Driving Over 60? Slow Down, Your Wallet Will Thank You

Recall last summer's gas price hike? 

Oil hit nearly $150 a barrel and gas prices across the country surged to levels that made Americans wonder if they were in the EU.  Suddenly hybrids, MINIs and Civics were being bought up as though there was a fire sale. 

Currently, with gas hovering around the $70 barrel mark -- which has gradually ratcheted up from February lows -- there is no telling where it can go from here.  Will we see $150 per barrel and $4 gas again?

So, Agent001 did some digging and pulled up some tips from Fueleconomy.gov to pass along to our faithful AutoSpies readers.

From Fueleconomy.gov:

"Observe the Speed Limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas.

Observing the speed limit is also safer."
 

For more tips, click below.


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Joe_Limon - 6/26/2009 6:45:55 PM

+7 Boost

Hmm just a thought, but it would be really interesting to see graphs of fuel efficiency vs speed of various vehicles. That could be a very powerful selling feature, especially in the diesel vs hybrid dilemma.

vogeygolf - 6/26/2009 7:08:58 PM

+2 Boost

I'm not so sure that's all that accurate.

I have an 05 Acura RL and my wife drives a Honda CRV-07. I've watched fuel economy on both cars on highway, and to be truthful, I've seen little difference between driving 65 and 80. Did a round trip in my Acura RL this past weekend to Kansas and got 27.5 on average-averaging about 80 MPH.

jeffy210 - 6/26/2009 7:23:54 PM

-2 Boost

Also, don't forget some European cars are designed for better fuel efficiency at Autobahn speeds (approx 130kph or 80mph). I remember my ex's 330i did vastly better on fuel at 80mph than at 65mph

sector - 6/26/2009 10:20:21 PM

-4 Boost

That's the magic of BMW engineering at work... brilliant minds over there have figured out a way to use "less" fuel as engine RPM increase, transmission RPM rises and aerodynamic drag on the car rises also. No other company has achieved this, only BMW.

I also heard they have secret laboratories somewhere in the hills of Bavaria where they have a working perpetual motion machine and anti-gravity prototypes... clearly, 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics, and laws of gravity are NO match for BMW people.

Joe_Limon - 6/27/2009 11:59:00 AM

+2 Boost

Depending on the gearing it isn't impossible what he is saying, if your engine revs are to low at a given speed you use more throttle and therefore more fuel. If a car is geared for best fuel economy between 65-80mph then it can and will get better fuel economy there.

bfghemicuda - 6/26/2009 7:25:51 PM

+1 Boost

My V10 dosent care how fast it goes. It gets 12 mpg no matter what. Its paid for and the registration is cheap so if it costs me more for the mileage issue I don't really care. At 205k miles its been a damn good truck.

veyron1001 - 6/26/2009 11:08:44 PM

+4 Boost

"Observing the speed limit is also safer."
I thought keeping your eyes on the road was.

Hmm drive at 60mph and risk a pile up or 75 to 80mph, paying a little more, and being safe as you are going with the flow of traffic. I chose the latter.

DiamondJim - 6/27/2009 12:30:49 AM

-1 Boost

You should all watch the show "SPEEDERS" on the "Tru" channel.


They have the dumbest excuses for going over the limit.


And ALWAYS fight your ticket, the cop may not show up and you're off the hook!

ThierryHenry14 - 6/27/2009 9:54:22 AM

+2 Boost

You know, I see these people in their Prius and "go green" stickers doing 80 on the freeway, and I think to myself, what idiots!!!

But no, I do not think that going slower necessarily means its safer. People are just as clumsy going 25, 45, 80, or 120. Its all about the person behind the wheel.

But as for gas, if saving 24c/5mph is what concerns you, then yes, you should slow down. If not, then go 80, but just be safe/prudent while doing so...

ThierryHenry14 - 6/27/2009 10:43:02 AM

+1 Boost

btw, its not just Prius drivers, but all drivers of "hybrids" or fuel efficient cars...

SteedPub - 6/27/2009 1:33:47 PM

+3 Boost

Reminds me of the test they did on Top Gear where they raced a Prius and an M3 together on the race track. The M3 got significantly more MPG than the Prius when driven hard.

So yes, when you see the the lone driver in a Prius, piously blasting down the HOV lane at 80 because they are better than you.........they again are only further showing themselves as idiots.

XYZZ - 6/27/2009 7:32:46 PM

0 Boost

"...driver in a Prius, piously blasting down the HOV lane at 80 because they are better than you.........they again are only further showing themselves as idiots."

actually, you only display to the world what an idiot YOU are! i'll guarantee you a prius cruising at 80 is STILL getting better mileage than most any other vehicles doing 80!

the Top Gear exercise can be played two ways. the M3 may outdo the Prius on mileage when the latter is driven like a madman. but cruising at a steady 80 (which any competent person can do sanely), i'll bet the prius yeilds similar if not better mileage than the M3.

at that speed, the prius' superior aerodynamics become more of a factor. and the driver is NOT constantly mashing the gas pedal.

Flat6Four - 6/27/2009 11:08:39 AM

+6 Boost

Nannies…I thought this was an enthusiasts site…fast and aware is safer than slow and asleep any day. Don’t tread on me.

SteedPub - 6/27/2009 12:24:59 PM

+3 Boost

What a bunch of Naderist nonsense.

XYZZ - 6/27/2009 7:38:45 PM

0 Boost

i consider myself a mild Hypermiler. i RELISH the times i can zip by at 70, 80, even at times 90 mph. IN NEUTRAL!

even where there are no hills, i create VIRTUAL hills of kinetic energy. i consistently drive between 10 - 20 mph faster than prevailing TRAFFIC (NOT just the posted limits). then i coast down in N until change in momentum requires more gas -- or brakes, which i generally use MINIMALLY.

texascruiser - 6/27/2009 10:42:43 PM

+4 Boost

I drive south and west Texas weekly in a Lexus GS. Speed limits are 70, 75 and 80 and I average around 30 MPG. And there isn't anything much more dangerous than running 80 and coming up on a tree hugger doing 55 to save gas. Don't lower our limits. 55 or 60 in the western states is joke and was rarely enforced when it was the limit.

XYZZ - 7/4/2009 6:32:43 PM

+1 Boost

i have done this for DECADES with stick shift cars and trucks.

i consulted a few mechanics before extending this practice with automatics. they say it ONLY accelerates wear on the shift lever!

LexSucks - 6/28/2009 4:04:06 PM

+5 Boost

I drove to Atlanta earlier this month. I couldn't tell the mpg differences between 60-80mph. Driving 55mph was out of the question.

AdmiralT20 - 6/28/2009 9:11:50 PM

+1 Boost

This is heavily dependent on the number of cylinders,the displacement of the engine and the gearing.
Keeping gearing and other cylinder management systems out of the equation, and looking at it from the cylinder count and displacement point of view.
Generally a low(say 6) cylinder engine will be more economical at a lower speed than say an eight cylinder engine. Conversely, an eight cylinder engine will more economical at a higher speed than a six cylinder engine. Displacement also follows the same pattern but is more driven by the engine speed at maximum torque.

TehShibbs - 6/29/2009 6:24:18 PM

+2 Boost

I was doing some datalogging on my way home from Duluth yesterday. 70 mph on the freeway, 5th gear, I was getting 25 mpg instantaneous. Step the speed up to 85, and I was getting 35 mpg instantaneous. Yes, additional 15mpg by speeding. Following a truck pulling an enclosed trailer at 85 mph = 48 mpg.

Car is a modded 07 WRX with turbo-back catless exhaust, 3-port boost controller, intake, and many many hours of tuning on the stock ECU.

XYZZ - 7/4/2009 6:38:10 PM

+1 Boost

the key is, trying to minimize STEADY application of power when not needed.

most of my acceleration is in top gear. and i back off when sufficient speed is attained so i can coast down to traffic ahead, curves, lights, etc.

just about NO ONE is ever inconvenienced behind me, except for impatient asses who will have to brake anyway for what i see ahead.