[AT] OT: Gas story

[Herbert Metz]

Steve, I sure agree.
OR, "don't bother me with facts when my mind is made up".
Herb

> [Original Message]
> From: Steve W. <falcon at telenet.net>
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Date: 7/3/2007 1:01:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] OT: Gas story
>
> I feel sorry for you. The 2002 Blazer we have has 4X4, 4.3 V-6 engine 
> and will get over 25 on the highway with no problem.
>
> I love the article I read that someone wrote about how bad mileage 
> progress has been through the years. In it he compares the mileage his 
> current vehicle gets with the mileage that a Model T gets. Then asks why 
> it hasn't improved a LOT with all the technology.
> Anyone with a brain can read through it and see that the mans "logic" is 
> VERY flawed. BUT that doesn't stop the tree huggers from proclaiming it 
> a holy writ.
>
>
>
> Alan Nadeau wrote:
> > Kind of an interesting observation about miles per hour and miles per 
> > gallon.  Our current family vehicle is a Honda Element, high tech 2.4
liter 
> > 4 cylinder and a four speed automatic.  Slow cruising will get 25-26
mpg. 
> > Last year we took it to Erie, PA, traveled I-90, pulling one of those 
> > lightweight 4x8 utility trailers.  Running empty and trying to make
time I 
> > was driving 65-70, mostly with the cruise control set.  Coming back
there 
> > were two snowplows on the trailer dismantled and partly crated, a
package 
> > that caught a lot of air, so it was fairly "draggy".  Due to the load
on the 
> > trailer I ran just over 60 coming home, again, on cruise for the most
part.
> > 
> > The Honda has the aerodynamics of a brick, no way around that.   Air 
> > resistance increases with the square of velocity, drag at 60 is four
times 
> > what it would be at 30, in an ideal world.  Coming home at roughly 10
mph 
> > slower but pulling an additional 1200 lbs and some increase in air drag
we 
> > got slightly better mileage.  Not a lot, maybe 1/2 mpg.
> > 
> > Years ago I hauled a TEO Ferguson out to Indiana for Spencer.  Had it
on a 
> > 12' trailer behind my sons 97 K2500.  Again, I don't remember the exact 
> > numbers but coming back I got only .1 mpg better than going out.  Ran
about 
> > the same speeds too.  The trailer has a 3' high mesh tailgate and at
speed 
> > it acts like a solid sheet being dragged through the air.  Apparently
the 
> > tractor smoothed the airflow enough to almost offset the effort needed
to 
> > pull and extra 2500-3000 lbs.
> > 
> > Lots of funky factors involved with the fuel consumption business.
> > 
> > 
>
> -- 
> Steve W.
> Near Cooperstown, New York
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