If i'm cruising in a higher gear such as 5th, but at a low RPM, if i want to speed up at a moderate pace am i gonna get better milage out of flooring it in 5th, or dropping it down a gear or two and not stepping on the throttle so hard? I figure that by going WOT in 5th, that means the intake is drawing in a lot of air, which means a lot of fuel, even if the cylinders are firing less (low rpms). But in a lower gear and not with WOT, its not taking in as much air/fuel due to only partial throttle, but it is also at a higher rpm.

So basically, will i get better gas milage while accelerating by going WOT but lower rpms, or partial throttle and high rpms, or is there some sort of balance i should find?

 

1-3-5 shift at 2000-2500 rpms.

 

a physics major could actually answer this
question with confidance.....i'm just a blue
collar slob, so i'm not even gonna try and guess...

 

I would think gradually increasing the speed in 5th would be the most fuel efficient for the reason that you are not WOT and are still at a lower rpm.

 

A good question. But really, the whole process of accelerating in the way you describe will be completed in around 5-10 seconds, and either method of acceleration won't make a thimble full of fuel difference

 

One high speed run through the gears will drop fuel mileage by one MPG per tankfull.
I can get 32 mpg by shifting at 1500 rpm and driving 55 mph.