What is the Optimal Alignment for MPG?
I have done my own alignmments for years, 2 boards, a tape measure, and take it for a drive. If it pulls to the left, slows really fast, or if the steering wheel is not centered, I'll work on the car till I get it right. Having worked at 2 dealers, when a car goes on the alignment rack, it's not going down the road, it does not have the driver in it, and it may have a full or empty tank of gas, all these things can change what the alignment is doing on the road.
I have a friend who competes in SCCA and he aligns all his cars every month. He said that even from the factory new cars go quickly out of alignment. The alignment when new is just to roll the car out the door, once springs settle, rubber bushings wear in, that new car can be totally out of alignment.
So this got me to thinking, what is the optimal alignment for MPG? Setting up a car to handle normally pushes the wheel camber out to the sides to get more tire leaning in during the turn. So would this mean on straight roads trying to get the highest mpg, should your tires be straight up and down or cambered out so less of the tire is in contact with the road?
Front wheel drive cars like a little toe out, because they are the drive wheels and want to pull themselves in. Where rear wheel drive cars like a little toe in, because the wheels are being pushed back when rolling down the road.
Now with most cars being able to align the front and the back, where is the alignment sweet spot of lowest rolling resistance?
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