Quote:
Originally Posted by Striker2237
are you sure about over 40 at that speed? I'm just asking because I thought that 4cyl engines start using much much more gas relative to V8s at high speeds
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No, 4 cylinders don't even get close to a V6 at high speeds. To maintain 79 MPH in a Honda Odyssey it uses about 3.5 Gal/hour. For my Civic to maintain 79 MPH I use about 2.1 Gal/hour. That is using Cruise Control, which is less efficient than my foot, so if I was using my foot I would probably consume about 1.5 gal/hour maybe. The Insight is a 3 cylinder, so they will be using even less gas at 79 MPH. At 90 I'm not sure how any of our cars would handle, if we were going 800 miles at 90 MPH. Doesn't seem too safe in my opinion.
RPMs don't really matter when you are driving at high speeds, by that I mean that you can be at 2400 RPMs and using 1 gal/hour, or at 2200 RPMs and using 2 gal/hour. Both of those RPMs would be used to maintain a speed.
Don't be embarrassed about this tank's average though, we all have those rough patches in MPGs that we decide to have a little bit of fun. What I keep reminding myself of is that I don't need to get high MPGs all the time, although it would be nice, I just need to get high MPGs on things that I do everyday (school, home, 7/11, etc) but I can get whatever I want when I do abnormal stuff (movies, sporty driving, driving other people around, etc). As long as I don't waste too much gas I'll survive, and as long as I have fun while I'm "wasting" it, I don't consider it a waste.
Save on things that you do everyday, and spend like crazy on the things that make you happy. Just don't make a habit out of doing those "happy" things, just every once and a while.