Maybe some of you who love cars can explain this too me. Do you lose more
fuel if you take off faster from your location? i.e. intersection? Does it
matter if you gas it or creep?

make sense?

"Go Mavs" <GoMavz (AT) GoMavz (DOT) com> wrote

As a general rule, the more quickly you accelerate to cruising speed, the
more fuel will be consumed.

Another general rule is that the more quickly the transmission is shifted
into high gear, the less fuel will be consumed.

In other words, if you accelerate too slowly, then the transmissin stays in
loer gears longner, using more fuel. The most fuel efficient acceleration
is where the driver knows the transmission shift points and backs off the
throttle to allow the transmission to up-shift. The most practical solution
is to accelerate moderately.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote


I have actually been recently thinking about asking about shifting the
transmission like that. I do it all the time and usually get about 32mpg
combined city/hw when my car is only rated for 30. Not bad for a 17 year old
Geo. I puzzled a friend of mine the other day when I told him my car was an
automatic, but I drive it like a stick.

The sooner one get to the vehicle highest gear, the less fuel it uses to
cover the same distance. Technically an engine is most efficient at full
throttle, albeit not the most economical mode however.

mike

"Go Mavs" <GoMavz (AT) GoMavz (DOT) com> wrote

THANKS

"Ray O" <rokigawaATtristarassociatesDOTcom> wrote

"Go Mavs" <GoMavz (AT) GoMavz (DOT) com> wrote

You're welcome!

--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:41:03 GMT, Hachiroku ???? <Trueno (AT) AE86 (DOT) gts>
wrote:

....or a black one. They just need to move to the left lane.

"Reasoned Insanity" ...
What do you do exactly? Do you move the gear shift lever? Or do you use
a foot technique.

The reason I am curious, is that if you are using the lever, it only
limits what gear it tops out at, instead of forcing it into a higher gear.
Curious Tomes

"Go Mavs" <GoMavz (AT) GoMavz (DOT) com> wrote

Yes it matters. Fast starts use far more gas than slow starts.

"Go Mavs" <GoMavz (AT) GoMavz (DOT) com> wrote

IN A RELATED MATTER
It is also a good idea from a fuel consumption perspective to maintain a
longer following distance and to reduce your speed by lifting off the gas
pecdal when you notice the next light is red. If you follow by a longer
distance, 3 or 4 seconds instead of 1 or 2, then you can adjust your speed
by lifting off the gas when you see brakes lights ahead. Many times, you can
coast as traffic slows, then regain your speed gradually as it gets going
again, all without applying the brakes. If you drive in a manner that
requires the use of brakes, then you also are likely to use the gas too
agressively. If traffic is moving along at any speed, and youi follow by
about 3 seconds, you may find that you can avoid the use of the brakes in
about 80% of the times when the driver ahead is using his. I used to drive a
winding mountain road on my commute, and I noticed that the guy ahead of me
used his brakes on nearly every turn, and I was able to simply lift off the
gas and coast the entire way down the grade. I would select whichever gear
in wanted, typically 4th or 5th, and use the gas very lightly and never use
the brakes. The cars in front of me would be using the brakes at every turn,
and I assume the gas too. Using less gas and less brake is also more
comfortable for your passengers.