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Automotive/General question about speed

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Expert: - 9/14/2006


Question
Is there a speed at which a car is using its fuel most optimally? I imagine the faster the better since you have more momentum, but also I expect to maintain a higher speed it might require more fuel then to maintain a lesser speed? How does that work?

Answer
Generally speaking, the faster you go, the harder your car's engine has to work, and therefore, the more fuel it will burn. The number of gears in your Car's Transmission will affect how hard your Car's engine will work at any given highway speed, as well as the ratio of each gear (i.e., a 1:1 ratio, means that there is no mulitiplication of effort). Also, the final drive gear ratio, in either the Transaxle for Front Wheel Drive, or Differential (Rear), in a Rear Wheel Drive, will affect how hard your Car's engine will work at any given speed.

Bottom line though, more speed, more effort, more fuel burned.

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Ben Deutschman

Expertise

Questions ONLY related to Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge Slant-Sixes from 1960-1975. You can ask me about Engine Timing, general specifications, do`s and don`ts, and details such as proper installation of `Spark Plugs` on the 1960-74 `Slant-Sixes.`

Experience

I own and work on a 1960 plymouth, powered by a 'Slant-Six', have also worked on a 1968 'Slant-Six', a 1975, a 1964, and and 1970 'Slant-Six'

Organizations
Ben Deutschman
POCI Legislative Liaison
President Of The NY/NJ Slant-Six Club Of America
http://www.poci.org
http://bencar.freeyellow.com/76TAPage.html
http://bencar.freeyellow.com/benscarpage.html
http://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=nynjslant6 (NY/NJ Slant-Six Club Of America Website)


Publications
Smoke Signals (Pontiac-Oakland Club International)
Hemmings Motor News


Education/Credentials
B.A 'Labor Relations', 'Rutgers University' (Livingston College Campus)

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