Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Engine load vs rpm? (Climbing: hold top gear at very high load, or downshift?)

Baltothewolf · 01-02-2014, 03:09 AM

Which is better? I live in California, and I have to drive up the Cajon pass everyday (I think it's a 3% grade maybe more idk) and I can do about 70 @ 3krpm with really high engine load, my guess is somewhere around 80%, or 3.8k rpm with around 35% ish engine load. My question is, which one is better on fuel economy? Low rpm with high engine load or high rpm with low engine load?

I bought a cold air intake for my car a while back and it honestly has helped me a ton with judging engine load, I gained a 2 mpg increase once I put it on. I don't think it was the air intake itself, but me being able to adjust my throttle foot more sensitively to keep engine load down.

I have a lot more questions but I'm just starting with this one.

01-02-2014, 03:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Baltothewolf Furry Furfag Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Apple Valley Posts: 2,084 Winsight - '00 Honda Insight 90 day: 56.69 mpg (US) Miaderp - '95 Mazda Miata 90 day: 28.53 mpg (US) Thanks: 67 Thanked 409 Times in 313 Posts	Engine load vs rpm? (Climbing: hold top gear at very high load, or downshift?) Which is better? I live in California, and I have to drive up the Cajon pass everyday (I think it's a 3% grade maybe more idk) and I can do about 70 @ 3krpm with really high engine load, my guess is somewhere around 80%, or 3.8k rpm with around 35% ish engine load. My question is, which one is better on fuel economy? Low rpm with high engine load or high rpm with low engine load? I bought a cold air intake for my car a while back and it honestly has helped me a ton with judging engine load, I gained a 2 mpg increase once I put it on. I don't think it was the air intake itself, but me being able to adjust my throttle foot more sensitively to keep engine load down. I have a lot more questions but I'm just starting with this one.