The road surface makes a noticeable difference. Some of the roads where I live are not very good, because trucks drive on the repeatedly. The recently resurfaced areas are so smooth, and I can coast for ages, and speed up easily when coasting down gentle slopes, and the 'bad' areas, which have no potholes, but are very rough, and make the whole car vibrate, result in a noticable 'braking' effect, so in these areas I try to stay on the least damaged areas, and doing that today managed to coast a lot further.

The Road
 

First, Brock -- excellent find on the Cummins article! This should be required reading for anyone looking to get better FE. Although geared toward big-rigs and diesel engines, I would say that a majority of the content still applies to any size vehicle or engine design.

Peakster -- I think you're right about the freezing. In the 'States, there are 1000s of miles of Interstate concrete. It lasts longer from a wear perspective, but is much more expensive than asphalt. The joints do take a beating, especially in freezing temps and require more maintenance. Concrete projects take longer to complete as well. Gov't agencies have to decide, "Quick and Cheap" asphalt (which is also quieter), or pay more up-front (time and cost) for a longer lasting stretch of road. Also sourcing the materials is a factor.

Great stuff Brock, thanks!!

The cummins info is wonderful. Just look at all the drafting that can be done around those rigs.

In traffic I love the side draft as long as the wind is right. Also love to surf them out front.

Road surfaces have always been of interest to me.

I'm looking forward to a little over night trip the wife and I are taking to Arkansas this week. We are both on vacation this week. She has never been to Eureka Springs. So we are going to steal away for a overnight romp in the Ozarks. Im looking forward to some awesome driving. I haven't been there in many years myself. So it will be interesting to see the road surfaces and have some hypermiling fun.

We will have to drive more miles than I care to think about on the grooved concrete roads. :(

psy

Eureka Springs
 

If you like cornering (and great scenery), Highway 62 into Eureka Springs from Rogers is one of the most curvy and challenging roads around the area. Unless you get stuck behind a slow RV or something, you can get exhausted from the switchbacks, but it's a blast! The elevation changes are pretty extreme too so coasting is a possibility, but burning up a lot of fuel is too :rolleyes:

Have a good trip!

We will be going in on 62. :) :) :). I will lay waste to motor homes and semis. And digging hard in fas off some of the ridges in the the nice off and on camber turns that await us at the bottom. :) We leave out the south way and over to springdale and the Fayitville area.... Stop by and pay my respects to hogdom. Then shoot south to Alma on old 71 or 540.

The wife has been in the area on a bike with me. Which becomes a blurrrrrr to her. ( Better than sex IMO ) and we took the Accord over there for a short romp right after we purchased it. Plulling out of Alma heading north on 540 it struck me like a bat on the head,,, Damn Im doing 100 mph or better. about 115 when I looked at the speedo a second time. Dont ever let anybody tell you a I4 Accord or TSX is a slug... Ive layed to waiste more so called road machines on old 71 than a preacher has followers on bikes and in cars. Hell we might even run over twords Harrison then drop back south to I-40. Its all good as long as I dont go near Little Rock and the god awful delta. :)

Im sooooo looking forward to this drive....

psy

Not to steal the thread,,,, sorry

One more Jack
 

Sorry to further hijack a perfectly good thread, but you're speakin' my language in an area that I love to drive.

The I4 Accord rental proved your point to a 'T' in the hills around Little Rock. What a rush and a surprise on how composed it is.

My wife and I were married at a woodsy chapel in Bella Vista (about 5 miles North of Bentonville). This place is breathtaking -- mostly glass and arched steel to blend-in with the treed surroundings. So, driving between E.P. and Rogers with the In-Laws and the wife in the car, I had to maneuver the rental Taurus with the least yaw and easy brakes. By the time it was over, I was sweatin'! All passengers were pleased, whew! (I had visions of my car at the time -- the Evo -- blasting around the course).

If you like German food -- there a great German/Austrian place just as you get into Eureka -- can't miss it -- looks like a chalet.

OK -- I'm done -- back to topic.

Highway 62 is recently paved ashphalt cut through the Ozark Mountains, so it should provide some reduced rolling resistance :p

Have fun!

new awareness
 

With my new awareness of surface roughness I have altered my lane choices. I did notice that on an uphill coast portion of my trip home with new pavement that I lose very little momentum at all, while on a down hill portion with old rough pavement that car slows noticeably. Hmmm, I am sure the lugged snow tires magnify the effect.....

David:
I remember the grooves, I previously lived in Michigan. Each time I have been back for a visit there seems to be less and less of the nasty stuff left.

Which highway are you referring too?

When is winters back going to be broken in WA. Snow Tires?:eek: