which uses less gas while going up a hill? lower gear @ high rpms and 20% throttle application, or higher gear at lower rpms and 80% throttle application?
I would think more throttle = more gas being spent.. so I vote for the second one.. higher RPM's up a hill would also seem to mean less load on the engine (engine not having to work as hard to make power.)
I would think more throttle = more gas being spent.. so I vote for the second one.. higher RPM's up a hill would also seem to mean less load on the engine (engine not having to work as hard to make power.)
Well...if you have to be on the gas that much in that gear to go up a hill you are probably not in the right gear anyways. But I think always more then not, the higher gear is better on gas no matter what.
you are missing the point. mementum retention is the biggest killer of fuel economy. if you hit a hill and maintain exactly the same speed, and you are not going up a 20% grade your motor will use little power to keep speed. i have a rat wagon the holds 70 up the largest hills in this area without downshifting. i tried an experiment with my first 5.0. i used only 4th. i figured the mechanical advantage would help with economy. it ruined it. if you are accelerating hard downshifting helps. if you are cruising, lower numeric gears ALWAYS has better economy. if my 1.8l gutless wonder can pull hills, a 4.6l V8 can also with no appreciable strain.