jethro

Well I've started school and I have to drive on the interstate a good bit to get there. I'm watching my gas gauge go down the whole time. :cry:
My windows are usually down and my sister called and I rolled them up to talk to her. Just wondering if rolling up the windows will help out the aerodynamics at all, and if this will cause less drag on the car, resulting in better gas mileage.
Has anyone ever though of this, and do you think it helps?

tulsa_97SR5

I've always heard under 35 mph windows down is more efficient, faster than 35 AC is better.

roger

Click and Clack answered a question on this once. IIRC, they said that you will get better mileage by keeping the windows up, even if the AC is on. Basically the extra wind resistance created by open windows uses up more gas than the AC ever will.

If you have oversized tires, going back to the stock size would help too. But it might not be practical.

Also if you have a lead foot, driving more conservatively will save some gas.

Tacoma Dude

Some of the documentation that my truck came with (might even be the driver's manual) states that warming up the engine on newer cars/trucks and driving with the window down will waste gas.

Mohamed

You guys are all correct, when your driving in the upper range, it's much more efficient to roll up the windows and use the A/C, especially during freeway driving.

User 051420

Ughh.. My sunroof and rear window are ALWAYS open. I also live in Wyoming where everything is at LEAST 2 hours away and I set the cruise at 85-90. I get about 16-17mpg...I'm willing to bet the difference is negligible.

Now when it's windy...thats a whole different story!

Ilovemountains

When I was using my truck to commute I ran a set of 235-70-15 sport suv tires and ran them hard at around 38 psi, with this combo I ran a few higher RPMs at highway speed but had more zip in the hills, and got an average of 50 miles or so more per tank than I do now with my 30" revos. Just a thought, Matt