Question:
Could someone explain the physics of gas mileage to me? I think knowing it would help me drive so as to get better gas mileage. Please bear in mind that while I am decent at math, I am pretty much clueless in physics.
Here is what (I think) I know so far: distance = rate*time, it takes more gas to go faster, but past a certain speed (I have heard 35 mph) the faster you go, the worse gas mileage you get.
Can you put paddle shifters on ANY car and if you can how much does it cost?
Given that I am pretty awful at physics, perhaps it would be helpful to know for a simple example, say a flat road with constant friction, traction, etc, what is the relationship between speed, miles per gallon (metric is ok too), and revolutions per minute (I am not really sure how to interpret this gauge on my car).
On cars what is the difference between remote mirrors and power mirrors?
I would also be interested in intuition about how to drive when hills are involved. Does cruise control optimize miles per gallon, or is it better to go faster downhill (or uphill)? (I do not currently have a hybrid. I would guess that would change things).
Answers:
Is the Dodge Caliber good for me?
Basically, the lower the RPM, the lower the gas you need to burn. It has no relevance to speed. My Corolla sits at about 2.5 (2500 RPM) in 5th gear going 60. I also use the cruise control, which uses the minimum amount of gas, to maintain the speed you set it at. I can do 70 at about 3-3.25 (3000-3250 RPM). The way you read the tach, is that if the numbers are 1-8, it'll be X1000. So the number, times 1000, is your current RPM.If it reads 10-80, it's X100. so on the 30 is 3000 RPM. Idle plays a key role too. I idle at 500-750 RPM, so my needle is BELOW the 1. It's not often a car can maintain idle at that low RPM. Most carbureted applications can only take regular unleaded gasoline, and fuel sometimes sits in the intake manifold, and will burn outside the cylinders, causing a backfire, so that's wasted gas. Fuel injection puts fuel directly into the cylinders, and eliminates wasted gas. Opening up your intake system and exhaust will also improve your fuel economy. Keep a clean air filter, and you can spring for $100-1000 (depending on what you want) on a exhaust system, which can include headers, high flow catalytic converter, wide pipes, optimum bend pipes, and a low resistance muffler. Most muffler shops do free estimates based on what you want. Opening up your exhaust will make it louder though, because there is less to restrict the air and sound flow. So to answer your question, the less throttle you use, to maintain an RPM and speed value, the greater your MPG. Using stuff like A/C, and other accessory functions, including headlights, will require the use of more gas to maintain engine speed. Hope this helps.Does anyone know what the age limit is for renting out a car in NYC? get at me 1?
Maintaining the momentum of you vehicle is the trick and that is why cruise control is helpful.There is a lot of wasted fuel when you pump your pedal because there is a surge of gas and not all of it gets burnt.
My car is having problems with changing gears. HELP?!?
The engine size make a big difference.
My V8 does really well as higher speeds 60, where my I4 does better at 45. The wind resistance definitely builds up as speed picks up. Also the grade of fuel you are purchasing. Lower grade gas explodes where the higher octane burns slower. Think of this as a basket ball being bounced. The ball is your pistons. Is it more efficient to bounce the ball by driving it down easier but longer. Not so if you slap at it with more energy. I would hope you said driving the ball down is more efficient. The same is true with your gas octane. When you have lower octane gas the fuel explodes only driving the piston down with short explosions, where the high octane burns slower driving the piston all the way down.
I'm using my car as storage. Does extra weight (around 40 pounds) in my car cost me extra in gas?
Ok, I know NOTHING about physics, just my own experiences. I have one of those trip computers in my vehicle that gives average as well as instant MPG's. When gas hit $3.00 a gallon (the first time) I tried to improve my normal 11 MPG average buy watching my instant MPGs on the computer. What I noticed was that by accelerating on the end of the DOWNHILL and coasting up hills I achieved the best MPGs. I guess because you have gravity assisting the car it is not expending as much energy to go as fast. So instead of accelerating AGAINST gravity you accelerating WITH it. It feels kind of like riding on a roller coaster.I averaged 14 MPGs that week- who needs a hybrid !?More Questions & Answers ...
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