Want to Save a Bundle on Fuel?

By Paul Eisenstein July 3rd, 2008

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Want to save a bundle on each tank of gas? Slow down.

It may seem like there's not much difference between going 70 and 75 mph, but according to Department of Energy data, that 5 mph difference equals a roughly 5 percent difference in fuel consumption. Cut your speed from 75 to 55, and you'll boost your mileage by as much as 30 percent, says the DOE.

Put another way, reports the Detroit News, you'll save the equivalent of 30 cents a gallon in the typical American vehicle for every 5 mph you slow down from 75.

Of course, there's a downside. Long trips might take significantly longer - nearly an extra 2.5 hours for a five-hour jaunt at 55 mph compared with 75. The time taken for short jaunts, however, is negligible. At 75 mph, that 10-mile commute would take about 8 minutes - if roads are clear, which isn't common at rush hour - but less than 11 minutes at 55.

There's going pressure on lawmakers, as I note in a separate blog entry, to reduce speed limits, which have been creeping up since Congress loosened the limits on states. But truckers and other motoring groups are expected to put up a strong fight of their own.

There are other ways to save fuel, from checking your tires to tuning your engine, according to the site, fueleconomy.gov. Every 1 psi below the proper rating will lower mileage by 0.4 percent. Since most Americans tend to never check their tires, it's not unusual for pressures to be off 5 pounds. That means a 2 percent mileage loss, or as much as a half mile a gallon, on a typical compact to midsize sedan.

Meanwhile, if you're running around with a trunk seat or backseat full of stuff, consider cleaning house, er, car. Every 100 pounds of added weight can curb your mileage anywhere up to a full mile per gallon, experts reveal, depending on your vehicle.

What are YOU doing to save fuel?

Tags: 55 mph, double-nickel, fuel economy, fuel prices, gas prices, save fuel, tire pressure

Posted in : Enthusiasts, Green Machines, Industry News, fuel prices, gas prices |

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4 Responses to “Want to Save a Bundle on Fuel?”

“Slow down” is showing up everywhere, and after doing a 2 1/2 hour jaunt on 90/94 this evening it seems as if that might be sinking in a bit. But with some practice there are other techniques - many of them from the less radical parts of the hypermilers handbook - that can offer significant benefits while still making decent time. Tricks like accelerating downhill and slowing down uphill, or coasting downhill (with the engine *on*) when you are going to have to stop at the bottom can make a significant difference without slowing you down significantly. This is particularly true in places where you drive regularly and can anticipate opportunities.

Slowing down may help, but it’s certainly not the only thing that can be done, and I don’t want to see us moving back towards the torture that was the double-nickel.

I hate to admit it but I tried this with my blazer and it helped bigtime! Spouse also and had same result. So we risk ur lives to save gas. Idiots fly by us and flip us bird even if we are not blocking the passing lane!

Buy a car that suits your driving needs!!!
A 4 cyl Camry is not a great highway car. Consumer reports found that with 4 or 5 passengers, luggage, air on and driving 70 mph . . . got the same mileage as a Ford Explorer - 26.
A Mercury Marquis with a 4.6 V8 gets close to 30.
Make sure the car you buy suits your driving needs . . . the highest number on the window sticker does not necessarily mean you will get that mileage.
I seem to remember that both H and T have told fibs about things like Horsepower, Torque, Mileage and of course recalls.
Did you know that the asian brands have had more recalls in the last few years than GM?

While I fully agree with |Dale that people (esp. those that complain about high gas prices) should buy a car that satisfy their driving needs,

I fully disagree that today’s 4-cyl Camrys and Accord are not great highway cars.\

In fact, they are all WAY OVERPOWERED for their size and weight. Some time ago, in the 80s, such cars went by with half the HP today’s BASE Accord or |Camry have. 80 and 88, not 160 and 175, HP!!!

I own a 4.4 Lt V8 BMW 740iL 1998. I sure do NOT NEED such a car, or such a huge engine, but I caN EASILY AFFORD IT and I do not bitch about the high gas prices. The car would do well with HALF the Cubic inches and cylinders on the hioghway, and I WISH it had cylinder deactivation, then I’d get 30 MPG with the Huge magnificent machine, and not the current 22-25 MPG (at 75-90 mph) ON LONG TRIPS.

Around town on short drives, it’s atrocious at 12-15 MPG. But who cares? I barely drive 5k miles a year, and most highway trips are generously reimbursed at $0.505 a mile and climbing!

ALSO, TIME IS MONEY. Those that pass you at 90 MPH may NOT be the idiots you may think they are.