Comments on: How Much Gasoline Will We Use On Our Vacation: To The Condo Estimates

By: Ken Bireta

Ken Bireta — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:08:44 +0000

I agree with the advice to slow down and highly recommend it. If I can do 55 in a 65 on interstates in New Jersey to save money, you can do it in Georgia!

By: Chad

Chad — Thu, 22 May 2008 06:42:30 +0000

Slowing down DOES make a HUGE difference in fuel mileage. Especially in a van or other big vehicle. Once you go over 60 MPH, wind resistance increases by almost 4 times as much as it does just going from 50 MPH to 60 MPH and the faster you go, the more pronounced the effect. In a few trial runs myself to improve fuel mileage in these times of outrageous gas prices, By slowing down to about 55 MPH, being very conservative with the throttle and using other “hypermiling” techniques, I have boosted my fuel mileage on the highway from about 30MPG (I used to be an 80-85MPH guy) to the mid to upper 40’s on average. At times I have been able to squeeze 70+ MPG for as much as a mile or two at a time if traffic and topographic conditions allow (downhills). Another tip. The grade of fuel you choose can also affect your mileage as well. for the maximum distance out of a tank of fuel (everything else being equal) use the lowest octane rating you can run on (almost everything can support 87 octane fuel except some extremely older vehicles or high performance vehicles). The improvement isnt much but over an extremely long distance trip the mileage gain will add up. (for more tips on how to save fuel through driving technique, check out Wayne Gerdes Hypermiling website http://www.cleanmpg.com. Most of the tips are EXTREME but there are several that are easy for anyone to do that do help with the mileage. and increase gas mileage = money saved)

By: John Hunter

John Hunter — Thu, 22 May 2008 04:06:13 +0000

I used a lot more traveling around Colorado and New Mexico but it was great. White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park… wonderful

By: NCN

NCN — Wed, 21 May 2008 23:47:59 +0000

@Ken I’m sure that it would improve if I went that slow – but we might get killed if we went 55 on the interstate! I wanted folks to get an idea of ‘real world’ driving, so I’ll bump around between 65 and 80, depending on traffic, need to pass others, etc.

By: Ken Montville

Ken Montville — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:55:24 +0000

I can relate to the speed you’re driving, especially on interstates, even if it might not be strictly legal. I was wondering, though, if you think mileage would go up appreciably if you slowed down. You often hear about these gov’t estimates that talk about better mileage at slower speeds which, if memory serves, if the reason the lowered the limit to 55 mph (and then re-adjusted after they realized no one would drive that slowly)