Ideal speed for maximixing mpg

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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 12:55 PM
  #1  
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Ideal speed for maximixing mpg

6-speeders

I have changed my driving habits from city to highway.

On City I used to make an average of 20 ~ 21 mpg.

Now on the highway, I drive at around 75 ~ 85 mph and I am averaging the same if not less

I am trying to figure out what is the ideal highway speed to maximize mileage per galon. Gas prices + tolls are driving me crazy.

feedback please
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 01:05 PM
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blader's Avatar
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What is maximixing?



If you look in the owners manual, they have a list of what speeds you should max out at in what gear for absolute best fuel economy. dunno if that helps .. but I get the best in my 5AT at like 70 (exactly 2krpm)
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by zamo
6-speeders

I have changed my driving habits from city to highway.

On City I used to make an average of 20 ~ 21 mpg.

Now on the highway, I drive at around 75 ~ 85 mph and I am averaging the same if not less

I am trying to figure out what is the ideal highway speed to maximize mileage per galon. Gas prices + tolls are driving me crazy.

feedback please

Try to drive in 6th gear and between 2000 and 2500 rpm. I get between 27 and 28 mpg regularly.
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 01:15 PM
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i thought ideal gas mileage is at 55mph on all vehicles

good luck staying at 55 though.. lol..
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 02:13 PM
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Don't go over 65 in 6th. At 65 your pushing a little less then 2500 RPM. Once your into the 75-80 range that jumps to almost 3K RPM, once your at 85 your at 3200 or so RPM. Helps to stay out of vtech. I know everyone zooms by you at 65 though. That's what you have to do.
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 02:25 PM
  #6  
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i drove with 75~80mph at aroung 2250rpm..
also cruise ctrl on. it gose with almost over 480mile..
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by blader
What is maximixing?



If you look in the owners manual, they have a list of what speeds you should max out at in what gear for absolute best fuel economy. dunno if that helps .. but I get the best in my 5AT at like 70 (exactly 2krpm)
You know.."Optimus Primal..MAXIMIZE!" That's maximizing.
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 02:32 PM
  #8  
zamo's Avatar
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Originally Posted by fuzzy02CLS
Don't go over 65 in 6th. At 65 your pushing a little less then 2500 RPM. Once your into the 75-80 range that jumps to almost 3K RPM, once your at 85 your at 3200 or so RPM. Helps to stay out of vtech. I know everyone zooms by you at 65 though. That's what you have to do.


the AUTO guys have better luck in this matter. They can push higher speed with the same RPMs as us.
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Old Nov 12, 2004 | 02:34 PM
  #9  
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I don't think I've ever even checked my gas mileage...

But I do try to stay in 5th/6th as much as possible on hwy, speed match the revs...etc.
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Old Nov 13, 2004 | 01:01 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by zamo
6-speeders
...
I am trying to figure out what is the ideal highway speed to maximize mileage per galon. Gas prices + tolls are driving me crazy.

feedback please

In general...it's the LOWEST speed possible on the HIGHEST gear without bogging the transmission. Anything faster and it'll be an exponential climb against air resistance.

Personally I wouldn't cruise above 70 if I wanted to maximize gas mileage. Problem is can you patiently cruise @ the speed limit?
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Old Nov 13, 2004 | 03:45 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by edgalang
In general...it's the LOWEST speed possible on the HIGHEST gear without bogging the transmission. Anything faster and it'll be an exponential climb against air resistance.

Personally I wouldn't cruise above 70 if I wanted to maximize gas mileage. Problem is can you patiently cruise @ the speed limit?


The national speed limit used to be 75 but was lowered to 55 MPH. It was lowered not because 55 MPH was safer, but because gas mileage was better at 55 MPH. (think 70's gas crisis...)

Can you take the slowness of driving at the speed limit?? I cannot and only get around 20-23 MPG

Time Vs. Money dude...
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Old Nov 13, 2004 | 05:33 PM
  #12  
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From: Weston, FL
very valid suggestions here, thanks folks.

I will try lowering to 65 mph. And yes, I can say that the faster I go, the gas consumption increases exponentially. The good think, I am no longer in extended stop-and-go driving conditions.
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Old Nov 13, 2004 | 10:29 PM
  #13  
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Holy cow guys. I get ~30mpg in my 3.0cl going 79mph (right below 80, s/l 70, no cops bother me) on long trips. I find it hard to believe .2L makes that much difference at such low revs. 79mph = 3K rpm in my car.
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Old Nov 13, 2004 | 10:40 PM
  #14  
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CLP -- 73-75mph gets me 30+ mpg
80ish gets me 28mpg
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Old Nov 13, 2004 | 10:42 PM
  #15  
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68mph = 2250 rpm = consistant returns of over 30 mpg. Unofficial record holder for most 500+ miles-per-tankful from an '03 CL-S, unofficial record holder for most miles-per-tankful from a single fill-up, as recorded here:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...light=Y2K3CL-S
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Old Nov 14, 2004 | 11:09 AM
  #16  
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I avg 28 mpg on the highway traving 75 miles/hr. (CL-S 6sp)

Never ran a full tank with just city driving. I would think that would be around 24 mpg because i tend to run up the tach between gears.
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Old Nov 16, 2004 | 08:46 AM
  #17  
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From: Weston, FL
I am driving @ 67 ~ 70 mph and I can see some difference.
I will post numbers when my tank is empty.

It is crazy how much gas the engine will suck above 70ish.
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Old Nov 16, 2004 | 09:51 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by stejus
I avg 28 mpg on the highway traving 75 miles/hr. (CL-S 6sp).
I swear my car was built on a friday afternoon. I can only get about a maximum of 26 hwy on my 6spd.

With the stop and go traffic thru providence, I usually get more like 21-22...

My brother stopped driving 75-80 in his v6 tacoma truck and started driving 65. He saw his gas mileage jump from 19mpg to about 23mpg...

EDIT: Truth be told, I do routinely crank it up to 90mph when the road opens up
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Old Nov 18, 2004 | 08:41 AM
  #19  
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This time I changed habits on the last half tank, increasing my overall average mpg to 23 which is better.

I started to drive below 70 mph.

I will post number on the tank I filled yesterday. I should be able to be around 25 mpg which will be a record for me.

Now that I remember, when gas was not an issue (like near 2 years ago) I used to drive over 80 mph at I-95, and a tank will last just 250 ~ 260 miles

Thank you guys.
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Old Nov 18, 2004 | 03:15 PM
  #20  
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i dunno if this is weird, i saw this postin and decided to give my car a test, i filled up completely and drove 160 miles and only used a half of gas? good or bad?
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Old Nov 18, 2004 | 03:16 PM
  #21  
zamo's Avatar
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Originally Posted by sexytypes
i dunno if this is weird, i saw this postin and decided to give my car a test, i filled up completely and drove 160 miles and only used a half of gas? good or bad?
thats not bad actually. You will see that the other half will give slightly higher miles driving as before, because your car has now a bit less weight.
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Old Nov 25, 2004 | 11:01 PM
  #22  
squarecircle's Avatar
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If I can maintain 75-78 MPH 32+ M/Gal is normal for my ride with CT blower and full CT exhaust. The cruise control with the blower hurts gas mileage because it appears to be overly sensitive and opens the throttle more than is necesary on catch up. 517 miles on one tank load once! ----- squarecircle -----
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 02:34 PM
  #23  
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Well I live in Baltimore City and I drove to Salisbury Maryland last Sunday. Its about 123 miles. I filled the tank up before I left and hopped right on the highway. I never went above 70mph except in passing situations. When I was on route 50e I sometimes dipped down to 65mph and lower. I kept the cruise control on and enjoyed the ride. BTW I have an auto CLS. I got about 200 miles out of a half a tank. I drove about 90% highway and the rest city mileage.

I don't believe thats too bad at all. I believe this past week with 95% city mileage I got around 160 miles out of a half of tank. That includes having my moments of fan and gunning my engine.
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 02:51 PM
  #24  
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I dont know about you guys, but its hard to cruise going that slow...Going faster gives me a rush...I cruise around 75-80 most of the time. Once in awhile i'll just punch it and go around 85...makes driving more fun..
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Old Nov 26, 2004 | 04:03 PM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by VeeralS05
I dont know about you guys, but its hard to cruise going that slow...Going faster gives me a rush...I cruise around 75-80 most of the time. Once in awhile i'll just punch it and go around 85...makes driving more fun..
Well, I'm 20 and paying $300 a month for insurance. A lot of the time I don't feel like searching for cops so I just become a zebra and blend in. I know where I can punch it at, and trust me, I do it.
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Old Nov 27, 2004 | 06:56 PM
  #26  
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Just made a trip from Philly to Richmond, VA and back. Two of us in the car with some luggage. Drove at about 75mph for 520 miles. (Would have gone faster but the holiday traffic didnt allow it. ) Got 31mpg with the 6spd. Not bad for a 260 hp sport coupe.
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Old Nov 30, 2004 | 08:13 PM
  #27  
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OK I managed to get 360 miles with 15 gallons. 80:20 highway:city driving.

Highway driving was 65 ~ 70 mph range.

It was a good improvement.
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