On a four hour drive today I contemplated the gas benefits and drawbacks of drafting a semi versus pulse and glide with engine off coasting. I was P&EOC'ing from 50-65 and the semi was going about 62. I don't think I was saving any gas by maintaining 62 behind the semi, but maybe at lower speeds drafting would be more efficient than P&G? I also did a little EOC while drafting but that was difficult because I would slow down and lose the slipstream.
What's for sure is that other drivers (except the semi driver) are less annoyed at drafting than P&G. [tangent]I've been thinking there should be some way to quickly let people know what P&G is so they can just pass and get on with their lives instead of tailgating and passing aggressively. I considered putting a "<-- PASS ME" sign on the rear window with masking tape but never ended up doing it. [/tangent]
Also it's a possibility that I will be driving from Detroit to Calumet, MI (570 miles) for a rally race in two weeks and I'm wondering if drafting my friend's VW Quantum will make up for his self-imposed speed of 75mph, versus setting the cruise at 60mph without drafting.
What do you all think about this?
PS- sorry for the scatterbrained post