The Price of Gasoline - How does (will) it affect you?

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Originally Posted by walterick

as it somehow messed with the air turbulance behind the cab creating more drag...

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I think the big fancy word they used was "vortex" as in the air goes over the cab, down into the bed, hits the inside of the tailgate and forms a vortex. That's about all I can tell you, but I remember the show.

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Originally Posted by walterick

So, step on it next time you're on a washboarded country road!

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I was on an "unimproved" road up in the UP a couple weeks ago. The farther I got, the less, well, improved it got... Might have worked on this road, but probably not in a Jetta!

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Originally Posted by walterick

Kokopelli told me they tested the myth that driving your pickup with the tailgate down decreases wind resistance and thereby increases mileage. Actually, what they apparently found was that having the tailgate down decreased gas mileage, as it somehow messed with the air turbulance behind the cab creating more drag... so drive on the highway with your tailgate up, who knew.

Just a little ot, I saw a mythbusters where they tested whether or not driving fast on bumpy roads made for a better ride. Turns out, yes, especially on washboard roads at higher speeds your tires just clip over the tops of the troughs creating a smoother ride. So, step on it next time you're on a washboarded country road!

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I usually take speedbumps in 2nd gear (15-20mph)

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Speaking of windows, does everyone know it is more fuel efficient to have your windows down while in the city, but to have the A/C on while on the highway? The drag from the A/C compressor in the city decreases your mileage, but the drag from having your windows down on the highway sucks more gas than using your A/C does.

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I dont have AC, so I dont have to choose. I'm a big fan of 4/55 Air conditioning, 4 windows down, 55 miles per hour :D

some days it's just too hot for aerodynamics...forget aerodynamics anyway...I drive a Volvo 240 stationwagon...brick on wheels with a roof rack.

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Originally Posted by walterick

Kokopelli told me they tested the myth that driving your pickup with the tailgate down decreases wind resistance and thereby increases mileage. Actually, what they apparently found was that having the tailgate down decreased gas mileage, as it somehow messed with the air turbulance behind the cab creating more drag... so drive on the highway with your tailgate up, who knew.

!

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It depends on the truck! My 97 Dodge gets 3-4 mpg more without the tailgate, but a friends Ford does better with it.
Try it both ways and see which is better with your truck.

JS

Mine has a cap on the back, so no vortexes for me :(

What's a vortex?



:D

Well the long weekend is over. Finally I saved the longer trip to Normandy and Picardy for the summer. I just made a few short hops, when the weather was right. The results :

1. The Cathedral in Beauvais, an amazingly vertical place. In the 12th Century it was rocket science, they kept on wanting to build gothic cathedrals higher and higher. In Beauvais - it fell down before they could finish so the building has no nave. There is now a sturdy system of wooden props to make the place more stable
2. Gerberoy, an unbearably cute village near Beauvais. The cyclists filled the tea-rooms at lunchtime, couldn't get anything to eat.
3. Les Vaux de Cernay. I go there in all seasons, it's never quite the same
4. Vallée de la Bievre, about 4 miles from home.

21 May 2007, Interstate 55 Central Illinois, United States. Noonish.

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Originally Posted by walterick

Kokopelli told me they tested the myth that driving your pickup with the tailgate down decreases wind resistance and thereby increases mileage. Actually, what they apparently found was that having the tailgate down decreased gas mileage, as it somehow messed with the air turbulance behind the cab creating more drag... so drive on the highway with your tailgate up, who knew.

Just a little ot, I saw a mythbusters where they tested whether or not driving fast on bumpy roads made for a better ride. Turns out, yes, especially on washboard roads at higher speeds your tires just clip over the tops of the troughs creating a smoother ride. So, step on it next time you're on a washboarded country road!

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My first vehicle was a 1975 Ford F-100 Ranger XLT with a 5.9 Liter V8 and a 2bbl carb. I used to track my mileage and always used to run with my tailgate down when I was trying to save on gas. Back then gas was .99 to $1.10 per gallon :eek: I was suprised to see that episode as well. One thing I learned is that a 4bbl carb gets better gas mileage than a 2 bbl because the pimary jets are smaller because you have secondaries in a 4bbl. This is of course only if you stay out of the secondaries.

To maximize economy be sure that you have a clean air filter, good spark plugs/wires, clean fuel system and correct tire pressure. You could always throw in a K&N air filter and a lower restriction exhaust system or a free flowing muffler such as Magnaflow. Of course all of you economy gains go out the window if you use all of the extra power. I have not personally experienced this but I have read that if you switch all drivetrain fluids to synthetic oils you reduce drag and friction and end up picking up a little economy as well as added protection. Check your application and be sure you don't have any leaks. If you have an existing leak it will probably get bigger.

Dave

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Originally Posted by drg

21 May 2007, Interstate 55 Central Illinois, United States. Noonish.

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Some stations here went down a whole 4 cents to 3.34 while others remained at 3.38 or higher. So now you know what to expect when you get back to Indy DRG.


JS

Yeah gas prices dropped here recently too. I actually saw $3.01 at two cheap places today.

$3.49 here in town the last few days, quite a bit higher in Chicago (was there over the weekend). I'm glad diesel is still in the $2.85 range...

The price of gas in the States - and the worries it is causing to Americans - is even worthy of an item in the mainstream French press. Liberation has a piece on it today. My translation:

According to a survey done by the CFA (Consumer Federation of America?), 72% of Americans are starting to be "very worried" by this rise because it is felt in their budget.

"The average annual spending on gas has increased by $1000 in the last 5 years for a typical American household" said Steven Brobeck, director of the CFA.

America consumes 25% of world crude oil and has 3% of world oil reserves but 55% of Americans think that their country has more than 20% of world oil reserves, according to the CFA.

Charles

p.s. I looked up the article this morning. It seems like good sense and it gives you tips on how to reduce your fuel consumption

http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/CFA_...ease052107.pdf

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Originally Posted by walterick

Yeah gas prices dropped here recently too. I actually saw $3.01 at two cheap places today.

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That didn't last long! The price dropped 4 cents Monday to $3.34, but Tuesday jumped to to $3.58.....I am really sick of this crap!

JS

I don't drive so I don't have to worry about fluctuating fuel costs. however in Australia the prices for Gasoline (or petrol as we call it here) have fluctuated wildly for some time. The Oil companies claim that this is just supply and demand and natural market forces at play, however there is increasing evidence that these fluctuations are not as benign or market stimulated as we are led to believe. i don't know why the us is experience fluctuations but i suspect that there is more at play than what you are hearing. (skyman goes and checks under the keyboard for bugs then runs away laughing at his shadow):out:

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Originally Posted by Skyman

. i don't know why the us is experience fluctuations but i suspect that there is more at play than what you are hearing. (skyman goes and checks under the keyboard for bugs then runs away laughing at his shadow):out:

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That sound your hearing is MY change gingling in the pockets of those rich oil idiots including VP Cheney and especially those Exxon execs.....

JS

Just found this stroy. Some gas stations around here are turning off their pumps because of the high gas prises.

http://www.channel3000.com/money/13383520/detail.html

This moth I couldn't save gas if I had tried, my mileage for the month will be around 1400 miles, and thats just for work. Tomorrow my Jeep Cherokee will hit 200,000 miles when I head off to the track for the Infinity Pro series race and Carb Day.

JS

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