Supposedly going faster uses more fuel. But your getting to the place quicker. Shouldn’t you just be using the same amount of fuel as if you were driving slower and getting there later?

Question

Supposedly going faster uses more fuel. But your getting to the place quicker. Shouldn’t you just be using the same amount of fuel as if you were driving slower and getting there later?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Fuel consumption is linked mainly to throttle position and (pseudo) engine revolutions (because you need enough to keep banging the pistons back up at that speed).

If you’re in top gear, low revs, you’re more fuel efficient than one gear down, high-revs.

You can get further on a tank of fuel at 50mph than you would at 80mph or even 100mph or at 30mph in a low gear. When they measure fuel efficiency, it’s always top gear, lowest possible revs (often just literally whatever tickover-without-stalling is).

Fuel consumption doesn’t really care what gear you’re in… you’ll burn as much fuel per second at a fixed rev. But obviously if you wanted to go FAR you’ll need to be in a higher gear at that fixed rev, and higher gears will therefore get you further before the fuel runs out.