Saving gas by not changing lanes?

[LoudAccord]

I figure that when you turn, you have to use your power steering pump which means more draw on the pully. I gave this a try and got 2mpg better by not changing lanes. Any input?

[justa4door]

Originally Posted by LoudAccord

I figure that when you turn, you have to use your power steering pump which means more draw on the pully. I gave this a try and got 2mpg better by not changing lanes. Any input?

i think next time dont even turn :gotme: or cut the PS belt and put water in your oil it will cool faster thus makeing the car run better

[dkjones96]

Hmm. I wouldn't think that changing lanes would cause that much of a load from the power steering pump. Most cars and even large trucks can change lanes without much effort without power steering.

Too bad you have an 06(serpentine belt). Anyone with an older car tried removing the belt for the PS pump completely? It sucks but might be a good place to look for gains.

What about having a hydraulic(or pneumatic) pressure storage tank and having the pump charge the tank on decel? Then you could have power steering without the constant load? That won't work. Power steering systems run an open loop that flows constantly and freely when no turning is done and loads the pump by restricting the exit to one side of the rack to create pressure and the assist.

Sorry, thinking out loud.

[justa4door]

Originally Posted by dkjones96

snip

What about having a hydraulic(or pneumatic) pressure storage tank and having the pump charge the tank on decel? Then you could have power steering without the constant load? That won't work. Power steering systems run an open loop that flows constantly and freely when no turning is done and loads the pump by restricting the exit to one side of the rack to create pressure and the assist.

Sorry, thinking out loud.

why spend more money then you will ever save on building that

[dkjones96]

Originally Posted by justa4door

why spend more money then you will ever save on building that

Yeah, after posting that I thought of how cheap and easy it would be to just have a micro-switch on the throttle to activate or deactivate an electromagnetic clutch for the thing.

[gridefosho]

It's to my understanding that if you are to blow a load in the pump it lubricates better resulting in less power needed.

[justa4door]

Originally Posted by gridefosho

It's to my understanding that if you are to blow a load in the pump it lubricates better resulting in less power needed.

would need at least 3 or 4 friends to help with this .. but may work I will try

[bobc455]

Actually turning a car takes almost no energy whatsoever.

If you ever get a car on a single-post center lift (like the next time you get a set of new tires), you will notice that you can rotate a car with your pinky finger.

At highway speeds you could remove the belt from your P/S pump, and you wouldn't feel any different. (Please, nobody try to remove their belt while driving at highway speeds!) The only time you need P/S is in parking lots.

Even if you take a hard corner, there is really no energy required to do that- the only energy required is to change the rotational inertia of the vehicle. Once you have started to take a corner, no further energy input is required. (To visualize this, think about a zig-zagging car instead of a car doing a single circle. The zig-zagging car will lose its momentum faster, since you are rapidly accelerating the rotation in opposite directions.)

Holding a car in a circle does load up the suspension, but those are static loads and do not require energy "input" once the car has started to rotate.

-Bob C.

[justa4door]

Originally Posted by bobc455

Actually turning a car takes almost no energy whatsoever.

If you ever get a car on a single-post center lift (like the next time you get a set of new tires), you will notice that you can rotate a car with your pinky finger.

At highway speeds you could remove the belt from your P/S pump, and you wouldn't feel any different. (Please, nobody try to remove their belt while driving at highway speeds!) The only time you need P/S is in parking lots.

Even if you take a hard corner, there is really no energy required to do that- the only energy required is to change the rotational inertia of the vehicle. Once you have started to take a corner, no further energy input is required. (To visualize this, think about a zig-zagging car instead of a car doing a single circle. The zig-zagging car will lose its momentum faster, since you are rapidly accelerating the rotation in opposite directions.)

Holding a car in a circle does load up the suspension, but those are static loads and do not require energy "input" once the car has started to rotate.

-Bob C.

most hondas came w/o PS .this is one thing most people dont know and wonder why hondas get 10+ mpg more.. and really its not that bad in a parking lot.. you get used to it really fast..IE like haveing to roll a lil before you start to turn

[VetteOwner]

Originally Posted by bobc455

Actually turning a car takes almost no energy whatsoever.

If you ever get a car on a single-post center lift (like the next time you get a set of new tires), you will notice that you can rotate a car with your pinky finger.

At highway speeds you could remove the belt from your P/S pump, and you wouldn't feel any different. (Please, nobody try to remove their belt while driving at highway speeds!) The only time you need P/S is in parking lots.

Even if you take a hard corner, there is really no energy required to do that- the only energy required is to change the rotational inertia of the vehicle. Once you have started to take a corner, no further energy input is required. (To visualize this, think about a zig-zagging car instead of a car doing a single circle. The zig-zagging car will lose its momentum faster, since you are rapidly accelerating the rotation in opposite directions.)

Holding a car in a circle does load up the suspension, but those are static loads and do not require energy "input" once the car has started to rotate.

-Bob C.

yup, to prove this, start your car and leave it in park, turn the wheel and listen to the power steering pump while while you turn, then leave the wheels turned, it doesnt strain anymore! cuz its not needing any hydrolic input from the pump so it will use virtually no energy. (kind like with a riding mower/gokart/atv. once the wheels are turned it doesnt take any effort to keep them turned. even while changeling lanes, next time SAFELY glance at the wheel and actually look how far you turn he wheel, your only rotating it maybe 1-2 degrees from normal and usually you turn the wheel, wait for the car to change then turn back.

if your gaining 2mpg by not changeling lanes u need to get the grease out of your power steering (PSF is like water, some use brake fluid, also like water)

if you ever have your serpentine belt off (any of you) give the pump a spin by hand, youd be surprised how little resistance it has.

yes u only need power steering in parking lots and even then not really.