http://www.khon2.com/news/local/20191134.html

Not that it saves me a ton of money, but I have been an active member of this technique. I wanna see how good I can do. It has proved to be quite effective. My wrx used to get me 18mpg, now i can get 24-25, or 33% improvement. My Yarii gets 35-38 mpg.
It is definitely not the most exciting way to drive, but if you factor over a 15 gallon tank at $4.50/gal., my savings has earned me $22 per 15 gal. fillup.
I could use that for lots of things. And hey, it's kinda fun. I'm a member of gassavers.org
Anybody else out there?

 

Haha, drafting on the highways is a pretty dick thing to do. I used to get scared sh!tless sitting shotgun in my buddy's 240SX when he did that (gas was about $2.50/gal then, so yes he was a dumbass haha)

 

Im guilty of teh drafting. It dose work. Semi's are the best, if one cant be found, a Nissan Tita or ram are the next best thing.

 

I truly believe it works... NASCAR teammates do that all the time... I'm sure it works to some extent for our daily drivers.

I won't draft large trucks anymore though... I've had to replace my windshield twice in the past 2 years because of rocks I believe were kicked up by said vehicles.

 

Uhh whats drafting? Didnt really understand what it was even though I heard it was supposed to make your car go faster or something using the car in front right?

 

...

 

it's pretty much letting the car in front of you 'break through the air' and you following in the 'pocket' behind. it's like cutting through the wind. when you're driving by yourself, the faster you go, the more gas you're using (obviously)...not just because you're on the gas pedal, but because the car is having to get through the 'air.' (wind resistance---aerodynamics) haha, this sounds ridiculous. make sense?? wakarimasuka?

 

^^correct me if i'm wrong. that's from what i understand.

 

My $.02 is that the car in front creates a vacuum when the air passes the most aft part of the car. When driving in that vacuumm, fluid resistance is reduced, drag is reduced, resulting in better fuel economy, and all that dirt that builds up on your trunk... You can tell if your in a slipstream when the wind noise dies down.



Edit*- BOOYA a vid
Done with bikes, but same principal.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AKQ9USiKcDE

 

So how close are you riding the bumper of the person behind you?

When people tailgate me, I brake check them HARD...just a warning to all

 

LOL

I actually did that to an express bus that was not in service. Followed it on H-1 for a long time... switching lanes and everything. I think the driver was like "Wtf". I never throught the trend would catch on.

Honestly the idea is sound, for long stretches of roadways but is a severe safety issue when you factor in the style of driving in oahu.

With the topic aired in KHON, I think most people who haven't heard of the theory otherwise may want to try it out now. Be prepared for more tailgaters and hopefully not more accidents. haha.

We gotta have a subaru drafting crew.. Would be pimp to see 5 WRX/STi's in a straight line all tailgating each other on the freeway.. rofl. Only thing is the first guy gets no gas savings.

-That would make a funny video.

 

lol supercharge that bug

 

I just started using some of the techniques when driving my truck. I don't draft, not much opportunity to do it, but I descend Haleakala Hwy. in neutral. I got over 2 mpg improvement by doing this.

 

You not necessarily need to be on one's bumper, but as long as the verhicle in front of you breaks that wall of air, your car doesnt have to go thru 100% of air resistance,..

I do it on the H3 when I go to Kaneohe side,...I never do tailgate, but enough room to draft..

 

what little money this saves is not enough for me to get into an accident or altercation for.

Tailigating upsets a lot of people...until they can perfect that computer/distance controlled "car train" (I saw it on the discovery channel), I won't be doing this.

As far as drafting behind large trucks and semi's, personally I think it is a very bad idea...

When you are behind them like that, they cannot see you at all...if they decided to suddenly stop...there is only one place a car will end up..under the truck. For those that think they have super human reflexes...good luck.

Broken windshields and paint chips from flying rocks and debris are also a major problem. Coming from Alaska..I know this very well.

Saving a few dollars here may end up costing a lot more later...

BTW...I would not be one to tailgate and draft from...you'll end up wasting way more gas trying to stick with me...