does driving close to car in front on mway save fuel?

Gene_Hunt_2

King_Nothing wrote: »

Is this thread a wind up? Seriously? Nurse!?

You were slip streaming a random person on a motorway in an attempt to reduce the drag coefficient and save fuel? You have any idea how dangerous that is? Obviously not, if you did it.

The OP is a midlands lifeboatman, so take your pick.

B00st

Wig wrote: »

This is an old argument on here, and I still am not convinced. For two reasons

1. There is no proof that ALL modern cars turn off fuel supply to the engine under those conditions. Infact I haven't seen any proof from anyone that it actually does it on any car. Just saying "it does on my car" is not proof. Some manuals for cars might say it does it on this model or that model, and maybe it does, but it is not proof, it's a good indication that it does happen-on that particular model, but not proof. And certainly most manuals don't say it is a feature on the car.

2. Even if it does turn off fuel, you are in gear and the car will slow down quicker, thus need more fuel, sooner, to get it going again than a car with the clutch in, which is free-wheeling with no engine drag.

This is my last post on the subject, on this thread, I have told you I have a different opinion, and that is all I wanted to say..... just so the thread has a balanced input on the subject.

If you car has an instantaneous fuel read out compare the reading when idling down a hill compared to lifting off the throttle down the same hill. When in gear it will go to 99, 999 or just go off the scale whilst idling and when coasting it doesn't. As this is based on the injector opening times it indicates very different behaviour between those two driving styles.

There are plenty of hills round where I live where the car will get to the bottom without slowing when in gear as well.

Finally on coasting it is somewhat illegal as you aren't actually in control of your cars speed whilst doing so.

swifthorn

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

if you were slip streaming me, you wouldnt have a car left, i would have quite happily slammed my brakes on to a halt.

That ^

Tailgaters are idiots I am more then happy to slam on my breaks.

eamon

Technically this does work. There have been a few scientific studies (but I can't be bothered finding the reference) from what I remember they usually involved vehicles being driven/managed by computers and the humans were consigned to luggage status.

adamc260

tod123 wrote: »

Do you get like a drag effect from the other vehicle and save on diesel?

I tried this the other day , but the guy in front kept breaking for no reason which made it difficult to stay close.

No, you get something called Tail Gating that is very dangerous and I'm sure you can be stopped by the Po Po for it

BargainGalore

So dont tailgate keep your distance


If you want too risk your life fine drive like a idiot but dont jeopardize others

tod123 wrote: »

Do you get like a drag effect from the other vehicle and save on diesel?

I tried this the other day , but the guy in front kept breaking for no reason which made it difficult to stay close.

vikingaero

Tod,

The best vehicles to slipstream are foreign HGVs. The rear bumper bar on the trailer is for cars to rest their bumpers against whilst slipstreaming.

This has been a Viking Troll Erasure Service for the benefit of the MSE community.

Wig

B00st wrote: »

If you car has an instantaneous fuel read out compare the reading when idling down a hill compared to lifting off the throttle down the same hill. When in gear it will go to 99, 999 or just go off the scale whilst idling and when coasting it doesn't. As this is based on the injector opening times it indicates very different behaviour between those two driving styles.

There are plenty of hills round where I live where the car will get to the bottom without slowing when in gear as well.

Finally on coasting it is somewhat illegal as you aren't actually in control of your cars speed whilst doing so.

Been there done that, the mpg reading was exactly the same in both modes.

Bennifred

tod123 wrote: »

Do you get like a drag effect from the other vehicle and save on diesel?

I tried this the other day , but the guy in front kept breaking for no reason which made it difficult to stay close.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

GabbaGabbaHey

swifthorn wrote: »

Tailgaters are idiots I am more then happy to slam on my breaks.

So instead of being concerned that the tailgater MIGHT run in to the back of you, you slam on your brakes (not "breaks") and ensure that it happens.

(I'm not condoning tailgating, but the IAM/police advice is to either pull over and let them get past you, or to slow down gradually. Slamming on your brakes is just a moronic and dangerous response, and makes you no better than the tailgater).