windy day?

[camry25]

What's best way to drive if very windy and 5 hours on the freeway? Going slower saves gas, but going faster reduces the time in the wind?

[Daox]

Time has nothing to do with it. Speed is all that matters. You need X amount of power to go say 55 mph. If you're going into a 15 mph headwind you're now effectively going 70 mph as far as your engine knows. Slowing down helps this out of course.

[Frank Lee]

I slow down when faced with vicious headwinds or better yet, postpone the drive until the winds settle down. When I get a vicious tailwind I either bask in the glory of it at my regular speed, or take advantage of the free "push" and go somewhat faster than usual.

[camry25]

Originally Posted by Daox

Time has nothing to do with it. Speed is all that matters. You need X amount of power to go say 55 mph. If you're going into a 15 mph headwind you're now effectively going 70 mph as far as your engine knows. Slowing down helps this out of course.

What I am asking is, vsince time is money (for most people), is it worth it (to you)? In 5 hours, I would cover 50 miles less, so I would lose an hour?

[Frank Lee]

If time is money, why do I see the same cars passing me multiple times on a long trip i.e. I'm plodding along with no stops, and they are hot-footing it from gas station to highway to restaurant to highway to shopping mall...

[user removed]

Winds here today were strong, probably 40 MPH gusts out of the southwest. I just got in the lane to the right of a big rig and let them break the wind for me. 3 stripes behind and to the right, I could feel the difference.

regards
Mech

[ConnClark]

Originally Posted by camry25

What's best way to drive if very windy and 5 hours on the freeway?

With the wind!!!!

[Ladogaboy]

I would definitely say that it is a personal choice depending on the situation. If you need to be someplace at a certain time, you need to be there at that time. If you are trying to maximize your fuel economy to save costs and are not concerned with time, then you should drive accordingly. I guess, in the end, I'm saying that you should just do what you need to do and not concern yourself with elements that are outside of your control.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

If time is money, why do I see the same cars passing me multiple times on a long trip i.e. I'm plodding along with no stops, and they are hot-footing it from gas station to highway to restaurant to highway to shopping mall...

LOL, I remember on a trip to the Florida Keys with Pop and my uncle. The same Ford Tbird, big old red a white one, about a 1975 Model, passing us like we were sitting still on the Interstate. A few miles down the road a Georgia State Trooper has him pulled over, getting a ticket. The same car got 3 speeding tickets in Georgia that day, at least the ones we saw him get.

regards
Mech

[larrybuck]

If you plan on keeping the vehicle a long, long time, be nice to it like a friend, and slow down.

Less rpm's will help your wallet, and extend the life of your motor. Oil consumption,
if any, will go down as well.

Long drives should be enjoyed! More music time, listening to a book, peaceful time
to think out your life!

Haste is waste, more tire/shock wear etc..

A good post subject might be: How patient are you about actually following through
mpg techniques versus just good talk about it?

If a person feels like they are old enough to be in the last 10-20% of their driving
time in life before dying, their perspective could be quite different!