# Best Speed for Gas Milage **URL:** \ **Category:** Power/Fuel\ **Tags:** gasoline\ **Created:** [August 14, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086 "2007-08-14T11:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![parrott-Boylem](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/parrott-boylem/32/284_2.png) [@parrott-Boylem](https://community.cartalk.com/u/parrott-Boylem)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/1 "2007-08-14T11:58:57Z")
I think Tom and ray said the 65 MLH was the most efficient spead for a car to travel? Would this be for all makes & models? I have an Impala without a tachometer to watch the RPM’s. On the highway, is auto cruise efficiency that much different than driving w/o cruise? ---
**Author:** ![lprocter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lprocter/32/40_2.png) [@lprocter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lprocter)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/2 "2007-08-14T12:37:59Z")
A lengthy discussion on the relationship between mileage speed has already been undertaken here: [http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/140809.page](http://community.cartalk.com/posts/list/140809.page) ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/3 "2007-08-14T17:18:03Z")
The answer to that one is no where close to that simple. Follow the link above. ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/4 "2007-08-15T01:40:53Z")
55 to 60 mph in overdrive is where you should be for that scenario. However, the way people drive today, you’ll likely get run over during a fit of road rage. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 4:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/5 "2007-08-15T04:34:30Z")
Depends what you drive and how you drive it and you will have to experiment. If you have a big van with a 4.6 engine, it might not make much difference if you stay near the speed limit. ---
**Author:** ![ColdCar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ColdCar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ColdCar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 8:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/6 "2007-08-15T08:49:07Z")
too bad your car doesn’t have a tachometer. i have found that while speed is a significant factor in mileage, and that generally it’s always best to be in as high a gear as possible, keeping the RPMs moderate to low is the single BIGGEST factor. i actually get BETTER mileage in low speed (35 - ~52 mph) suburban/urban driving than i do on trips. largely because in the former, i can always keep my rpms at 2300 and below. even as low as 1500 rpm. unless i stay at 55 mph, my rpms on trips are always HIGHER, for LONGER periods. hence, the engine is ALWAYS turning faster, burning more gas. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 10:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/7 "2007-08-15T10:59:17Z")
Though not directly related to the question: Back during the gas shortage of the mid-70s, there was a big competition to see who could get the most mileage out of a gallon of gas. Big oil and car companies participated. The vehicles they built were very small “go-cart” type vehicles. - The winner got around 1600 miles per gallon. - The average speed they all traveled at was about 12-14 miles/hour. - The competitors that built farings for the front of their vehicles got about 200 more miles per gallon than those who didn’t. Joe ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-speed-for-gas-milage/3086/8 "2007-08-15T23:42:16Z")
You need to be in the highest gear and operate the engine at high enough RPMs that the engine does not lug. For an Impala with a 4-spd automatic, 55 MPH should be fine. I would, and do, drive 65 or 70 MPH if that is the speed limit. I even drive 55 if that is the legal limit. I get about 28 MPG in rush hour traffic in a similar car.