Higher RPMs for better gas mileage?

Question

I have this theory that if you allow your RPMs to stay high while accelerating, your engine is accelerating your car more efficiently and using less gas/unit acceleration, as long as you're moderately light on the throttle.

Instead of going 25% throttle and shifting up at 2000 or so RPMs, I think it would be more fuel efficient to go 10% throttle and shifting up at like 4000 RPMs.

The high RPMs won't necessarily use more gas; you could go down a hill at 4500 RPMs without giving the engine more gas... the car still has momentum.

So...

Do you think my theory (light on the gas, allow the RPMs to climb fairly high) could help improve gas mileage?

Answer 1

naw man ur engine is working harder that it should. Just like the guy said "constant speed at the lowest RPM will give u the best MPG"

Answer 2

RPM measures engine speed. The faster the engine is going, the more gas is being used. If you aren't giving gas and your engine is at 4500 RPM down a hill you are in the wrong gear and wasting more gas. Optimum mileage is given at consistent speed, with lower RPM. This why if you are driving at 55 MPH at 1500 RPM you get better mileage than driving 75 MPH at 200 RPM.

Answer 3

in short no, :D

i think you need to keep in the peak torque for the engine, and not be loading it at low revs or revving the engine too high

Answer 4

At cruising RPMs, the trick is to maintain a constant RPM...Cruise control does this pretty good on level roads...Manual throttle control is better on hills...Just as important is how one gets to that cruise speed, whether it is 35 or 70 mph...As much fuel is expended and wasted going into overdrive from a dead stop...With either manual or automatic trans, steady engine speed is the key to good fuel economy...The owner's manual for your vehicle will give you the scoop on the best engine performance.