fuel saving by drafting, can it be done?

[spudgun GB]

I was coming back from the midlands today in the other halfs convertable. Plodding on at 75ish I pulled out of the inside lane and into the wake of a large van in front. The drafting effect was prounced to say the least. I was backing off and still going faster.

And so the game began. There was no way he was shaking me off from then on.
When I lost his tow for a few seconds, I didn't half notice it.
Eventually, he turned off so had to wait for the next prey to come along and do the hard aero work for me.

I'm not sure if we saved much fuel, but it was a bit of a legal entertainment to keep the boredom at bay.

[Fatman2]

I'm not sure if any scientific tests have been done but it should reduce fuel consumption if you sit behind a HGV.

It's not something I've ever tried as you'd have to be pretty close and I don't like being stuck behind HGV's at all due to reduced visibility.

[chopper602]

I used to do that through Europe in my 2CV, stick behind a tall van or truck (Sprinters were good), and then could back off to about half throttle. Worked very well for me!

Once followed a lorry at about 65 for over 100 miles, he knew I was there and would indicate nice and early before any lane changes. When he eventually left the autobahn, he waved and gave me a thumb

[pilchardthecat]

You need to be very close - inside the low pressure space immediately behind the vehicle, but in front of the turbulence caused by the air coming back in (which will hinder your porgress if anything).

You need to be tailgating really, which is bad

[TheStoat]

Try looking for the Mythbusters episode. The results weren't encouraging

[TonyRPH]

And still maintain a safe following distance?

[y2blade]

legal you say?


tell that to your insurance company after you've rear-ended someone at speed due to being too close to react or see what is going on ahead


idiot

[berg1]

Often do it. I find national express coaches give a good compromise between speed and economy.

[Baffled Spoon]

TheStoat said:

Try looking for the Mythbusters episode. The results weren't encouraging

The Mythbusters episode

[spudgun GB]

chopper602 said:

I used to do that through Europe in my 2CV, stick behind a tall van or truck (Sprinters were good), and then could back off to about half throttle. Worked very well for me!

Once followed a lorry at about 65 for over 100 miles, he knew I was there and would indicate nice and early before any lane changes. When he eventually left the autobahn, he waved and gave me a thumb

I think the guy in the van kind of got the message as well. Like you mentioned, he soon twigged what I was up to so there was no nasty suprises.

With the roof down it was easy to fine tune the distance with a reduction in the buffeting.
Sweet.

[spudgun GB]

y2blade said:

legal you say?


tell that to your insurance company after you've rear-ended someone at speed due to being too close to react or see what is going on ahead


idiot

Seriously, I know exactly where your coming from. Definately NOT dangerously close. I wouldn't do it.
If it was a toss up between that and saving a few pence it wouldn't happen.

Edited by spudgun GB on Sunday 19th September 20:04

[Welshbeef]

Fuel saving possibly - downside reduced safety while doing so ie you'll have to stop much sooner so reaction time needs to be improved plus with no visability you cannot react before the car directly onfront of you.

Is that really worth saving a few £'s? To me 100% nope. If fuel economy is what your after buy the new polo bluemotion or golf bluemotion or the mk1 insight.

[Richard-G]

spudgun GB said:

y2blade said:

legal you say?


tell that to your insurance company after you've rear-ended someone at speed due to being too close to react or see what is going on ahead


idiot

Seriously, I know exactly where your coming from. Definately NOT dangerously close. I wouldn't do it.
If it was a toss up between that and saving a few pence it wouldn't happen.

Edited by spudgun GB on Sunday 19th September 20:04

y2blade are you going through the 'turn' or are you just an angry man/woman? Every post you make is angry, ctfo. OP I have tried this but im too scared about stone chips......

[spudgun GB]

Richard-G said:

spudgun GB said:

y2blade said:

legal you say?


tell that to your insurance company after you've rear-ended someone at speed due to being too close to react or see what is going on ahead


idiot

Seriously, I know exactly where your coming from. Definately NOT dangerously close. I wouldn't do it.
If it was a toss up between that and saving a few pence it wouldn't happen.

Edited by spudgun GB on Sunday 19th September 20:04

y2blade are you going through the 'turn' or are you just an angry man/woman? Every post you make is angry, ctfo. OP I have tried this but im too scared about stone chips......

I do get where yblade is coming from, i do. We had a bloody berlingo driving so close up our arse on the A358 that we couldn't see his headlights. It ain't clever or big.

I think the thing is the other halfs car is quite old and maybe not as aerodynamic as more modern metal. We did have the roof down and the feeling of drag reduction was quite noticable even from a resonable distance, well, by the fact there was less buffeting and wind noise.

[y2blade]

spudgun GB said:

y2blade said:

legal you say?


tell that to your insurance company after you've rear-ended someone at speed due to being too close to react or see what is going on ahead


idiot

Seriously, I know exactly where your coming from. Definately NOT dangerously close. I wouldn't do it.
If it was a toss up between that and saving a few pence it wouldn't happen.

Edited by spudgun GB on Sunday 19th September 20:04

fair enough

[pilchardthecat]

Richard-G said:

y2blade are you going through the 'turn' or are you just an angry man/woman? Every post you make is angry, ctfo.

Give him a break, he's just started spending half his life inside a Volvo diesel, he's entitled to a bit of inner turmoil and the occasional display of angst.



/runs away

[busta]

When I had a 50hp diesel car I used to notice a difference following other vehicles. There is a stretch of road near me where I used to struggle to keep to 70 up a couple of hills but it was never a problem if I could sit a second or so behind a van/mpv.

It did involve driving slightly closer than I'd normally do but that's science for you.

[busta]

TheStoat said:

Try looking for the Mythbusters episode. The results weren't encouraging

They results where really good. Certainly proves that it makes a difference.

[Fatman2]

TheStoat said:

Try looking for the Mythbusters episode. The results weren't encouraging

I've just watched the video and the results are pretty good. I think the perception of 'drafting' is perhaps incorrect as you don't have to be literally hanging off the bumper. Although still too close for me the results showed that tucking in a bit gave significant savings.

[y2blade]

pilchardthecat said:

Richard-G said:

y2blade are you going through the 'turn' or are you just an angry man/woman? Every post you make is angry, ctfo.

Give him a break, he's just started spending half his life inside a Volvo diesel, he's entitled to a bit of inner turmoil and the occasional display of angst.



/runs away