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I own a Dodge 1500 pickup with a 5.7 liter Hemi engine producing 350HP |
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However, driven sensibly, it can get greatly improved fuel economy! I use the truck to tow a small (20 foot) travel trailer, and at other times a small (21 foot) boat. The rig is well suited to this purpose. At 55 - 57 MPH towing the 3500 pound trailer the engine is only turning over at 1700 RPM. Loafing along.
On a recent trip to an inland lake with my boat on the trailer behind, I set the cruise on 65 MPH and reset my digital fuel economy readout. After 30 miles it read 16.1 MPG. I slowed down to 55 MPH, and reset the digital readout. Even though I was going through hills that I wasn't going through before, my fuel economy increased to 20.1 MPG for the next 30 miles. That's a 25% increase in fuel economy! Without the
trailer at 55MPH, I have seen as much as 22MPG.
I've been doing this for years, and besides saving money on fuel, it saves my nerves and unnecessary wear and tear on the vehicle. I have recently been trying to convince my friends who also trailer their boats to slow down, enjoy the ride, and save fuel. A few have tried it, but most say they have a hard time going that slow. I don't understand why. I enjoy seeing all the traffic disappearing over the horizon ahead of me. I'm in the right lane, of course, and know how to allow other vehicles to merge with my lane from the right. It's when the tail lights come on up ahead, and the traffic ahead starts getting closer that I know something is amiss ahead. If I wasn't going slowly, I might not be able to stop with a trailer behind.
Warmest regards,
Ron |
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Speaking at a climate change conference in Miami, California Governor Arnold Scwarzenegger said drivers can do a lot to cut fuel costs by driving slower.
"Who can cut (costs) down is you, you, you and you," Schwarzenegger
said. "You can cut it down. Take your car, for instance. Go and get the
perfect tire pressure. Tune up your engine. Drive slower." He went on to say "energy prices are not going to go back to the good
old days" and it is "bogus" for politicians to promise otherwise."
"Politicians have been throwing around all kinds
of ideas in response to the skyrocketing energy prices, from the
rethinking of nuclear power to pushing biofuels and more renewables and
ending the ban on offshore drilling," Schwarzenegger said. "But anyone
who tells you this would bring down gas prices any time soon is blowing
smoke. I think that people should really be in charge of their
own destiny and how much they want to pay for fuel, not wait for the
politicians," he said.
The Drive 55 Conservation Project is delighted with the Governor's message and hand delivered a Thank You letter with Drive 55 bumper stickers to his office in Sacramento today. Leadership in the legislature also got a letter and some Drive 55 bumper stickers hand delivered to their offices in the Capital, inviting them to 'Lead by example'.
Quote sources:
Sacramento BEE
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1042081.html
LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/
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