As American motorists grapple with elevated fuel prices, many drivers are trying to maximize their mileage using techniques called hypermiling. So-called hypermilers take extreme care to improve their fuel economy by modifying their driving style, with results that can significantly exceed the EPA ratings for their vehicle. Even with simple adjustments to how you drive, the average motorist can make a measurable gain in fuel economy.
Hypermiling techniques center around lawful, strategic driving. Fuel savings should never take priority over safety, and we urge you to be courteous to fellow motorists when trying to reduce your vehicle’s fuel consumption. That said, the benefits of hypermiling are significant. If you give this gentle driving style an earnest chance, you will see a difference in your weekly gas bill. Considering the big picture, these techniques could make a notable reduction in our need for imported oil if they were widely adopted by today’s motorists. So do pass these tips along.
To help you get the most from each precious gallon, we present the following gas-saving advice, tips, and hypermiling tricks:
Keep a logbook, noting miles driven, fuel consumed, and type of driving (city, highway, mixed, mountains). From this, you will be able to chart improvements and also have a tool for tracking maintenance.
To quantify improvements, track your typical consumption for several weeks. Also research what the EPA rating is for your vehicle. The EPA has adjusted fuel economy ratings for vehicles from 1985-2007 to the new 2008 standard, adding greater accuracy and a fair means for comparison.
Obey the speed limit. By observing the speed limit, you can save significantly. Tests have shown the benefits can be more than a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy. When possible, do stay to the right lane when doing this, as unfortunately many motorists will not have the self-discipline or patience to adhere to the speed limit.
Use cruise control. Setting the cruise control for the speed limit ensures smooth powertrain operation. Even good drivers will vary speeds, leading to greater consumption.
Tires. Monitor the tire pressure with monthly checks to ensure proper inflation. Due to temperature changes and passive loss, the tires will need to be adjusted during the year. Significantly low tires will impact fuel economy, as well as tire wear and performance. Consider this tip more maintenance than fuel economy focused. When it comes time to replace your tires, research same-sized tires with low rolling resistance. The latest rubber compounds allow tires to improve on basic traction, as well as reduce rolling resistance. (The lower the rolling resistance, the less fuel is needed to move the vehicle.)
Idling. If you are to be stopped longer than a minute, such as dropping the kids off at school, shut the engine off. And for those in the snow belt, resist the temptation to let the car warm up for minutes, unless necessary to aid ice and snow removal.
Chaining. Combine several errands into a single trip, rather than leave home for each one. This minimizes time on the road and therefore fuel consumption, and it also means your engine will be warm and running at peak efficiency.
Air conditioning. Studies on the impact of using air conditioning versus opening windows show negligible difference between the two. Go with what makes you comfortable.
Weight. Minimize the weight in the car by removing unnecessary items. This is particularly important, again, for northerners who may keep snow removal and survival equipment in the trunk, such as a heavy bag of sand.
Aerodynamics. A slippery exterior will help the vehicle slice through the wind. Avoid, or remove, roof rack cross bars, side steps, and brush guards. When buying a new vehicle, think twice about a roof rack – will you really use it?
Gasoline. Use 87 octane unless your owner’s manual specifically REQUIRES Premium. If it is just RECOMMENDED then it isn’t necessary or even worthwhile to pay the extra cost.
Maintenance. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule to ensure your vehicle is running properly and reliably, including changing the air filter. Don’t obsess over the air filter; regular replacement schedules should suffice unless you off-road frequently.
Hypermiling Secrets
Drive smooth. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and panicky stops. Accelerate smoothly, as if there is an egg under the gas pedal. Look ahead and predict traffic signals and traffic flow to help reduce the need to brake. Coast to a stop, rather than accelerate till the moment you hit the brakes. Around-town driving is hardest on a non-hybrid car and, likewise, extra care here can pay off.
Perpetual motion. Using brakes squanders the investment made in achieving speed. Within reason, go easy on the use of brakes, and likewise you’ll reduce the need to accelerate.
Engine load. To go to the extreme, focus on minimizing the engine load rather than just maintaining speed. Again, this is a technique that requires judgment regarding safety and courtesy, but where possible, going slow when ascending hills, rather than going hammer down to maintain speed, will help.
Oil. Use the lowest viscosity recommended for your driving conditions to minimize internal engine friction.
Pull-throughs. Rather than hunt for the perfect parking spot within inches of a store front, especially if you must wait for one to open up, just coast into a spot at the end of the row. Pull forward so you can simply drive away, rather than needing to back out.
Air conditioning. Never use A/C on maximum. If possible, leave the windows up and A/C off.
Trip computer. To closely monitor your performance, consider installing a ScanGauge II or similar trip computer. The ScanGaugeII plugs into your OBD-II port and provides data on fuel consumption, distance to empty, fuel to empty, maximum rpm, average speed, and many other parameters. As a bonus, it is a diagnostic code reader and can reset trouble codes, turning off the “Check Engine” light.
For more information, read: “How to get the most miles out of each tank of gas.” Also, visit cleanmpg.com, a quality community focused on fuel-efficient driving.