Quote:
Originally Posted by Donger
Under normal conditions, no, vehicles don't get better MPG at higher speeds. Quite the opposite. That would be some cool physics, though.
Now, if you're cruising along at 55 MPH in a low gear pulling 5,000 RPM, you probably have the same MPG as you would in your biggest gear at 75 MPH and 2,500 RPM. But... why?
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Of course I understand this... my comment was about the claim that their car gets better mileage at higher speeds. So... negative drag coefficient? Meaning if you drove fast enough, you would fill the tank with gasoline.
I had someone, who had never driven at 55, tell me that same story about how their car was 'designed' to get better mileage at higher speeds. It's true that cars today are designed to have less drag however, that doesn't change anything. It's all about the amount of work you do in the amount of time. The profile of the car doesn't change (yet) with speed.
Alcohol blended fuels cause major issues in older engines. The fuel system components, many made of rubber, are dried out by the alcohol. In boats and other vehicles which can sit for extended periods, the ethanol can phase separate and absorb water. For an old 2-cycle outboard, which uses a pre-mix fuel, this is death as the alcohol/water mixture will burn and will have no oil.
Anyways... high gasoline prices stink...