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I noticed HUGE gains, upwards of 10-12mpg, from drafting a semi and that was at 70mph. I usually get 36mpg on the highway at 62mph, I was getting 10mpg over that at 8mph faster which means if I had been still able to go 62mph, it would have been more like 15mpg savings. When I draft though, I'm super super cautious about it. Not only is following too closely illegal, with the ability to cost big bucks in fines from local police (believe me, I know first hand). When you're following a truck too closely, you have the usual dangers of not seeing what's ahead, not seeing what's around, not to mention a little thing called "retread" that is likely to fly off the tires at any moment. When I'm back there, I try to give myself about half of what would be considered the "safe" distance from a vehicle moving at the speed I am traveling. So, say I'm going 70mph behind that truck again, I stay about 3 and halfish car lengths back. This, obviously doesn't work if your only going 20mph because 1 car length is just flat out too close, but, 3-4 car lengths still gives a pretty decent FE gain while giving you enough room to see decently around a truck and time to react if something happens (and for those who say, no it's not, I have been able to avoid one blown tire already just by paying attention to the way the truck behaves and watching for unusual wheel wobble).
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