Set my cruise control to 65

[ltslimjim]

Originally Posted By: Pesca
Originally Posted By: ltslimjim


This is why I stay in the 2nd lane from the right on the interstate and go around 60-65.

If you want to go around I'm not in your way and will even speed up for mergers, etc. and being the slower vehicle I obviously am more inclined to yield and observe traffic behind like clockwork.


If you are the slowest traffic (are you at 60-65?), why are you not in the first lane from the right?

That is what I would do... in fact, that is what I do, even if I drive faster than 65... until I have to overpass someone, car or truck.


I'm usually among the slower, but definitely not the slowest guy as I have to pass and speed up occasionally. I just feel comfortable cruising around at 60-65 in my area. That's right about the interstate speed around here. People drive all sorts of random in my area. YMMV.

Just to clarify I believe in driving at relative speeds that are the safest of course and more practical / reasonable. I'm just specifically speaking of more optimal MPG (since the OP was about LEAVING the car in cruise control, aka not much traffic to respond to). He didn't say others are having to go around him frustrated, but seemed to imply others simply go faster than him. Now, if I'm in peoples way I get over.

Below are 6 lanes with a 65 MPH speed limit and moderate traffic: How is being over .... there not ideal?
| 90+ | 85 | 75 | 70 | 65 | ??? |

 

[Vikas]

I don't even recall any 6-lane freeway ever! Four lanes are the max around east coast. Now if you count roads like the divided NJ Tpk (cars vs trucks), then yes, we have effective 6-lane freeway for few miles but frankly it causes a whole lot of problems when they merge in to each other :-(

 

[TiredTrucker]

Gearing and the max efficient RPM band of a motor determine as much about fuel economy as aero. Unlike the auto and pickups, with my commercial trucks, I get to spec all the details on how fast I am going to run, the transmission gearing and the rear differential ratios to match closely with the efficient RPM of the motor I am using and the speed I want to operate most frequently at.

I do like that now many of the pickups, and some cars, have manual selection modes as part of the automatic transmissions. I find I regularly set max gear at 5 instead of 6 when running hilly back road highways. Saves a lot of gear hunting, fuel wasting shifts.