scott wrote:

How do you work that one out? If I'm using more power to go faster,
surely I need to be using more petrol? As air resistance increases
with speed squared, the amount of petrol used goes up quite quickly
once you get to higher speeds.

As I've said before, it depends on the car/engine. My top speed is 130mph
(not had it above 120 - but still plenty of puff left), so at motorway
speeds it's running around 4000rpm (80-ish) with virtually no throttle
applied. A smaller engined car will usually not have much in hand at those
speeds - notice what happens when a small car starts to overtake at the
bottom of a hill. It will usually run out of power and drop back.

Same in town. Smaller engined car drivers are up and down the gearbox to
make progress at speeds varying from 10 to 30mph where I can stay
*comfortably* in 3rd gear through all that range without creating huge gaps
or having to brake sharply.

So. Whose engine is working harder?

--
Phil ,,,^.".^,,,


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