How I started driving closer to the speed limit,
and started enjoying it more.
I have written in previous posts that at my mature age I enjoy driving by finding the Zen of the highway and conditions. My goal is to maintain a reasonable steady speed without having to constantly brake for slower vehicles or suddenly move into the left lane to pass. I try to find a pace that allows me to blend in and harmonize with the highway and traffic conditions.
I used to press on relentlessly, passing slower traffic, always looking for that spot where I could pass drivers traveling at the speed limit.
Though I never drove like a maniac, or at what I considered excessive speeds, it was a style that required a more heightened sense of awareness. Not exactly relaxing.
Earlier this Summer, I was on vacation in Oregon. We drove up I-5, then over to the coast.
I-5 is a narrower roadway in Oregon, only four lanes. The rule is that traffic must stay to the right, unless passing. This makes sense in that the freeways in the state are not as expansive as in California, though there is no rule there, that traffic must stay in the right lane. It is legal to drive in any lane at the specified speed limit, though you'll find yourself aggressively tail gated at best, and subject to road rage at worst, if you follow this method.
So why was I following the speed limits so religiously?
I have a thing about maximizing fuel economy.
I had read in the latest issue of AAA magazine that ran an article about myths concerning increasing fuel economy while driving.
An interesting fact is that fuel economy is 40% better at 55 mph. than at 70 mph. I well remember the 55 mph. limit, it was imposed to maximize fuel economy during a late 1970's oil shortage. Cars of that era were not designed to provide the best fuel economy due to the limitations of the existing technology.
Some things are based purely on physics. That's where this observation comes from. It takes four times the horsepower to double a vehicle's speed. This is due to the increase in drag, which is exponential with increased speed. This is a principle that applies to just about every vehicle, regardless of configuration, driving slower increases fuel economy.
This fact also figures into stopping distances, as we're talking about dissipating energy.
This fact is obviously lost on most motorists, as I see big trucks and SUVs whizzing past me at 75-80 mph. I guess that their owners don't care about fuel costs.
Truthfully, almost every type of vehicle has seen a substantial increase in their fuel economy and level of performance since those dark, double nickel days. So, many people don't mind if their mileage drops from an average of 30 mpg. at legal speeds to 20-25 mpg. as they barrel along at 75+ mph. You aren't giving up that much.
Current global conditions have resulted in a huge spike in gasoline prices, and I'm starting to see many large vehicles travelling at speeds closer to the legal speed limits. A few are even driving at less than the legal speed!
I thought that I'd give it a try with my Flex.
I don't think that anyone is going to drive at 55 mph. on I-5, but driving at 65 mph. is perfectly reasonable.
I have usually described my average road trip mpg. in my Flex as being between 22-24 mpg. driven in my usual manner. I average between 70-75 mph. on earlier vacations, and I am passing slower traffic, even when crossing the mountains north of Redding, and between Medford and Grants Pass Oregon.
This time I kept it at 65 mph. except for a few situations where I sped up to free myself from a tangle of slower vehicles and trucks.
I take my fuel economy readings from the onboard trip computer.
I was doing pretty good maintaining a number over 27 mpg. on the final leg of the trip, from Medford to San Jose. Unfortunately as I arrived in the South Bay it was in the middle of the evening commute. I was caught in stop and go traffic and saw my overall mileage numbers dropping. I feather footed it and carefully regulated my speed to minimize the need to come to a full stop. I was pretty successful and exited the freeway with a reading of just under 27 mpg. On the final few miles home on surface streets I was able to finesse the number back up to 27 mpg. Pulling into my driveway I checked the overall mileage for the 1,300 mile trip, and it was 25.5 mpg.
That was only one and half mpg. better than my usual 24 mpg. that I recorded last year. I suppose that I've found the most efficient speed range for my Flex, which is close to how I usually drive. I suppose that I could pick another couple of miles if I drove at 55 mph. which is never going to happen. I have to drive at 55 mph. in my Plymouth, and that's just too uncomfortable over long distances with modern traffic. Big Rigs and vehicles pulling trailers are supposed to limit their speed to 55, but I haven't seen that in a very long time. A combination of vehicles, vehicle plus trailer, are also restricted to the two right lanes by law, ( as well as a 55mph. max speed ) but I've had pick ups pulling trailers whizzing by me in the left, and HOV lane.
Even so, I've adopted a driving style that I find relaxing and allows me to enjoy long drives, and a small increase in fuel economy isn't a bad thing.
My current fleet is not the most fuel efficient, with the best only returning 24-25 mpg. Though I no longer have any real gas hogs around, like my old '66 Riviera.
I remember my '90 Honda Civic SI coupe which returned really impressive mileage, it returned 36 mpg. in mixed driving and would pass 40 mpg. on long trips.
It might be fun to have another high mileage small car that would be cheap to take on back roads excursions.
Those are thoughts for another time. Right now I'm up to my armpits in the middle of a mechanical project, one that I really need to finish.
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