When I first started driving I drove slow bc I thought it would save gas, then I started driving faster when a friend told me you use the same amount of gas whether you drive slow or fast (as long as it’s the same distance), you just would be driving fast for a shorter amt of time and driving slow for a longer amt of time, but at the end you burner thru the same amount of gas. Is this true?
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Most cars sold in USA, are tuned to give the best gas mileage at about 60 – 65 mph of highway driving. Gear ratios are selected such that motor is in its optimal gas saving range around 2k to 2.5k rpm.
Additionally wind resistance increases non-linearly as higher speeds are attempted.
Net result is that gas consumption increases significantly as one drives at higher speeds.
Another factor which is often overlooked is acceleration. Lead foot driving combined with extended high rpm moves will kill your gas mileage.
Also note that gas mileage in car computers is always measured in mpg not against time. So if your mpg is going up, you are going to take more gas to travel from A to B, no matter how much time you take.
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