# Mythbusters - Gas Mileage **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [August 29, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074 "2008-08-29T06:09:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BigRon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/1 "2008-08-29T06:09:12Z")
I don’t know if anyone caught this but I will provide a summary I found online: The Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel have a new episode this month titled “Big Rig Myths”. One of the myths tested is drafting. On a closed track with stunt drivers on board for advice, they conducted a set of runs with a stock semi truck and a late model Dodge Magnum (full size station wagon). The fuel usage was measured directly from the fuel injection harness and tracked on a laptop computer. They note (as all readers should note) that at 55mph, the minimum safe/legal following distance is 150 feet (just less than two seconds). They achieved the following results - 55mph - no vehicles in front - 32mpg Drafting @100 feet - 35.5mpg (+10%) Drafting at 50 feet - 38.5mpg (+20%) Drafting at 20 feet - 40.5mpg (+27%) Drafting at 10 feet - 44.5mpg (+39%) Drafting at 2 feet - 41.0mpg (+28%) Lessons to be learned by the Mythbusters - Lesson 1 - They stated on the show that the likely reason the number went down so sharply at 2 feet is because the driver had to move the throttle constantly to keep the precise distance, and the throttle movement degraded FE. Lesson we learn - DWL is a great tool to keep those FE numbers up. Lesson 2 - We realize that a full size Magnum gets 32mpg (EPA is in the low to mid 20s, I believe) at a steady 55mph. Even without any vehicle in front, driving at 55 saves a lot of gas. IB4willtheMagnumstilltakeoff ---
**Author:** ![ILCisDEAD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@ILCisDEAD](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILCisDEAD)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/2 "2008-08-29T06:17:49Z")
95% sure this was posted already. But its a nice refresher ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/3 "2008-08-29T06:19:34Z")
Yea, i like to draft about 5 feet behind trucks. It keeps the truckers awake. ---
**Author:** ![MOBOOST4U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f4b2a3/32.png) [@MOBOOST4U](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MOBOOST4U)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/4 "2008-08-29T06:20:18Z")
Yeah… I saw this the other night. I loved the girl’s recations every time the asian guy told her how much drag was reduced when testing the models in the wind tunnel. ---
**Author:** ![JCuz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jcuz/32/7338_2.png) [@JCuz](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JCuz)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/5 "2008-08-29T06:25:04Z")
I like to drive under the truckers, its the ultimate drafting technique ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/6 "2008-08-29T06:27:10Z")
> [@JCuz](#): > > I like to drive under the truckers, its the ultimate drafting technique Hmmm… Why didnt the test that? Cut the springs and ride on spares? ---
**Author:** ![justa4door](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justa4door/32/7259_2.png) [@justa4door](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justa4door)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/7 "2008-08-29T06:29:52Z")
> [@ZOMGVTEK](#): > > Hmmm… Why didnt the test that? Cut the springs and ride on spares? you have to take like 3 in off the top so a choped top or no tires :gotme: ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/8 "2008-08-29T06:32:18Z")
LOL! Can’t wait to see how many people are going down the highway driving 10 feet behind truckers now. ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/9 "2008-08-29T06:32:54Z")
> [@justa4door](#): > > you have to take like 3 in off the top so a choped top or no tires :gotme: But it worked soo good on F&F! ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/10 "2008-08-29T06:33:36Z")
> [@boxxa](#): > > LOL! > > Can’t wait to see how many people are going down the highway driving 10 feet behind truckers now. In a prius with a hot air intake and low rolling resistance tires 2" wide inflated to 80psi? ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/11 "2008-08-29T07:09:39Z")
> [@ZOMGVTEK](#): > > In a prius with a hot air intake and low rolling resistance tires 2" wide inflated to 80psi? Gotta cover it in Crisco to help the air flow. My way to better gas mileage is not allowing fat girls to ride in my car. ---
**Author:** ![almostBrett](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/almostbrett/32/5249_2.png) [@almostBrett](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/almostBrett)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 8:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/12 "2008-08-29T08:35:31Z")
i always try to draft trucks, but thats when i start falling asleep… ---
**Author:** ![CrazyLT1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CrazyLT1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/CrazyLT1)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 8:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/13 "2008-08-29T08:40:41Z")
Yup - you get a few more mpg, but they didnt mention that that front of your car will also look like a war zone from all the stones that the semi’s will throw onto it… ---
**Author:** ![BigRon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/58956e/32.png) [@BigRon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigRon)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 10:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/14 "2008-08-29T10:29:27Z")
Prius owners will spend $800 on PPF to save $300 a year in gas ---
**Author:** ![Boomin99GT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boomin99gt/32/7306_2.png) [@Boomin99GT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boomin99GT)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 10:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/mythbusters-gas-mileage/54074/15 "2008-08-29T10:42:38Z")
> [@JCuz](#): > > I like to drive under the truckers, its the ultimate drafting technique Beat me to it! haha