Well I have a 2000 Maxima 5 speed MT. I've been looking around and searching for the speed of the best gas mileage for a long trip. In August I will be driving from Connecticut to Alabama for school and was looking for a final decision on the best speed. I have noticed most people say 62mph with cruise set will have the best result. I do plan on having a tuneup done prior to leaving. I realize that the cost of the tuneup will not save me money but I am looking for the car to complete the trip in as good of condition as possible. I was also wondering if there was anything else I can do to help me spend the least money on gas alone. Thanks.

 

The best speed for gas mileage is typically the speed you (or the auto) shift into the highest gear. In my 6-speed, i try to keep the rpm's to right about 2k +/- and that seems to work pretty good. If you have an auto, keep it just above the speed it shifts into the top gear when you are being gentle on the accelerator. The faster you go after that point, the worse the mileage gets....

Also, there are tons of threads about how to get better gas mileage.....search is your friend.

 

Where ever your car makes peak torque is theoretically where you will get the best gas mileage.

 

the drag to forward momentum reaches its optimum at 62.5 mph for a 6 cylinder...anything higher than that, and the gain in speed burns to much gas to be economical, especially on long trips

 

this is where you fail

 

Cruise set in a manual is bad?
I know its not the best in an auto because it down shifts to increase about a half a mile per hour (exaggeration) but how else is cruise control bad?

 

google "hypermiling", consider that cruise control is basically the opposite, and you have your answer

 

@hypermiling.

 

You would gey optimum gas mileage between 60-65

 

yeah, i would crack big time either trying to drive like that or driving with somebody that was driving that way

 

I got just under 27 mpg going to Kentucky and back keeping my speeds between 70-78 or so and using cruise control most of the time.

 

Get some Jack Daniels on that trip?

 

I just got 31mpg on a trip to the lake and back driving around 60-62. I know it's slow, but it helps. Btw, I have a 5spd 01.

 

Id say 60mph in 5th NO A.C on. If its completely flat highway then cruise would work as well, but if it has hills id say Cruise off. Keep it at 2k and youll be fine, you can also try a little extra psi in the tires. And by extra i mean like 2 pounds.