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Automotive News & Views Should the US government bring back the 55 mph max speed limit again?
1418 messages, Last post on Dec 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Nov 11, 2008 2:36 pm) |
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Nov 11, 2008 2:36 pm)
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Replying to: fintail (Nov 11, 2008 4:33 pm) Generally speaking, you would end up using more gas than at 65 since you would not be in the highest gear available. But the gas you'd save at 0 MPH... 
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Nov 11, 2008 2:36 pm) I believe I know which you are referring to, but those are very small 4 cyl, and maybe diesel cars. They probably rev high, whuich is ineffficient. The U.S. mainly has large displacement low-revving engines at those same speeds. It is not compareable. I have had an '82 Escort which got lower mpg when pushed above 55-60mpg, I had an '88 Honda CrX which got 40mpg no matter what you did up to 70mph, and I had a 6-cyl. 5-speed '98 Camaro - the best mpg (35) I got on that was a 75mph trip on a highway. I agree with you and the graph that most cars will start taking hits in mpg above 75-80mph. But that is the individual's choice as to how much fuel to use. Every individual can buy as much fuel as their pocketbook allows. Burn it in an RV, ride in circles in a large boat on a lake, or vacation around the world. sum of all vehicles driven average 30MPG, the savings in gasoline by increasing that to 31 MPG would be about 3.2 Billion gallons. So would a 1 mpg increase make a difference? I'd say that it would No it doesn't. Why? See above for other ways people will use the fuel. Also if that oil is in the ground next year, it simply gets burnt next year, and turned into whatever pollution you worry about then. All the fuel eventually gets used! You can change the rate slightly yes, but not the end result. I'll enjoy my fuel right now thank you, and let the people who are used to riding bike (around the world) stay on their bikes and not get into cars.
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Nov 11, 2008 9:08 pm)
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Replying to: fintail (Nov 12, 2008 9:04 am) No. The gear size and the torque of the engine determine the lowest speed at which you can run without lugging the engine. So you can't take many cars which are geared to run at 2,000 rpm at 70mph in the top gear, leave the gears alone, and remap the shiftpoints, so that you're in 6th gear at 1,200rpm at 45-50mph. My car which has a 4 cyl engine and should rev higher would be very unhappy in 6th gear at 45mph. I don't have to remap, I have a manual and I've tried it. The engine efficiency also is much better near the torque peak, which is another consideration, we discussed earlier. If you're running at low rpms the engine is operating inefficiently due to pumping losses.
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I think it's worked successfully in Europe and Montana. The idea that speed limits have a proper place in our society is archaic at best. It is no longer 1958, it is 2008, almost 2009, and speed limits should be abolished, and with all the savings in traffic enforcement, we could probably pay for all the research and development of alternative fuel sources ten-fold. |
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"The lamp of experience illuminates the future." That being true - restrictions and conservative values dictate speed limits within the average drivers ability. Traffic volume screams for regulation making the opinion of no speed limit egregious. 
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Replying to: kernick (Nov 12, 2008 6:03 am) Most newer cars on the road today are under 4l displacement and would all rev under 2000 RPM at 60 MPH. The US still has high horsepower big blocks but they are not the norm. So the German graph is relevant to the US. ... I had a 6-cyl. 5-speed '98 Camaro - the best mpg (35) I got on that was a 75mph trip on a highway. A single trip on 1 tank is not a valid MPG result. There could be environmental factors (strong tailwind, downhill) or human factors (not filling the tank as full as the previous time) that can skew the results. What was your MPG in the Camaro over the period of a year? I agree with you and the graph that most cars will start taking hits in mpg above 75-80mph. No, they start taking a hit shortly (RPM wise) after getting into top gear. But that is the individual's choice as to how much fuel to use. Every individual can buy as much fuel as their pocketbook allows. Burn it in an RV, ride in circles in a large boat on a lake, or vacation around the world. Yes it is a choice that people can make, but just because a person can make a choice does not miraculously make it a good choice. ... vehicles driven average 30MPG, the savings in gasoline by increasing that to 31 MPG would be about 3.2 Billion gallons. So would a 1 mpg increase make a difference? I'd say that it would No it doesn't. Why? See above for other ways people will use the fuel. Also if that oil is in the ground next year, it simply gets burnt next year, and turned into whatever pollution you worry about then. All the fuel eventually gets used! You can change the rate slightly yes, but not the end result. Your logic is flawed here. You are saying that if I get a new car that will save a 100 gallons a year, that my neighbor will go out and do something to burn that 100 gallons that I am saving. I'd say that the amount of fuel burning activities will remain somewhat constant so what ever fuel consumption reduction is made will be a net reduction. And yes the fuel we save now will be burned in the future, but by spreading it out over a longer time frame there is less environmental damage.
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Replying to: kernick (Nov 12, 2008 10:15 am)  OK then, remap the tranny, modify the transaxle/rear end...slow everyone down so the paranoid can have their way. |
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