62 MPG at 70 MPH
#1
62 MPG at 70 MPH
I had less than 2 miles on a fresh tank of gas when I pulled onto the Highway (I-95 in VA) and fell in behind an 18 wheeler doing between 70 and 75 mph. I drafted him for thirty miles and was showing 62.2 mpg when he got off at an exit. I slowed down to my normal 60-65 mph but the mileage dropped to 56 by the time I reached where I was going (another 37 miles). I swear it was like he was pulling me down the highway!
P.S. I know drafting is not safe blah blah blah, so no chastising, please.
P.S. I know drafting is not safe blah blah blah, so no chastising, please.
#2
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
That is why people are so tempted to draft semis on the highway. You get a lot of help from them.
Like you said though, it isn't safe to draft closely behind a semi. There are several types of drafting though, many of them are much safer. Go to http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/gloss...earchoptions=1 to see the other types of drafting.
Like you said though, it isn't safe to draft closely behind a semi. There are several types of drafting though, many of them are much safer. Go to http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/gloss...earchoptions=1 to see the other types of drafting.
#3
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
I had less than 2 miles on a fresh tank of gas when I pulled onto the Highway (I-95 in VA) and fell in behind an 18 wheeler doing between 70 and 75 mph. I drafted him for thirty miles and was showing 62.2 mpg when he got off at an exit. I slowed down to my normal 60-65 mph but the mileage dropped to 56 by the time I reached where I was going (another 37 miles). I swear it was like he was pulling me down the highway!
P.S. I know drafting is not safe blah blah blah, so no chastising, please.
P.S. I know drafting is not safe blah blah blah, so no chastising, please.
#4
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
Hey, that's just like drafting on a bicycle. When I'm in front going 25mph on a flat road on a calm day, my heartrate is about 175 beats per min. Once I drop back behind someone, heart drops to around 140.
Even more pronounced on a slight downhill where in front, I'm at 170-175 bpm while in back, I might even have to hit the brakes from time to time.
Even more pronounced on a slight downhill where in front, I'm at 170-175 bpm while in back, I might even have to hit the brakes from time to time.
#5
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
It varied, but I tried to keep it around 12 feet. About 1 car length. It was nice and quiet when I was in the pocket, but the car would begin to shake and the noise would pick up if I fell back.
#6
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
I don't think it's so risky neither. The truckers are usually very consistent with their speed. You must stay waked-up but for sure, it will take more distance for the 18wheeler to stop than you, so. For the moment, since I want to keep the car at lease 15 years, that's the painting I am concerned.
Pierre
Pierre
#8
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
I had a great draft last week. The trucker and I were in harmony. Everytime he wanted to change lanes, I'd move over to block traffic and flash my lights to let him know it was okay to move over. A true symbiotic relationship! He gets easy lane changes, I get good MPG. At the end of my ride I pulled alongside and it was all smiles and waves!
#9
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
You're luky. The relation I have with them is very bad for the moment. I drive +/- 25 miles on a HW going in opposit direction of the town and therefore without a lot of trafic. And, for a reason I don't understand, 4 on 5 truckers wait at the last second to change the lane. Yesterday one was stopped be a car in the left lane, he passed about at 6 inches of my car at 70mph instead of slowdown.
PM
PM
#10
Re: 62 MPG at 70 MPH
I don't think it's so risky neither. The truckers are usually very consistent with their speed. You must stay waked-up but for sure, it will take more distance for the 18wheeler to stop than you, so. For the moment, since I want to keep the car at lease 15 years, that's the painting I am concerned.
Not to mention you are following too close, and on top of that you can't see what's in front of the truck...they can stop just as fast as a large car. To think they stop slow is a big mistake.
And finally it probably annoys the heck out of the truck driver.
Last edited by ozymandias; 05-14-2007 at 03:06 PM.