Fri, 16 Oct 2009

Gas Mileage Dilemna

I have basically two ways to get to work. One is via surface streets to the freeway and the other is via freeway most of the way. Here's my dilemna - which is better for gas mileage? The problem boils down to

• More time on surface streets which is a shorter distance, but I have to stop most times at several lights along the way
• The freeway route on which I can maintain a constant 60-65 MPH, but have to drive about 3 miles more

I have looked around the web some and don't find a definitive answer. Perhaps there isn't one. I haven't done any studies of my mileage, either. I pick my route based on how I feel at 6:00 AM when I'm making the decision. Some days, I just don't feel like stop-and-go so I'll take the freeway. Other days a truck may be getting on the same on ramp and I don't feel like following him through the metering which is on at that time. Many times I make my decision based on the light at the on ramp. If I can go through to the surface street, I continue on that way through the green. But, if it's yellow or red, I'm just as likely to take the freeway.

I took a look at http://www.mpgplus.com/ to get some tips (it has 12). A couple seemed to apply to my situation:

• Avoid stop and go traffic by taking alternative routes or less congested travel times. (#4)
  I do this when I go on the freeway. Generally I can maintain a steady 55-70 MPH
• Use your cruise control whenever possible. (#8)
  Yep, I can do this one on the freeway.
• Keeping your highway speed at 55 mph can improve you gas mileage by as much as 25%, compared to 75 mph. (Yeah, I know--this one's tough for us too) (#9)
  OOPS! I'm a little out of this range for most of the trip on the freeway

On another site, I found:

Reduce your breaking and quick acceleration. Cars use the least amount of gas when they maintain a reasonable speed. Use cruise control whenever possible. Also, driving at slower speeds saves gas.

This seems right in line with the freeway approach. Now the only question is whether the extra miles are made up for by the steady speed?

Maybe I can do that study someday to check my mileage. But it's so difficult that early in the morning.

posted 18:55 [/bloids] permanent link