[Land-speed] Tires,Mileage,etc/non LSR ?

[Tom Bryant]

My Firebird Trans Am does not have these creature comforts such as mileage
calculators (my GMC does), but I keep an accurate record of fuel used and
miles traveled. I don't drive at 55 mph except to get to 70 or 75 mph where
I cruise. In general it is 17-18 mpg around town and 26+ on the highway. I
can't tell you what it is a 55 mph because I would rather get a little less
mileage and get there in a timely manner. I have been regurgitating what I
have read, which is speaking more of smaller engines and cars, not from
actual experience.

 I do not support the government telling us to drive 55 mph. Truck (three
axles or more)speed limits in CA is 55 mph. I generally towed at 70 mph with
my open trailer, but found with the enclosed trailer, anything over 60 mph
rapidly reduced mileage. Things may have changed, but I know some nationwide
trucking companies used to pay their drivers bonuses for keeping to the 55
mph speeds so I would assume that there is fuel savings to do that. Again
every vehicle has its optimum efficiency speed so there is not a blanket
statement that applies to all. I do know that just as at Bonneville, over
gearing will reduce performance.

Tom, Redding CA - #216 D/FCC

-------Original Message-------

From: Jon Wennerberg
Date: 07/21/08 12:12:31
To: DR MAYF;  land-speed submit
Subject: Re: [Land-speed] Tires,Mileage,etc/non LSR ?

On Jul 21, 2008, at 3:01 PM, drmayf wrote:

Tom, Ed, all..


mayf

Speaking to something that Ed mentioned a few posts ago -- the fuel
computer display built into the dashboard.  On my '04 GMC pickup
there's one of the computers, and I've checked the accuracy -- only
to find it's a bit generous (when compared to my figuring of fuel
economy).  A couple of mpg too generous, in fact.  The 'puter might
show 25.4 mpg on a road trip -- and when I figure the number of
gallons burned and the number of miles driven (using the readouts
from the fuel stations and the corrected mileage shown on the
odometer ) I'll get something like 23.9 mpg.  These numbers are close
to the real world for me -- I do get mid-20's in my big pickup -- but
the computer shows even better.

I drive at or below posted speed limits 99% of the time, use the
cruise control as much as is possible, and don't do jackrabbit starts
-- all of which contribute to good mileage.  Again -- YMMV.

Jon Wennerberg

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