Is gas too high?

[95_stroker]

I posted the following at another website I frequent but I will post it here too in response to THIS THREAD in hopes of generating some good discussion. I posted this at the other website in response to the non-stop "price of gas" threads that keep popping up on a daily basis.

I did a little test yesterday on my commute to work. I commute 180 miles per day round trip to and from work, normally I car pool but my car pool partner is out on his honeymoon right now. That leaves me driving alone to and from work this week, which gives me a little more freedom on departure times. I decided to leave the house 15 minutes earlier and set my cruise control on 60 mph and leave it there for the whole commute. Partly because I wanted to run some figures on how much more economical it is to drive my rig ( 95 F-350 crew cab 4x4 diesel) at lower RPM’s / Speed. The other thing I learned almost by accident is probably more revealing than the increase in mileage I got.
Routinely I drive 70 mph on the nose (speed limit of 65) as I find I can avoid the highway patrol from wanting my donations at that speed. I sometimes get passed by others at that speed but not often. Also doing that speed I find I can usually get around 17 mpg, not bad in an 8000 lb truck IMHO.

I found that at 60 mph, just 5 mph below the posted limit, that NOBODY stayed behind me, and nearly everybody that passed me was out of sight in under a mile. I would guess that less than 25% of the vehicles that passed me had more than one person in them, and probably that number is closer to 10%. This is what I found interesting, in these times of high fuel costs and the energy crunch folks haven’t changed their driving habits or their life styles one single iota. So, I must ask, is the price of fuel too high yet or must it go higher before folks start to wake the heck up and start making changes and being a little more conservative with our resources.

Oh, and by the way, it took me 15 minutes longer to get to work and 15 minutes longer to get home and I averaged 20.5 mpg in doing so.

So take that for what its worth, the test began as a simple mileage test for me and my truck, but I ended up learning a whole lot more about other drivers on the road and their driving habits than I did about my truck.

Mike

 

[Fire1]

I find your findings about what I would expect. I have got a best of 22.4 MPG and that is at 65 mph. I hit the twenties a few times at those speeds, which is the speed I travel for extended highway trips.
I find it funny or sad that everyone is up in arms about fuel prices, but no one wants to SLOW DOWN. That is the very least we can do to affect our consumption. Those that can carpool should also. We do no want to give up our freedom though. Heck I don't either!!! But what are the options?? -popcorn

 

[95_stroker]

If we as Americans dont get our act together and stop this gluttonous attitude that we carry we will be the ones paying the price.

 

[JimmyDee]

Back in another life before I retired I had a 68 mile commute to work. Don't remember exactly but these will be close to what they were.
75 mph = 14.5 mpg; 10% passed me on e-way
70 mph = 15.5 mpg; 50% passed me on e-way
65 mph = 17 mpg; 75% passed me on e-way
60 mph = 18 mpg; 90% passed me on e-way
55 mph = 19.5 mpg; almost 100% passed me on e-way. I was in the way and feared someone talking on a cell phone would run into me. This test was done with and without the 55hp setting on my Bill's flip chip and saw no significant difference between stock and the 55hp setting. I think the increase in mileage with a chip is an old urban myth.
Got 15.5 one time while driving 50 mph in a bad snowstorm in 4x4. That time I was passed by nobody. Its a great snow truck.
I also did this with my car, 1999 Grand Marque but did not have as significant results. I kept driving at 75 mph because I only saved about a mile per gal from the slowest to the fastest setting. I get 26 on the highway with it at 75 mph, cruse and AC on also.
Jim

 

[CHPMustang]

Our findings are similar as when our X is setup with the 60HP program doing 65 mph across I-10 we can accomplish 20-21+ with about 90%+ traffic passing us up while getting an easy 700 miles on 3/4 tank.

With the fuel prices at their increased levels I now drive on the freeway rather than my leadfoot wifey to see if we can attain better mileage over a week which I'm confident I can do.

 

[Crumm]

I commute 180 miles per day round trip to and from work

Yikes I thought my little 5 mile drive was expensive and I only do it three times a week.

 

[WD40]

Some of you may want to use this link to check out price of fuel & Gas.
http://www.flyingj.com/fuel/gasoline_CF.cfm?state=ALL

 

[CHPMustang]

For us here in the Dallas Area

 

[95_stroker]

Well, it took over 550 miles but I passed my first vehicle on the way home from work this morning. I'd guess he was doing about 58 mph, it took me a long time to overtake him at 60.

 

[whatabudro]

Well, it took over 550 miles but I passed my first vehicle on the way home from work this morning. I'd guess he was doing about 58 mph, it took me a long time to overtake him at 60.