A detailed car gets better MPG

[RacerX88]

"Tip #3. Wash/wax your car before a long trip. Even the $5 wash/wax special at your local neighborhood auto-wash can do wonders for several hundred miles of highway cruising. For a '96 Dodge Ram Van on a 1,600 mile trip, we noticed an increase from 15 to 16 mpg (7%) by doing this. Using Rain-X windshield washer solvent may help as well. I like it for its water beading performance."

Found on: http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02apr22d.cfm

= better MPG =

YMMV

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

It is something that I always believed in. Not being a engineer, my theory was this: less dirt = less drag = better mileage. It has always sounded good to me.

I also agree with his theory about gas brands. I have noticed this Thru the years.

Interesting article.

[roushstage2]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

Which is amazing since the local $5 wash/wax special probably makes it worse, lol!

[RacerX88]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

Thanks J.A.

I thought it might make a good marketing point for those that detail for dollars. It was actually on my page-a-day calendar for yesterday quoted as a study with no attribution. So, I went Googling for the source.

While I can agree with the author and you about less dirt = less drag... my time in the gas business (with one of the gas pump manufacturers) taught me that there is very little difference across the gas brands with the exception being what each brand adds during refining. If I am recalling correctly it was a "packet" of additives. I believe gas without these additives is as the author states a generic.

[RacerX88]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

LOL, Tyler!

[Murr1525]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

The gas mileage probably just increased because of long open highways.....

Nonetheless, I recall Mike showing off an old bottle of wax that advertised increased speed.... might have been called racing wax or something.

[Mr Mustang]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

haha, that's great information! I think it was already a running phrase around here, but I'll spread it from now on.

[saturn2]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

In the book 365 ways to save Gas by Ronald Weiers PH.D.
Quote pg 209.
Tip 200 Wash and Wax
"By washing and waxing your car occasionally, you can help make it's surface a little more slippery and less air resistant. In this case, beauty is more than skin deep- it reaches the fuel tank as well."

[roushstage2]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

IDK if that whole gas thing holds any truth, but once I put in Shell instead of Chevron, and got 75 miles on a full tank of gas. Never used anything but Chevron since.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

IDK if that whole gas thing holds any truth, but once I put in Shell instead of Chevron, and got 75 miles on a full tank of gas. Never used anything but Chevron since.

I agree. I had a 05 Caddy cts. I was raised on what is now BPAmoco. When I used that in the cts I would get around 17mpg. When I used Citgo (I know), I would get around 24. As much as I did not want to use the Citgo I did. No other brand would get me that type of mpg. Now on my Mazda, I have tried all the brands available down here. The one that gets the best mpg is BPAmoco. So go figure. I do not know any scientific reason behind this. All I know is what the vehicle delivers for mpg.

[VonLego]

Re: A detailed car gets better MPG

Saw a movie this week-- Wall-E -- during the opening credits this came up as a suggestion. That being said... I made fun of it so hard the whole room could hear me.