How Much Do Roof Racks Affect Gas Mileage

If you re traveling with your bikes attached to your roof you ll have to stop more often for.

How much do roof racks affect gas mileage.

As you get ready to hit the road this summer with the kids loaded inside and the bikes strapped to the roof of your car you may want to stop and consider that the roof rack on your car may be costing you as much as 25 percent more in gas. A two bike rack with wind deflector will increase your gasoline costs by 36. Using a 2013 honda accord and data provided by consumer reports an empty roof rack will increase the amount you spend on gas by 12 compared to no rack at all assuming highway speeds. 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.

He found that compared to the baseline of no roof rack the empty rack reduced his mpg by 12 7 and the roof rack with a bicycle reduced it by a whooping 27 3. I am somewhat suspicious of this first figure but it s possible. Mileage went from 41 mpg at 65 mph to 40 mpg. The same of course applies to roof racks and other cargo accessories.

A roof rack with bikes attached greatly decreases gas mileage. Gas mileage may drop by as much as 30 percent. A five percent change in fuel economy is worth 75 each year or. Beyond that the two items tested with the least impact on gas mileage were the paddle board and thule luggage carrier both of which caused about a 19 percent decrease in fuel economy or 5 5.

How much does a bike roof rack affect gas mileage. 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. Let s say that you drive 15 000 miles per year gas is 2 50 gal and your gets 25 mpg. A bike roof rack with bikes may make the largest impact on gas mileage.