Easy MPG gain

[lain]

Alright bare with me. As you can all see I am an expert at Paint. Now this drawing shows a Semi and a Versa. If you position your car around that same spot as the Versa drawing, on the left or right side of a Semi just behind it, the weight of the semi actually pulls the Versa. Alot of semi's will start to slow down if you do this though because it makes their MPG go down. But you will easy see a 10-20+ increase. Just a FYI. More effective on the freeways.

Any questions go ahead and ask.

[Rockhound]

It's called drafting. People have been doing this for decades. You can also get the same effect from just tailgating the Semi - which I would NOT recommend for safety's sake.

Also, depending on the length of the trailer and width of the lanes, there's a chance that you may be in the Semi's blind spot. Another no-no if you value your or your passengers' lives.

This is extremely bad advice, but what else is new.

[cherryball]

I think the best position for the versa is behind the semi. because u will experience no air resistance. From your picture, your versa still have to battle the air resistance. just my thoughts...

[lain]

ya thats the name. the best spot is on the corner...a little farther back then that. If you are tailgating the semi you get similar affects but its not as good as the side corner.

If you do it wrong it is a no-no. But as long as you are on the corner you will be safe.

[blindsnyper]

sounds good in theory, but im not going drive 65-75mph in a semis blindspot

[Jerky_san]

I know simi's out west do it a lot but its illegal since of the safty issues hehe..

[bigdog]

they did a segment of bettering mpg on mythbusters. check it out

[motoguy128]

The "weight" or rather mass of the semi has nothing to do with it. The size (large frontal area) of the semi creates a large low pressure zone behind the truck and accelerates the surrounding air creating a tailwind for the following car. The best location isn't illegally riding in the trucks blind spot (drving in left lane without passing), which by the way is very dangerous becuse hte semi may not see you if it changes lanes.... the best location is postioning your car directly behind the semi as close as possible. This however makes you also invisible to the truck, doesn;t allow you to react to traffic conditions, rocks can get thrown at you from the trailer tires, semi tires often blow or throw their tread, throwing large peices of rubber at your car, and the air behind hte trailer is very turbulent and tosses the car side to side.

It would not reduce the mpg of the semi. It actually would improve the mpg of the semi, although not enough for it to notice. The car following the semi closely will improve the movement of air comming off the back of it. It reduces the turbulence since there an object for the air to flow across. Similar to attaching a cone to the back of the trailer. The rolling resistance of the semi from it's weight accounts for most of the drag. Wind drag is secondary.

[matt_a]

Ummm..yeah. I don't think I want to hang in a semi's BLIND SPOT just to save a few MPGs. Noone will care what kind of mileage you were getting just before you died.

[Rockhound]

Ummm..yeah. I don't think I want to hang in a semi's BLIND SPOT just to save a few MPGs. Noone will care what kind of mileage you were getting just before you died.

You'll have to excuse his lack of safety consideration - the idea was a little "half baked", if you know what I mean.

[bikeman]

This recommendation should appeal to those wishing to be nominated for a Darwin Award.

David

[lain]

You'll have to excuse his lack of safety consideration - the idea was a little "half baked", if you know what I mean.

Actually my dad is the one that taught me this. And he has a Class A licence. Also it is completly safe, the only time it becomes unsafe is when an unexperienced driver is doing it. I would hate for someone to do this and not remember where the break pedal is or how to use it.

[matt_a]

Actually my dad is the one that taught me this. And he has a Class A licence.

Your dad has a class A licence and he's telling you it's a good idea to drive in a truck's blind spot? ooookay.

[lain]

Your dad has a class A licence and he's telling you it's a good idea to drive in a truck's blind spot? ooookay.

He didn't tell me weither it was a good idea or bad idea he just showed me how to do it. He leaves it up to me to decide. Things are done different here on the west coast.

[Ever Victorious]

He didn't tell me weither it was a good idea or bad idea he just showed me how to do it. He leaves it up to me to decide. Things are done different here on the west coast.

Hey, don't lump me in there. I'm a west-coaster, and we were always taught not to do dumb things like that.

And my dad also held a class A license. With a passenger endorsement. because he drove a 60' articulated bus.

He would have kicked my butt from here to New York and back if I practiced what you are suggesting so no, it's NOT a "West coast" thing. It's a CALIFORNIA thing, because you guys are notoriously the worst drivers in the western US.

[Rockhound]

Things are done different here on the west coast.

Riiight. 'Cause no one in the Midwest or elsewhere knows what drafting is. Keep in mind, "different" is not always synonymous with "better". Your dad should know better than to "teach" you things like this, but that's another discussion in itself.

Look. This is horrible advice - especially for many younger drivers here on this board. Regardless of your age or supposed driving "skill", drafting a semi is inherently dangerous, and I've never really thought a few MPG increase was so valuable as to risk my life for it.

Like Motoguy said earlier, beyond the whole blind-spot issue (which is important) there's also the risk of having the semi throw a tire tread (among other things). But of course this is just another example of your lack of insight and critical thinking to regard all the possibilities that stem from your actions.

[lain]

Riiight. 'Cause no one in the Midwest or elsewhere knows what drafting is. Keep in mind, "different" is not always synonymous with "better". Your dad should know better than to "teach" you things like this, but that's another discussion in itself.

Look. This is horrible advice - especially for many younger drivers here on this board. Regardless of your age or supposed driving "skill", drafting a semi is inherently dangerous, and I've never really thought a few MPG increase was so valuable as to risk my life for it.

Like Motoguy said earlier, beyond the whole blind-spot issue (which is important) there's also the risk of having the semi throw a tire tread (among other things). But of course this is just another example of your lack of insight and critical thinking to regard all the possibilities that stem from your actions.

Well people have choices...they can either take my advice or not. I just posted it here so people here that didn't know about this can know. Try look at things outside the box. Maybe because I posted this and you guys flame on me other people that thought this was safe will now realize how dangerous it is. Maybe people that never heard of this might have a friend tell them and because I never made this post they will never know the dangers.

O and btw when I first made this post I never said I practice it...I was just showing other people something that they might not know about. Someone probably learned something these past 2 days.

lol and just thinking about you talking about dieing...i have experienced that many times..thank goodness it was only mental...but sometimes it can be so real.

[Great White Versa]

Mythbusters did two shows related to this discussion (did I ever mention how much I love Mythbusters?).

One was in proving mpg increases by drafting and the other was related to semi tire treads. You should watch the tire tread episode, it may convince you to never stay anywhere near a semi's tire... (watch here)

Their drafting episode spurned a HUGE debate on their forum as well, with most people saying how stupid you would have to be to stay closely behind a semi for any prolonged period of time.

[Rockhound]

In the Mythbusters' defense, they kept saying throughout that episode that you should not try this yourself, and that it was a very dangerous practice. They were really only trying it out to quantify gas mileage increase - not promote the method - or in Lain's case - put it out there as something you might want to try.

[Jager]

mmm drafting, a good idea in theory, but leave it to professional racers and nascar drivers. cause its funny when they crash and take out 40 other drivers, your insurance however will not laugh when they get the bill from your accident.

[Deke40]

I drive about 60k a year doing dealer trades and I can tell you I get by the 18 wheelers as quick as I can. Not only do they make vehicle I am driving unstable from the air flowing off them but this new breed of trucker will not wait a few seconds for you to overtake them but will whip out in front of you in a heartbeat.

One other thing have you noticed all the alligators(long strips of rethreads) on the highway. If you have ever been by one when one of these turns loose you will be gunshy about riding close to one of the 18 wheelers any longer than you have too.

[alonsorules8]

Not all of us truckers are out to get you. we have so much more responsibility in keeping are trucks safe. If we make one mistake while driving we loose our licenses for 1 year. I drive school buses for a living and we fall under the same rules and regs. as the big rigs. We try our best to keep our cool on the road but many Big Rig drivers are on the road 13 hours every day not 2 to 3 hours like other traffic.

[marleyfan]

He didn't tell me weither it was a good idea or bad idea he just showed me how to do it. He leaves it up to me to decide. Things are done different here on the west coast.

As a west coast father who taught his daughter to drive and will soon be teaching his son to drive I rather value their lives. Any time I did something that was unsafe I clearly pointed out that it was unsafe and why. I would never just leave it up to them do decide for themselves. I don't want to knock your father but it seems irresponsible to me. My duty as a father is to, at the very least, advise them when something is unsafe.

[motoguy128]

Bottom line... you might see a 10mpg bump, but getting 50mpg is unlikely, its still a 2700lb car and there's a lot of turbulence tossing the car around. Either way, it's not safe.

If you want better mileage, but a Yaris or Corolla. They both manage close to 40mpg on the freeway. about 5-6mpg better than the Versa in the same conditions. I know, I owned a '03 Corolla. It it had more legroom and a better seat, I'd still own one.

Better yet, get a motorcycle. My last sportbike was capable of going 170mph, ran under 11 seconds in the 1/4 mile and still got almost 50mpg cruising at 75 on the freeway.

[Demonspawn]

guess that is one way to cleanse the gene pool!

[DrivingHabit]

Why anyone want to drive behind a semi, besides the mpg gain? LOL, unless you like rocks flying at you

[NSR_s30]

Managed to get 42.1 mpg in my Sentra last week.