This is a topic I brought up maybe about a year ago and had some good discussion. The basic thought I had is whether it is better to accelerate at a fairly steady rate so you can get to cruising speed quicker and then back off the throttle to the point where you maintain the cruising speed, or is it better to poke around like grandma and have a slower acceleration rate but take longer to reach cruise speed. Which method will give you better gas mileage? Now for the first method, I don't mean hard acceleration, but something around 1/4 - 1/3 throttle.

I finally decided to test this out. I used my 91 Dodge Spirit, since it is my daily driver and I travel the same routes consistantly. Normally, I accelerate using the first method above. I push the accelerator down fairly quickly so I can hear the engine working a little and once I hit the speed limit I back off the throttle. I'm not driving the car like I'm racing it, but I just want to reach cruising speed fairly quickly.

The past tankfull, I purposely changed my driving style. I started out from stop signsby feathering the throttle, actually barely touching it. I tried to work the throttle so that I could just hear the engine working a little. I constantly had to think about how hard I was pushing on the accelerator. But I noticed that in most situations I didn't have to back off the throttle when I hit cruising speed, I simply had the throttle where it would accelerate to, then level off at the speed limit. There were a few times when I had to accelarate hard due to traffic. It was tough changing my habits, but I wanted to see if it made a difference.

I drive about 15 miles to work, one-way, with several stop signs and red lights.Mostly back roads where I run 45 - 55, with a stretch of highway where I run 65 mph. I didn't change my top speed, only the acceleration. I keep a notebook in my car and record miles driven and gallons of gas for each fillup, so I have good accurate records.

The results - The last three tankfulls of gas where I drove normally I had the following mileage - 26.8, 26.9, and 25.5 mpg.

This tankful - 28.9 mpg. I guess I answered my question.

 

i find that as with most things in life, the middle approach works best. I usuially accelerate to 2000 untill im up to speed and then turn overdrive back on (or dont). 2000 keeps me well ahead of traffic anyways.

 

ASH, thanks for sharing your results with us. Sometimes I drive like your last test session, now I can say I'm trying to save gas instead of purposely trying to **** off aggressive drivers. [sm=icon_rofl.gif]

 

aweomse test, thanks for the info

 

That's pretty much what I do. Except I'm not much to bother with OD, I just leave it on, and don't get it above 2000 rpms. Although 2000 doesn't do for me what it does for you I'm sure... Since I'm running 275's with stock gearing, all city driving, QC and 4x4, lol.