Roof Rack Cross Bars Gas Mileage

Drag coefficient increases by speed squared.

Roof rack cross bars gas mileage.

They found that in 2015 roof racks nationwide were responsible for 0 8 percent of light duty vehicle fuel consumption or 100 million gallons of gasoline. Mileage went from 41 mpg at 65 mph to 40 mpg. The control test the tourx without roof rails. They found that in 2015 roof racks nationwide were responsible for 0 8 percent of light duty vehicle fuel consumption or 100 million gallons of gasoline.

39 mpg thus the cargo box on the roof increased fuel consumption by about 5 compared to the baseline. Their study was published recently in the. Let s say that you drive 15 000 miles per year gas is 2 50 gal and your gets 25 mpg. 40 mpg roof mounted thule xtender 739 ski carrier with skis.

5 6 l 100 km approx. 6 0 l 100 km approx. The empty roof rack had a nearly 2 percent impact on fuel economy which translates to a little more than three quarters of a gallon of gas. 42 mpg roof rack with thule dynamic 800 aerodynamic cargo box.

This editor many years ago in a move across the country to oregon from michigan found that the highway mileage of a four cylinder accord dropped from more than 40 mpg down to 32 mpg with a. 5 9 l 100 km approx. The roof rack mpg experiment he compared the gas mileage of his car at 54 7 mph 88 kph with 1 no roof racks 2 an empty roof rack and 3 a mountain bike on the roof rack. Off the showroom floor the regal tourx gets 21 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg highway for a combined fuel economy of 24 mpg.

So it varies depending on the vehicle on the rack and on the driving highway or city but it s at least five percent and probably a lot more.