I'm not really a nascar fan, but I tried a drafting experiment. I left for work early yesterday evening travelling down I-12 with time to kill. I usually re-set my lie-o-meter as a base reference to see how the mpg's are doing.

A mild front had blown thru, and I had alittle bit of a head wind. Travelling at 70 mph with the air on, the meter showed 18.9 mpg.

Up ahead, I noticed a liquid tanker truck travelling about the same speed, and the idea of drafting him came to mind. I rumbled on up behind him and set the cruise to match his speed of about 68mph or so. I kept a distance of about 50 to 60 feet, then re-set the lie-o-meter.

The number started out at 18.9, then began climbing. I couldn't beleive what I was seeing, the number's rose up to 22.9, and on one occassion, hit 23 mpg.

I cruised behind him for about 30 miles, at which point he took an exit. I thouht that was kinda cool, so I went huntin for another unsuspecting trucker. I found a regular box cargo style trucker, and did the same, but found the mpg's were down to 22.8.

I continued this all the way to my destination, moving and changing lanes as the trucker did.
It was interesting to see how the drafting effect helped conserve fuel. I knew that it helped, but seeing the numbers really set an impression.

 

Considering that the ONLY thing youCAN draft behindIS a semi.........

You draft the semi, I'll draft you....

 

drafting works great, for the non physics minded people, just stick your hand out the window, there's is a lot of force being applied just on your hand, so imagine what your truck faces, also the churning of wind coming around your rear slows you down as well, why do you think a boat tail bullet flies faster and more accurate. When I was in fla I would make trips to the carolinas a lot, and if you're on a mjor interstate those otr guys fly down the road, at night you can find them going 80-85, now its lower now wit gas prices. I do it even more in my truck since the car already got 30mpg. One thing you may want to do is use your cb and ask the trucker if he minds and see how far he's going. You don't want to **** them off by riding their ***, they'll just call the stateies on you and bam you get a ticket.

It doesnt need to be a big ol refer either, another pickup will work as well, not as well but none the less. When my friends and I head to the coast we keep a tight group of three.

 

hey good game, that'll be yalls only win btw
did you see the fiasco with the fire extinguisher? Lmao, you know the owner was pissed being it was a nationally televised event.

 

I'd say it works but... it also pisses the semi's off good. You're causing them to have decrease mileage and also slowing them down. I don't think they mind bikes or smaller cars so much but, I know everytime I've tried it... that shake me as soon as they can.

 

why do you say it decreases their mileage?

 

Thats pretty interesting. I usually try to avoid the semi's as much as possible, seeing that the withing the 1st week of having my truck, a semi picked up a rock and chipped my windshield.

 

most chipped windshields are covered for free by your INS co. All they do is fill the crack with a clear gel and heat it.

Az you do have usaa right?????

 

Because of the drag. They're having to pull you down the road when you're drafting.

 

They're not covered here in NC