If you travel faster than 60 miles per hour it costs extra money. Anything with a motor. I tried it over and over as a independent operator. It's TRUE. The sweet spot should be 1600 to 1800 rpms. Will climb slight hills without losing speed means it's doing its thing . More than that is throwing fuel away. Less is hard on the motor.
Truckers Advice said a lot
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Depends on what you drive. Weight, gearing, torque available. My VW Jetta turns 3100 rpm at 60mph.
But yeah, driving slower is best. Cruising in my van it's at 63mph even though I'm being passed by just about everything.
But yeah, driving slower is best. Cruising in my van it's at 63mph even though I'm being passed by just about everything.
MotorVation
Well-known member
I get 11.7 mpg at 70 mph. I get 14.3 average on a long hwy trip at 65 mph. I don't do 70 anymore unless I'm passing. I won't even consider 75 mph. I also think 60-62 is probably best. I have the 392 rear
That's what companies set governors at that set them . 60 62. Wasnt a dummy trucker that came up with it. I spent two years on a truckers forum reading everyday before I GULP bought my own truck. I applied it and have done it every since. I just thought as thrifty as this forum is about everything I pay back what I'm getting and share it. Thanks Everyone
MrNoodly
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A friend talked to a guy who never drove over 48 MPH in order to get the best mileage.
The quest for mileage can get a little wacky. If you wanted the absolute best mileage you could just not drive at all. It's a matter of priorities.
I believe it's safer to go with the flow of traffic and not be that disrupting lump that others try to get around. If I can slip in with the semis and RVs in the right lane and lope along at 10 MPH under the limit, I'll do that. But if I don't have cover, I'll speed along with the others.
I also believe it's safer to not slip into boredom. I might save only a few minutes by driving faster, but it's better to get the drive done and off the road.
And, you know, I can buy more gas but I can't buy more time. My life clock is ticking away. If I need to be driving I might as well enjoy it instead of worrying about my mileage. It would bring me no joy to have my exceptional mileage attainments noted in my obituary. Drive with joy, at whatever speed that is for you.
The quest for mileage can get a little wacky. If you wanted the absolute best mileage you could just not drive at all. It's a matter of priorities.
I believe it's safer to go with the flow of traffic and not be that disrupting lump that others try to get around. If I can slip in with the semis and RVs in the right lane and lope along at 10 MPH under the limit, I'll do that. But if I don't have cover, I'll speed along with the others.
I also believe it's safer to not slip into boredom. I might save only a few minutes by driving faster, but it's better to get the drive done and off the road.
And, you know, I can buy more gas but I can't buy more time. My life clock is ticking away. If I need to be driving I might as well enjoy it instead of worrying about my mileage. It would bring me no joy to have my exceptional mileage attainments noted in my obituary. Drive with joy, at whatever speed that is for you.
Dingfelder
Well-known member
I take it easy up hills. When I find myself pushing the gas pedal more to keep up my speed up hills(if only to keep the Type A personalities from tailgating), but getting almost no speed for it, I figure I am wasting fuel. I often get in the slow lane to go up hills.
I rarely exceed the speed limit and find that boosts my MPG significantly. Last trip I took decided to take state highways which kept my speed at 60 or below. Managed 27+ MPG in my Toyota Sienna.
MotorVation
Well-known member
Yeah, they're a little thirsty but they give you some good torque in returnslow2day said:
MikeRuth
Well-known member
Gas millage is what it is to me, I tend to roll with the flow no matter the speed. If it's 80 in Utah then 80 it is.
Aside from that I tend to run 5 over like most everyone else although I have learned that when you are about 10 miles outside of town to back it down and run the speed limit if you don't want a little extra charge!.
2007 Ford E-150 5.4L gets an average of 14 on the highway with those speeds.
Mike
Aside from that I tend to run 5 over like most everyone else although I have learned that when you are about 10 miles outside of town to back it down and run the speed limit if you don't want a little extra charge!.
2007 Ford E-150 5.4L gets an average of 14 on the highway with those speeds.
Mike
To each their own. I have a 2001 E-150, and I get 17 on the highway. I drive 60-65. But I don't do it primarily for the mileage. I do it for the vastly decreased stress. Over the course of several hours of driving, it makes a very noticeable difference in how I feel at the end of the day.
And yes, I pull over frequently to decrease stress for other folks - although some people are just determined to harass anyone in front of them. Can't tell you how many times I have pulled over to let some tail-gater by, only to see them speed by and tailgate the person half-a-mile in front of me who is going faster than I am.
Have you ever noticed that away from the city, freeway traffic tends to come in "clots"? I find if I drive 5-10 miles below the speed limit, I spend most of my time with very few cars around me, a situation I like. The "clots" come whooshing up behind me, surround me for a few minutes, then leave me behind.
Some time ago, I read an engineer's description of why the "clots" happen. There's a technical term for them, which I forgot almost immediately, and IIRC, it has to do with fluid dynamics.
And yes, I pull over frequently to decrease stress for other folks - although some people are just determined to harass anyone in front of them. Can't tell you how many times I have pulled over to let some tail-gater by, only to see them speed by and tailgate the person half-a-mile in front of me who is going faster than I am.
Have you ever noticed that away from the city, freeway traffic tends to come in "clots"? I find if I drive 5-10 miles below the speed limit, I spend most of my time with very few cars around me, a situation I like. The "clots" come whooshing up behind me, surround me for a few minutes, then leave me behind.
Some time ago, I read an engineer's description of why the "clots" happen. There's a technical term for them, which I forgot almost immediately, and IIRC, it has to do with fluid dynamics.
DannyB1954
Well-known member
It is the air resistance that eats fuel. The faster you go the more of it you have. Hold your hand out the window at 40 mph then at 70. You will feel the difference and that is just the size of your hand. The front of your vehicle could fit a hundred hands.
For the best fuel mileage while still getting there is wait for a tail wind to go. At https://www.windfinder.com/#4/38.8568/-97.2949/2020-03-06T03:00Z you can see what the wind will do over the next several days. You can zoom into an area with the mouse wheel if you have one. A headwind makes more work for the engine, a tail wind less work.
Where I am the day before yesterday the winds were from the North. Today the South.
For the best fuel mileage while still getting there is wait for a tail wind to go. At https://www.windfinder.com/#4/38.8568/-97.2949/2020-03-06T03:00Z you can see what the wind will do over the next several days. You can zoom into an area with the mouse wheel if you have one. A headwind makes more work for the engine, a tail wind less work.
Where I am the day before yesterday the winds were from the North. Today the South.
Yes of course its wind resistance at any speed. There's a breakdown if you will past 60mph . They say you can run 75 but it will cost money which they are referring to the magical 60 mph in the trucking world. I've forgotten too much to do yall justice on the subject but I'm well aware of all the principles. The theorys if you will have been tested and researched . Another story is a man driving for labor per mile will run 75 to make money. The owner operator will run 60 to 65. That is saying alot if you think about it. There's a few things on a truckers mind when they are running up behind you and meeting you head on in the next lane over. They want to get home safe. They pray about it. They pray for their day to end safe. I had a sign on my dash that said : 100 percent. I wanted to be reminded every minute I needed to be . My eyes and mind busy not only to operate but to play defense as well. My ears tuned to mainly to the engine. I got ran over when a trucker was jamming on his radio . He owns his truck and hes responsible for his life and everyone around him. There's more time to make a decision at 65 than 75. There might not be a full second to do it. Your life will depend and others to make the right decisions all day herding a piece of equipment that wont stop only slow down. 65 is more restful than faster. You wont be as tired at the end of the day. You can be happy instead of aggravated all day. Relax is good therapy.
