I recorded some data over the past few months and I was surprised how drastic my gas mileage ratings changed with and without a roof-rack.
-97 civic hx
-10 gallon tank
-barrecrafters sb/ski roofrack
burped full I-90 usage
w/roof-rack approx 290 miles 29MPG
w/o roof-rack approx 370 miles 37MPG:fry:
This data is an approximate average recorded during trips to and from Albany. Average speed between 75-85 mph. Obviously my results varied based on weather conditions/traffic/etc but this is an approx. average.
I began to notice a difference as soon as I first installed the rack, I even had trouble getting up some of the larger hills on I-90 and found myself downshifting and losing speed (silly civic:roflpicard:) I now only use the rack when I ABSOLUTELY have too.
Food for thought for you guys, as I’m sure most of you already know this. I knew it made a difference but my results truly surprised me.
About 6 months ago I was reading about how much of a difference the roof rack makes, even the small stock ones, and went out and took the cross bars off the one on my truck. Took 5 minutes and I have never used it once in 5 years of owning it. I’m not expecting much for gains, a MPG or so, but it’s was a free mod and doesn’t cost me anything on convenience.
I had read up on it too and talk to some people with roof-racks but until actually logging data myself I had no idea. It blew my mind having almost a 10mpg difference.
With an iffy economy and fluctuating gas prices the best bet for anyone is to cut costs and this is one way to save some serious cash.
Very true, the civic is a low HP car that relies on aerodynamics and at higher speeds it hurts more. Around town the difference is negligible.
4 mpg on a larger SUV is still quite a difference. 15 gallons of gas equates to 60 miles lost and most likely 3-4 gallons of gas depending on your fuel economy. Thats $$
Do you have a fairing? That will help negate some of the losses from the rack but you will still loose mpg’s. I run a Thule rack on my roof with 2 velo vises, a front wheel holder, and a big mouth on my car year round. The difference in MPG’s is worth not having to constantly remove and store/trip over and then re-install when it’s needed IMHO
Yeah, I’m not going to kid myself and hope that I’m saving 4 or 5 mpg on my Expedition. I’m guessing .5 to 1 mpg. If I average 14 mpg a year for 10000 miles with it, and 15 mpg for 10000 miles without it, I saved 47 gallons. $95 for 5 minutes work is worth it for me.
Oh, and it helps all the little animals by reducing my giant carbon footprint just a little bit. Between the car, truck and boat I have more of a carbon crater. :lol:
Sadly the POS barrecrafters rack came without a fairing… I have thought about custom fabbing one but idk… it takes me 2 min to take it on and off and I usually only use the rack for SB trips…
The fucking rack didn’t even include stainless steel hardware and all the bolts are now a lovely shade of rust and all 4 locks seized within 2 months of WNY salt.