Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[Grumpycat]

I have been pleasantly surprised by my Prius and Tesla on hilly routes. The Prius really loved the hills of the north Ozarks, and north Alabama/Georgia cutting cross country to Atlanta. The Tesla also loved that route. Sure, sucked power going up 300' to 800' but then somehow made up for it on the way back down. Not really supposed to be able to make up for it that well, regeneration is said to recover only 30% of the energy consumed to bring the vehicle up to speed. But, "real world experience trumps theory."

 

[JPRambo]

I took a drive to Florida a few weeks ago. About 650 miles of way. Gas up just out of town on the way. Reset trip and mpg gauges. The entire trip was1450 miles. 20.5 mpg on gauge and by calculations. 71 gallons used. I usually tow my camper (at around 11 mpg) but this time did not need it. I was pleasantly surprised. (2013 silverado w/ 5.3)

 

[Dftodd]

Well, it hasn't been all poor, thankfully, but I guess I could blame not knowing the intricasies of the English language on being an import and consequently unaware of many things.

To me, "resemble that remark" was simply similar to people saying "could of" instead of "could have". Or "I could care less" when they mean "I couldn't care less".

We have a friend from Northern Africa.

My wife met him when he started working with her as a nurse in a nursing home. Hes the same age as our kids and pretty much adopted us.

Most of the employees wouldn't help him since English is his 4th language and he has a thick accent.

He started asking my wife for help if he had trouble understanding something, or was new to a procedure.

This also led to some awkward conversations when a patient said some colorful phrases to him and he wasn't sure of the meaning

 

[BravoXray]

Read the comic Garfield, it's in practically every newspaper everyday. It will help your english and it has a little sarcasm thrown in occasionally to make it funny.

Personally, I miss Calvin and Hobbes.

 

[WinterDeere]

...my V6 Challenger doesn't get quite the mileage it should (in my mind) even though I drive it a bit slower.

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

Bottom line, it takes a fixed amount of energy (fuel) to accelerate 4300 lb. of steel and iron from 0 - 60 mph in a given time. One engine may be a few percent more efficient than another, but that's all secondary to mass, speed, time.

 

[Dftodd]

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

Bottom line, it takes a fixed amount of energy (fuel) to accelerate 4300 lb. of steel and iron from 0 - 60 mph in a given time. One engine may be a few percent more efficient than another, but that's all secondary to mass, speed, time.

The Ford Mustang LX with a 4cy engine is a good example. 94hp

The V6 or V8 probably got similar or better gas mileage since the 4cyl was so under powered you had to keep it floored everywhere you went

 

[Too many Kubotas]

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

Yep. I wondered a few months ago if the V6 Challenger would get better mileage with a 5.7.

But that would mean giving up the AWD, which I didn't want to do.

 

[ericm979]

It's a misconception that the same car with a smaller engine should somehow get better mileage. If it does, it's only because it's accelerating less rapidly, or because it's a few pounds lighter.

A smaller engine will have less internal friction. Friction is a major part of the wasted energy in an engine. A six will have about 3/4 the friction of an eight cylinder.

Smaller engines will need more throttle to do the same accelleration or maintain the same speed. Having to suck air through a barely open throttle is less efficient than operating with the throttle open farther.

These factors don't change the car's aerodynamic drag or weight which are the two largest factors for fuel economy. But there is an effect. When you compare cars that can be had with different engines, the one with the larger engine usually gets worse mileage. Sometimes the effect is masked if the car with the bigger engine gets a better transmission.

 

[Grumpycat]

Personally, I miss Calvin and Hobbes.

Is still available as reruns.

Today on Calvin and Hobbes - Comics by Bill Watterson - GoComics

www.gocomics.com

 

[WinterDeere]

The Ford Mustang LX with a 4cy engine is a good example. 94hp

The V6 or V8 probably got similar or better gas mileage since the 4cyl was so under powered you had to keep it floored everywhere you went

Yep. I've actually owned the same vehicle with different engines before, and routinely saw the smaller engine getting worse mileage around town, but better mileage on the highway. The reasoning seemed to be driving the engine way past its peak efficiency when trying to accelerate in town, versus ericm's noted friction factors on the highway.

Yep. I wondered a few months ago if the V6 Challenger would get better mileage with a 5.7.

But that would mean giving up the AWD, which I didn't want to do.

I was totally bummed when they stopped making the 5.7L AWD version ca.2016. Even more so when they didn't move the Magnum into the latest body style. If they'd made an AWD Magnum with any V8, my wife would be driving one of those today, instead of the Durango R/T.

A smaller engine will have less internal friction. Friction is a major part of the wasted energy in an engine. A six will have about 3/4 the friction of an eight cylinder.

I think there's some very small truth in this, but probably only comes into play as a measurable factor in highway cruising, where produced horsepower versus engine RPM is minimized. For regular around town or country road driving, where acceleration represents the majority of fuel consumption, I can't imagine this factor is large enough to matter much.

Smaller engines will need more throttle to do the same accelleration or maintain the same speed. Having to suck air through a barely open throttle is less efficient than operating with the throttle open farther.

These factors don't change the car's aerodynamic drag or weight which are the two largest factors for fuel economy.

Exactly.

When you compare cars that can be had with different engines, the one with the larger engine usually gets worse mileage.

Not true! See above. I have made this comparison on more than one vehicle type (2.8L vs. 5.7L Camaro, same body, and 4.3L vs. 5.7L pickups, same body), and the smaller engines seem get the same or even worse mileage around town. Highway miles are where the small engines shine, and that must be a big factor in the manufacturer's published numbers, when they show smaller engines getting better mileage.

Sometimes the effect is masked if the car with the bigger engine gets a better transmission.

Good point!