How many tanks of gas?
- Thread starter Spiggie
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uh, use google maps to calculate total miles you'll be traveling. divide that by the miles per gallon you'll be getting - figure highway miles. that will give you the total number of gallons you'll be using. then you can guess you'll need to stop every 18 or 19 gallons so divide by 18 or 19 and that'll be the approximate number of stops.
Catfish
Member
Two bits of advice from my recent 4200 mile excursion:
1. Fill up in large towns/cities. The gas prices are generally lower than in small, rural towns.
2. If you have a smartphone, get the GasBuddy app. It uses GPS to determine your location, then finds the best gas prices within an adjustable mile radius. Even in a large city, gas prices are generally higher along the interstate. A few blocks off the beaten path can save quite a bit.
1. Fill up in large towns/cities. The gas prices are generally lower than in small, rural towns.
2. If you have a smartphone, get the GasBuddy app. It uses GPS to determine your location, then finds the best gas prices within an adjustable mile radius. Even in a large city, gas prices are generally higher along the interstate. A few blocks off the beaten path can save quite a bit.
Math is hard. Come on! Distance by MPG = Gallons needed. Gallons needed X expected average price per gallon = estimated fuel price.
Man, we really do need to start teaching more math in school. This is 2nd grade level math.
Anyway. Try Gasbuddy.com or the app, as mentioned. It will build you a route based on getting the cheapest gas.
Man, we really do need to start teaching more math in school. This is 2nd grade level math.
Anyway. Try Gasbuddy.com or the app, as mentioned. It will build you a route based on getting the cheapest gas.
Carl_G
Member
Uneek
Super Moderator
That's a very conservative number and I think it's possible to do it with fewer fill ups.
zstampe
New member
Yup.
Bigmikelakers
New member
Yeah, thats what I thought too. I would think a 4runner would get 375-400 miles a tank at 18 mpg on the highway.
blaniac22
Member
It does....leaving San Antonio with a full tank, I stop 3 times for gas to get to LA (1350 miles).
Fort Stockton, Texas
Deming, NM
Goodyear, AZ
6 Cylinder of course - averaging around 19-20 MPG (AC on, cargo box on the roof and running 70-80 MPH based on speed limits where we are)
Bigmikelakers
New member
Thats actually pretty good. I drove my ex's car when we went to Sedona, AZ and I needed to get gas in Kingman. We only drove around 340 miles. Maybe its because the Saturn Ion has a small gas tank.
Question: Does the AC really effect mpg's? To the point where you notice a differece in mpgs's driving when ac off vs on?
Technically, yes. Informally, No. Modern AC units are far more effiecent than older days.
I know I am the math nerd on here, but the single BIGGEST factor in MPG is speed. Power dissipated by a car is equal to the cube of the velocity. So a doubling in speed requires 8 times the power, which is why most cars can do 100 without too much trouble, but hitting 200 requires a real beast of a machine.
What I am saying is, the difference in energy required to move 40 MPH and 80MPH is higher by 8 times. 8 TIMES!
We can debate the measly 1% a modern AC takes from your car, or we can focus on the real culprit. To put it in easy estimation, every 10mph increase in speed between 40mph and 80mph requires twice the power needed before it.
TWICE the total power. We are talking orders of magnitude here on power. So, you will see a greater fuel savings by slowing down 5 mph than you would with almost every other factor combined. Type of gas, air in tires, AC or NO ac. Windows or NO windows. Weight and load...
This isn't even something subject to discussion. We have know aerodynamic principles for years and know that traveling higher than 55 mph starts a huge power drain curve that eats energy.
I am not saying DON'T go faster, I am saying; if you really want to save gas, or you really want to increase MPG... slow down.
I know I am the math nerd on here, but the single BIGGEST factor in MPG is speed. Power dissipated by a car is equal to the cube of the velocity. So a doubling in speed requires 8 times the power, which is why most cars can do 100 without too much trouble, but hitting 200 requires a real beast of a machine.
What I am saying is, the difference in energy required to move 40 MPH and 80MPH is higher by 8 times. 8 TIMES!
We can debate the measly 1% a modern AC takes from your car, or we can focus on the real culprit. To put it in easy estimation, every 10mph increase in speed between 40mph and 80mph requires twice the power needed before it.
TWICE the total power. We are talking orders of magnitude here on power. So, you will see a greater fuel savings by slowing down 5 mph than you would with almost every other factor combined. Type of gas, air in tires, AC or NO ac. Windows or NO windows. Weight and load...
This isn't even something subject to discussion. We have know aerodynamic principles for years and know that traveling higher than 55 mph starts a huge power drain curve that eats energy.
I am not saying DON'T go faster, I am saying; if you really want to save gas, or you really want to increase MPG... slow down.
blaniac22
Member
Absolutely agree.
