Saturday, November 15, 2008

What do you think about hypermiling? How do you save fuel while driving?

What are your favourite driving techniques to decrease fuel consumption and increase your mileage?
Do you use different tires (summer instead of all-season), selecting Neutral often, trailing larger cars, turning off air-con, etc... Any ideas, suggestions, experiences welcomed.

Hypermiling has been around for a verry loooong Time! It's funny, how it has just now become a talked about subject.
Reasons due to the fuel prices going up!! But everyone should be learning how to be a Hypermiler. I tell you what just change your airfilter,and you will be surprised at the amount of fuel you can save! :-)

Hypermiling is good if the techniques used are absolutely safe (some are not, like tailgating - called "drafting"). My tips are:
1. accelerate very slowly
2. let off the gas far before you have to stop (coast to the stop, I don't use neutral, I think it can be unsafe)
3. turn off the ignition at long stoplights and for trains. I have read that anything longer than 10 seconds of idle time, it will pay to shut the car off, if the vehicle is fuel injected.
4. remove any excess weight from the vehicle
5. do not use AC if you can stand it, but do NOT open windows it creates drag
6. check tire inflation monthly. The hypermilers claim you can inflate up to the MAX rating listed on the sidewall without damage, but I only go a few psi above the vehicle mfgr's spec.
7. drive 5 mph below the speed limit.
8. car pooling saves 50 - 75%
The Mythbusters proved that you can save 20% on gas by following a semi truck at 50 feet. That is only about 1.2 seconds or so, which is very dangerous. There is some small savings at safe distances.

No comments: