On the news tonight they were talking about how some want to bring back the 55 mph limit to save gas. But there is something very wrong here.

Just for logic's sake. Say I or you or who ever, had a vehicle that didn't use gas or anyother normal energy source. So does that mean this vehicle would be exempt from that new GAS SAVING SPEED LIMIT?
Or does it really have nothing to do with saving gas and everything about control?

Now there is a post on this site about a fellow that kept a good log of his fuel consumption driving different speeds. His best mileage was at 60 or 65 mph I don't remember. And he reported a .2 mpg better at 70 mph than at 55 mph. So in some cases if they mandate 55 some vehicles will actually burn more gas. I had to laugh at how the news comentator was talking about how the slower limit will save a family that is traveling someplace some money. This comentator seems to forget though, if that family is caught going a bit faster than 55 then that ticket will way more than offset any supposed savings on fuel. Especially when you factor in the higher insurance rate that a speeding ticket brings with it.

Now for all the big math minds that mention the aerodynamic drag from increased speed. Please also for my little feeble mind, apply this to aircraft.
I need to know what, say 550 mph vs 230 mph would require in HP.
Cause if we have to slow are cars down its time the airlines do the same, and rid themselves of Jet engines and go back to the more economical prop nonturbine planes. Fair is fair.

 

I think it is a joke. If I want to pay $5.00/gal for gas & only get 5 mpg that is my business. Cutting down on oil consumption is a joke. That is just what the oil cartel wants is less usage, Congress is trying to act like they care. After all didn't anyone tell you the Government will take care of you & all of us also.
If I slow down with our 97 4x4 Blazer from 70 to 55 I gain about 1 MPG, our 93 Lumina gains about 2 MPG increase. My 86 F250 4x4 460 gains nothing. BUT IT IS MY MONEY WHY CAN'T I SPEND IT ON GAS IF I WANT?

 

uh... they are
Airlines slow down flights to save on fuel - Aviation - MSNBC.com

 

Two things were credited with breaking the back of the original Arab oil embargo

1. Mild winter
2. 55 mph speed limit (Nixon's idea, finally imposed by Carter)

I lived through the first one, and yes it's a PITA. It does save gas on average.

There was a much lower national speed limit during WW2

 

my DD cavalier gets 2mpg's better at 55 then 65 because the tranny needs an OD gear,but if you drive that slow on the roads around here marked 65,you are going to have other things to worry about besides saving gas. like how to get the car/truck/semi that just ran over you out of your back seat!!

 

this is soo true!!

in the section of roadway we are working on, the speed limit is 45 mph from the N.Y. border at the outerbridge crossing with Staten Island north on RT 287 into New Jersey for 8 miles.

but the speed that the brain dead azzholes drive on that stretch of road is on average 80 to 90 mph.
and if you try doing the speed limit, they will push you off the road.

we have had 8 fatal accidents in the past year, 7 of then directly due to excessive speed.
but to hear the azzholes talk, the fatal accidents were caused by people driving to slow.

 

> His best mileage was at 60 or 65 mph I don't remember

Highly unlikely. Unless he has found a way to overcome the additional air drag and resistance of his tires at that higher speed AND drop his RPMs. Most vehicles are in OD at 55 mph+, so it would be interesting to know how he dropped his RPMs too to save fuel.

Instead of changing the speed limits on highways, just enforce it. I do think 55 mph nationwide would save fuel and other additional costs.

But, I think it would put a big strain on truck drivers getting paid per mile and only being able to drive so many hours in a day. I am in favor of a 55 mph speed limit, BUT, that might put many small truck operators on the edge, out of business. So, I would not support it unless there were plans on how to decrease the impact on their business.

 

So during WWII, did cars have computer controlled in-cylinder injection? Did they even have power windows?

What about when Mr. Carter around? Catalytic converters had just become mandated the year before he got put into office (1975). Engines were still carbuated until the late 1980s.

The 55mph speed limit worked on old technology. I get worse MPGs at 55 than at 65. Why don't we use things we didn't used to have.... like computers that fit into cars? to help out. An arbitrary number won't help solve any problems. How about we pick a new magic number based on modern technology and not off what worked when four-barrel carbs were the best thing on the road.

 

Texas your from texas you should know the two things that texas is known for........
No not those two things!! 1 Cadillacs and 2 Cadillacs with big steer horns on them and yes way BITD they did have some futuristic electronic devices on them!!
My Ranger gets 25 mpg as long as you keep it below 2500 rpm and that is doing around
65-68 mph. The speed limit doesn't really matter no one does it anyhow wether it is a
55mph and everyone does 85mph or it is 45mph and everyone for some dang reason will
only do 30mph!!! WHY?? WHY? The horror the horror!!!!

 

Texas beat me to my point. Today's cars are geared and just plain built to go a lot faster and be a lot more efficient. The 55mph idea is a feel good measure to make a few politicians look good and it will be a HUGE revenue generator.

 

I lived through the 70 “oil crisis” and had one of the weak lame POS cars of the day and yes it was a Ford.
The engine was factory de-tuned 2.3 L I4 had a 2.35 rear end with a manual 4spd transmission. This was supposed to be one of the fuel efficient cars. At the mandated 55 MPH the car got about 15.5 mpg on it best day on the interstate going to South Carolina.
I put oversized valves and pistons in the engine and shaved the head. I found a small 4bbl carburetor and a 3.55 rear end (I think that was the number, been too many years). After the changes the car got 17-18 mpg at 65!

I don’t want to go back to those days! My 4 ton truck get 16.5 mpg at 70 mph and that is far better than that Pinto in sheep clothing or Mustang as it was!

 

If I'm going 55 and I want to go 75 I press further down on the gas petal.

 

Because that is what politicians do. End of story.

If you want to save money and time isn't that important, go slower. If you don't care or need to get somewhere fast, go faster. It's that simple. It should be your choice, not the governments.