Stupid Advice about Saving Gas (Page 4): There are studies that show that the mileage is lower with the windows open because of the parasite drag created.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

jerryc41 wrote:

According to an article by the Family Handyman, yo... (show quote)

There are studies that show that the mileage is lower with the windows open because of the parasite drag created.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

utahpete wrote:

Used to be the a/c was powered by a belt to the crankshaft and was a noticeable drag on the engine. Newer cars drive the a/c with an electric motor. Seems to hardly affect gas mileage. To me, at least.

The electric compressor motor puts an additional load on the alternator, which transfers the load to the engine. The engine works harder to run the alternator. Energy is not "free", something has to work to create it. The electric compressor is an indirect load on the engine.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

nimbushopper wrote:

There are studies that show that the mileage is lower with the windows open because of the parasite drag created.

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

I like Family Handyman magazine a great deal. HOWEVER, lately, I find that the post some really dumb ideas.
Bill

Lucasdv123

My brother told me that the arrow dynamics on the car with the windows roll down is so bad that you don't really save money by turning off your air conditioning and rolling down your windows.

therwol Loc: USA

TriX wrote:

And unless you match the revs exactly, there’s wear on the clutch and transmission synchros with each shift. Brake pads are a lot cheaper than clutch disks, throw out bearings and synchros.

I thought of that too. I drove manual transmission cars for about 20 years, probably 750,000 miles (lots of commuting). Even with normal driving, I'd not get 100K miles out of a clutch, and the breakdown would always be without warning far from home. I see no reason why anyone would buy a passenger car with a manual transmission these days. You have to figure in the added expense of clutch replacement, sometimes over and over, not to mention the inconvenience of getting stuck somewhere.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Boris77 wrote:

I do like your suggestions in paragraph one. We in the City are doing our best to not stop at stop signs; I would prefer that they all be taken down inside the neighborhoods and half the number of yield signs be put up instead. And driving slow - A1+ idea. Lose weight - excellent! Good post!
I gained a good reputation for walking since I retired; cut my insurance rates.
Boris

Not coming to a full stop gets expensive in this state. Unless you do not get caught..

SteveR Loc: Michigan

RodeoMan wrote:

I liked vent windows and wish they were still around. When the temperature is in a certain range, they provide their own kind of comfort that old timers who had them will understand and remember.

They're a safety hazard. I know this goes back before seat belts, but even with them the the same could happen. In 1968, my mother's parents were involved in a car accident. The damage to the cars wasn't that terrible, but they were in their late 80's. My grandfather suffered a broken pelvis and died as a result of that, but not right away. My grandmother's head went into the post of the air vent and she was killed almost instantly. So, as much as we liked them, that's why they're not around anymore.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

elliott937 wrote:

I like Family Handyman magazine a great deal. HOWEVER, lately, I find that the post some really dumb ideas.
Bill

They send me a daily post just so they can include advertising. And yes, some of their ideas are ridiculous.

Chiroman8

LDB415 wrote:

And then there are studies that have proven driving with the windows open and the increased turbulence and wind drag uses more fuel than running the a/c. I tend to believe that one.

Want to save money and gasoline? Stay out of drive-throughs. Park, turn off the car, walk your lazy butt inside to do your business. Saves fuel and money and also saves the planet.

Chiroman8

DearLBD415,

We seem to think alike ,thanks for writing the same thoughts ,agree 100%.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

therwol wrote:

I thought of that too. I drove manual transmission cars for about 20 years, probably 750,000 miles (lots of commuting). Even with normal driving, I'd not get 100K miles out of a clutch, and the breakdown would always be without warning far from home. I see no reason why anyone would buy a passenger car with a manual transmission these days. You have to figure in the added expense of clutch replacement, sometimes over and over, not to mention the inconvenience of getting stuck somewhere.

Try to find a new car with a manual transmission. Almost nonexistent. If you are replacing clutches at 100K there is something wrong. Could be driving conditions, like stop and go driving, technique, like unconsciously “riding” the clutch or material defects, like having a Yugo.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

jerryc41 wrote:

According to an article by the Family Handyman, yo... (show quote)

Here is an interesting fact. For every one hundred pounds you remove from a vehicle you will gain one tenth of a second in the quarter mile. The odd thing about it is it works the same for a school bus a pickup truck or a funny car. It's just one of those odd facts.

therwol Loc: USA

clint f. wrote:

Try to find a new car with a manual transmission. Almost nonexistent. If you are replacing clutches at 100K there is something wrong. Could be driving conditions, like stop and go driving, technique, like unconsciously “riding” the clutch or material defects, like having a Yugo.

You can still buy cars with a manual transmission. There is a separate link in the article that covers SUVs and crossovers.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g20734564/manual-transmission-cars/

Nigel7 Loc: Worcestershire. UK.

therwol wrote:

You can "brake" by downshifting through the gears. I know someone who used to do that with his manual transmission. The problem with that is that your the brake lights don't come on, so the person behind you gets no warning that you're slowing down. I'm pretty sure that this method wouldn't save gas, since the engine revs up with each downshift.

If you do that you are using all the most expensive parts of the car, engine, gear box, differential etc. If you stick to brakes you can replace pads, and even discs, for a fraction of the cost of any transmission repair. I was taught that as a part of police driving training back in the 60's. And yes brake lights warn those behind you.
However I agree that lifting off early by anticipating well is the best way to save fuel.