Where can I go for intelligent internet nowadays? Anyone? Mass of the car takes energy to get up to speed. The exact same as it will impart with momentum (minus friction). JoeB is right there.

Way too many variables and unsubstantiated claims here, to say nothing of the grammar pedants. Good point on the energy to make / recycle cars, even if it is based on false facts. I’m thinking a Prius will last longer than a Hummer myself even if it does cost more energy to make / recycle.

I’m not saying you should give up your truck (though I’m sure that’s just what many other people ARE saying). Especially if you use it for it’s intended pupose. I’m not saying to save the environment either. The planet will survive, we’re just ousting ourselves out of a place to live. Bequething it to the cockroaches. Do what you want. I just want the facts presented properly. Grandstanding is no proper way to present or sway an argument, and it seems the human race has lost the faculty for a logical debate. It has me rather depressed.

Where can I go for intelligent internet nowadays? Anyone?

]]> By: JoeB http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-472 JoeB Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:25:31 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-472 Temp: Not true. While heavier cars might have more momentum, that has almost no actual affect on maintaining a constant speed. Moreover, heavier cars tend to have increases in all the factors that cause a car to have lower mileage: more power required for acceleration due to higher air resistance and higher mechanical loss throughout the drivetrain and wheels/axles. Temp: Not true. While heavier cars might have more momentum, that has almost no actual affect on maintaining a constant speed. Moreover, heavier cars tend to have increases in all the factors that cause a car to have lower mileage: more power required for acceleration due to higher air resistance and higher mechanical loss throughout the drivetrain and wheels/axles.

]]> By: Scooterman http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-471 Scooterman Thu, 28 Sep 2006 20:43:48 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-471 Unless you are one of those people that value style over function, I'd skip the Vespa. They cost about twice as much as other scooters, simply based on name recognition and image. I bought a Kymco People 50 scooter (http://www.bigkidtoys.com/HTML/scootPPL50.html) a little over a year ago for my work commute. It gets about 75 MPG on that route, which involves a few hills, and some inevitable time idling in traffic. I bet it would get as high as 85 MPG under ideal conditions. The scooter is very reliable, and cheep to own, maintain and insure. Not to mention, it's fun to ride... ...and against my pickup truck, pays for itself! Dig the math: cost of gas: $2.50/GAL MPG scooter: 75 MPG MPG truck: 15 MPG Commute round trip: 18 miles Work Days a year: 240 per year gas cost to "truck it" = $720 per year gas cost to "scoot" = $144 savings of $576 a year, which will pay for the scooter in about 5 years. I'm not going to give up my truck, because sometimes I need to haul stuff, but using it as a commuter vehicle doesn't make much sense. Now if I could only get a vehicle that is powered by my smug sense of self-satisfaction! Unless you are one of those people that value style over function, I’d skip the Vespa. They cost about twice as much as other scooters, simply based on name recognition and image.

I bought a Kymco People 50 scooter (http://www.bigkidtoys.com/HTML/scootPPL50.html) a little over a year ago for my work commute. It gets about 75 MPG on that route, which involves a few hills, and some inevitable time idling in traffic. I bet it would get as high as 85 MPG under ideal conditions. The scooter is very reliable, and cheep to own, maintain and insure. Not to mention, it’s fun to ride…

…and against my pickup truck, pays for itself! Dig the math:

cost of gas: $2.50/GAL
MPG scooter: 75 MPG
MPG truck: 15 MPG
Commute round trip: 18 miles
Work Days a year: 240

per year gas cost to “truck it” = $720
per year gas cost to “scoot” = $144
savings of $576 a year, which will pay for the scooter in about 5 years.

I’m not going to give up my truck, because sometimes I need to haul stuff, but using it as a commuter vehicle doesn’t make much sense. Now if I could only get a vehicle that is powered by my smug sense of self-satisfaction!

]]> By: Temp http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-470 Temp Thu, 28 Sep 2006 20:30:28 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-470 I think some heavier cars would get better mileage going faster.. You've got more momentum, and ur going faster.. so the gas you use keeps you going.. Some cars dont require too much more power in good conditions to maintrain 90 than it does 70. Not true for every car.. but it makes sense to me. I think some heavier cars would get better mileage going faster.. You’ve got more momentum, and ur going faster.. so the gas you use keeps you going.. Some cars dont require too much more power in good conditions to maintrain 90 than it does 70. Not true for every car.. but it makes sense to me.

]]> By: T-Bird Fan http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-469 T-Bird Fan Thu, 28 Sep 2006 19:28:20 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-469 I have to say that the keep the mileage to 55-65 rule is not really applicable in my case. Car: T-Bird SC Drive 302 miles to friends in SD, generally at 60 average with spurts up to 70, and I have to refuel immediately upon arrival, if not just before. Drive 303 miles to Las Vegas, average 95 with spurts up to 105, and arrive with 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank left. Car: Merc Grand Marquie Drive 310 mile loop to Palm Springs and back average 65 with spurts up to 75, need to refill on the way back. Drive 302 miles to Vegas, average 85 with spurts up to 95, and arrive with over 1/4 tank. In all cases, no stops involved, save for the stopover in Palm Springs. In a small car, with not enough hp to move it, yeah, I can see 55 saving gas. But in a well-engineered car, with enough power to move it, it has been my experience that the best mileage speed is significantly higher. I have to say that the keep the mileage to 55-65 rule is not really applicable in my case.

Car: T-Bird SC

Drive 302 miles to friends in SD, generally at 60 average with spurts up to 70, and I have to refuel immediately upon arrival, if not just before.

Drive 303 miles to Las Vegas, average 95 with spurts up to 105, and arrive with 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank left.

Car: Merc Grand Marquie

Drive 310 mile loop to Palm Springs and back average 65 with spurts up to 75, need to refill on the way back.

Drive 302 miles to Vegas, average 85 with spurts up to 95, and arrive with over 1/4 tank.

In all cases, no stops involved, save for the stopover in Palm Springs.

In a small car, with not enough hp to move it, yeah, I can see 55 saving gas. But in a well-engineered car, with enough power to move it, it has been my experience that the best mileage speed is significantly higher.

]]> By: Fast Driver http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/miscellaneous/rules-of-thumb-put-to-the-test/comment-page-1/#comment-468 Fast Driver Thu, 28 Sep 2006 18:44:37 +0000 http://www.dailyfueleconomytip.com/?p=108#comment-468 The 10% loss for every 5 miles over 55 has obviously come from the bureau of statistics pulled out of ones arse. I can see the rest, but why would you make up an arbitrary value like this. I drive on the highway all the time around(80) and i do not see a 50% drop in gas millage as your statistics would show. (and even if you take 10% off at every 5mile mark it still comes out to be a rediculously high percentage(41% at 30mpg base)) I've tried driving at 55-65 and have seen almost no appreciable difference in gas mileage. however in a recent trip upstate driving around 90-95 i did notice a loss of approximately 8%. I was surprised i thought i would get better doing all highway. The 10% loss for every 5 miles over 55 has obviously come from the bureau of statistics pulled out of ones arse. I can see the rest, but why would you make up an arbitrary value like this. I drive on the highway all the time around(80) and i do not see a 50% drop in gas millage as your statistics would show. (and even if you take 10% off at every 5mile mark it still comes out to be a rediculously high percentage(41% at 30mpg base))

I’ve tried driving at 55-65 and have seen almost no appreciable difference in gas mileage. however in a recent trip upstate driving around 90-95 i did notice a loss of approximately 8%. I was surprised i thought i would get better doing all highway.

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