I have a Tribeca that I just took in for the 3000 mile oil change. I have been a little dissatisfied with the mileage that I get, so I watch the MPG display a lot while driving to see what kind of habits are the most desirable.
While driving on the Florida Turnpike, I was holding about 70 MPH and noting that on the instantaneous MPG, I was getting 24 MPG, which I thought was a little low. I got behind another car going a little slower, about 68, and noticed that the MPG started indicating between 27-29 and hovered around 28 while I stayed about 100 feet behind him. Decreasing the distance to about
30 feet increased the MPG to about 30. I don't know what would happen if I got really close, but I assume the effect would have been dramatic.I experimented a little more and followed other vehicles that were holding
70 MPH. I found that it didn't seem to make a difference what type of vehicle was in front of me. I drafted behind a large truck and a small car and the MPG variation was almost the same. Following one truck at 60 MPH gave in indication of 34 MPG. I didn't notice the MPG at 60 without drafting.There were a lot of other little things that I noticed, such as the effect of cars passing me while of was holding 70. There would be a decrease in MPG when the car was just behind me and the MPG would increase as the car passed, peaking while he was about a car length in front. Being in a different lane made the effect last a little shorter period.
What I learned was that it pays to draft! With gas so expensive, if I draft, even at a safe difference, I can save quite a bit. Has anyone else experimented with this? I have had the instantaneous MPG display on other cars, but never really paid any attention to it before.
Don
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