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Today I got stuck in Portland stop and go I-5 traffic again. I was averaging 32.6mpg with steady 70mph freeway cruising.
I experimented again and allowed a gap to develop in front of me while I drove the average speed. Rarely did I touch the brake, and I mostly idled in 4th gear (out of 6 total). I also counted the cars that "cut in". In 50min of stop and go traffic, 26 cars changed into my lane in front of me. People allowed the gap to exist for the most part. Sometimes a car would bounce between my lane and another as they attempted to be in the fast lane (which didn't exist). Maintaining my lane the entire time, no lane on average moved faster or slower than mine.
50min later when traffic had opened back up, my mpg had risen to 33.
Stop and go driving is more efficient than steady 70mph for my car (Acura TSX 6-speed manual).
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