Question of the Week: Have you tried hypermiling and what’s been your experience?
Posted on August 4th, 2008 - 10:30 AMEach week we ask a question related to the environment. Please let us know your thoughts as comments. Feel free to respond to earlier comments or post new ideas. Previous questions.
Several commenters on a previous question mentioned “hypermiling,” which refers to techniques some drivers use to try to increase their gas mileage. Techniques range from simple to complex, from things EPA recommends to the controversial.
Have you tried hypermiling and what’s been your experience?
En español: Cada semana hacemos una pregunta relacionada al medio ambiente. Por favor comparta con nosotros sus pensamientos y comentarios. Siéntase en libertad de responder a comentarios anteriores o plantear nuevas ideas. Preguntas previas.
En respuesta a una pregunta anterior, algunos comentaristas mencionaron que practicaban el “hypermiling”, el cual se refiere a técnicas que varios conductores utilizan para tratar de aumentar el millaje de la gasolina. Las técnicas varían desde las simples a las complejas, así como las cosas que EPA recomienda hasta las controversiales.
¿Ha tratado de hacer el “hypermiling” y cuál ha sido su experiencia?
Tags: hypermiling, Question of the Week, Spanish
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Question of the Week
August 4th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I have tried hypermiling, and would love to use it more, but the too-hyper drivers in the Washington, D.C. area make it unsafe. I’ll be driving the speed limit, and they practically rear end me.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Absolutely! I’ve increased my mileage by 30%. I drive a Golf and used to get 30 - 32 mpg, but with limited adjustment to my driving habits I’ve been able to hit 40 mpg. It also has had the affect of calming me down during high traffic periods (even if it may irritate others). It will also undoubtedly contribute to a longer life for my car too.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Since hypermiling involves using fewer rpms as I understand, and there’s always someone behind me tailgating and in a hurry, I don’t think it’s really catching on, and I’ve found it hard to do, especially when others behind me and in cross traffic are racing. Also, the 55 mile per hour recommendation does not seem popular, though I compromise and drive 65, and try to drive as evenly as possible (avoid rapid acceleration and the like)
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Scott reply on August 5, 2008 12:32 pm:
Use cruise control and stick to the right lane. I do 55mph during rush hour every evening.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I have always tried to follow some of the techniques used by hypermilers, but feel that “extreme” hypermiling is impractical for an urban environment. Again, I have also owned fuel-stingy, 4 cylander, small cars. I can’t be more conservative than I have been for 35+ years of driving. This whole gas-price fiasco is both frustrating (since I’ve been doing “all the right things” since I first got behind the wheel) and amusing (to see everybody joining the bandwagon that’s been pretty lonely until recently).
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I do all the ‘EPA recommended’ things and in addition I practice smart driving—rolling to stop signs/lights and coasting downhill whenever possible. It is easier for me because I already drive a vehicle that gets 40mpg (not hybrid) and it is standard transmission so I can easily coast just by depressing the clutch. This also works because I live/work in a low congestion area so not a lot of traffic on the roads.
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Caleb reply on August 7, 2008 1:19 am:
Rita, you may want to look into it, but in some cases you are probably using more fuel coasting with your clutch in that you would be if you left the car in gear and coasted downhill. Many modern vehicles actually stop fuel from being delivered to the combustion chamber while you are in gear above a certain RPM and are not depressing the throttle. I live in a hilly area and found that when I changed to this tactic of engine braking instead of just coasting in neutral (like you I assumed this to be the least amount of fuel consumption), I actually gained an additional 1.5mpg.
The engine, which would normally need to deliver and ignite fuel to continue its revolution, is in essence working in reverse (your wheels are turning the motor, instead of the usual motor turning the wheels). Thanks to this input from your wheels to the transmission, you keep the engine turning without stalling (as it normally would without fuel). Again, from what I have found this only works about a certain RPM. I know in my vehicle it is 1200rpm but it could be slightly more or less depending on what you drive. In any case it’s one more way to save a little gas! Good luck!
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 11:35 am:
Caleb, in terms of fuel use on that single descent, yes, being in gear (probably 5th maybe 4th depending on how fast you’re going) would use less fuel–zero actually. However, it is actually overall MORE efficient to be in neutral (I would prefer to clutch in, shift to neutral, clutch out rather than just clutch in and roll, but that’s me) because you will be able to coast much further before having to start giving it gas again (for example, once the hill ends and levels off, you can just stay in neutral for a substantial amount of time, whereas being in gear will continue to slow you down, and you have a slower start velocity because of energy loss to the engine–fuel usage in neutral rolling at speed is in the hundreds of miles per gallon). An exception is a very very long hill where being in neutral would lead to EXCESS speed, where being in gear would be the best choice.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
What is hypermilling??
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Joan reply on August 5, 2008 11:46 am:
Robyn, did reading some of comments clear up your question of what is hypermiling?
Maybe next time the definitions in the question could be made a little more clear for those of us who (incredible as it may seem) were not familiar with this term.
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Scott reply on August 5, 2008 12:37 pm:
Hypermiling is getting more miles per gallon by driving more fuel efficient cars and using techniques such as using cruise control, following the posted speed limit, rotating your tires regularly, keeping up your car’s maintenance, removing all unneeded cargo from your car, turning off the A/C, coasting to stops, etc.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:36 am
YES! It does make a difference. But I only drive when it is raining or when getting groceries (otherwise I’m on a scooter - 75 + mpg, baby!!) But when I drive our stick-shift car I do coast in neutral downhill when it is safe. I stick to the posted speed limit so that I don’t cause a hazard on the road.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:37 am
As much as legally possible, I drive by the tachometer and not the speedometer.
Under the right conditions, I have been able to get my 2000 Jeep Cherokee up towards 28-30 mpg. (during a 70 mile trip, running around 55 mph and choosing a route with limited stops, along with good vehicle maintenance).
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Yes, I’ve done some of the hypermiling, but then again I have pretty much been doing this before high gas prices.
-Avoiding jackrabitting (sudden start and stop driving)
-Use of cruise control whenever possible
-Avoiding brake usage whenever safely possible by anticipating slowing down and coasting
-Not exceeding the speed limit
But there are some hypermiling tips which are considered to be dangerous.
-Drafting behind trucks
-Driving far below the speed limit at times
-Taking sharp curves at high speeds without the use of brakes
-Coasting with the engine off
-Passing red lights or stop signs in areas of low traffic
It seems the more dangerous tips will put more wear and tear on your car, not to mention get you some traffic tickets and higher insurance rates!
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Zeke reply on August 11, 2008 1:50 pm:
Me too, in a 2000 Silverado with a big 8 (need it for farm work and to pull a livestock trailer). Just doing the things you do, I got an average of 20mpg on my last tankful (about 3/4 road mileage not towing anything, but with a load in the bed). Not the 30+ that I get in my Solara, but not bad for a big truck, if you have to drive one.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:39 am
If you drive the speed limit or slightly under you will increase your mileage. And make our roads safer for everyone.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I don’t know what hypermiling is. Would someoene fill me in?
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:46 am
YES! I drive 70MPH in the fastlane… yes that is 5 MPH over the limit and yes everyone does hate me for it but it has increased the longevity of my car and I always have a nice smooth non-braking ride into the city! THANK YOU.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I “hypermile” when it is safe. It is not smart to ease in to 60 mph rush hour traffic. You could save a few pennies in gas, but it will cause hundreds in damage from the traffic accidents caused.
Also, I have found that the smaller the engine, the more of a difference driving style makes. In my truck, it doesn’t really matter how I drive, I’m going to get terrible mileage. Sure I can put a lot of effort into it and I may get an extra mpg, but not much.
In my corolla (1.8L) It is a difference from about 29 mpg to 36 mpg. You bet, I do it when I can.
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Sean reply on August 4, 2008 1:54 pm:
The difference is still significant with larger engines. Take for example your increase in the 1.8L car and Mike Sclimenti’s increase in the Ford F-150 Supercrew. Assuming 15,000 miles per year, the difference between 36 and 29 mpg is 100.6 gallons while the difference between 18.5 and 16 is 126.7 gallons. With $4/gallon fuel that’s about $400 and $500, respectively. Scale that down to 10,000 miles per year and the numbers are smaller, but the difference between hypermiling and not is still larger for the truck (in these examples). Clearly you can save more with a more fuel efficient vehicle in general, but my point is that if you can’t afford to buy a ‘new’ vehicle then hypermiling can save you a significant amount of fuel/money regardless of engine size.
P.S. I do a little bit of hypermiling in my 2008 Focus (which I love) and am beating the highway fuel economy label value even though my driving isn’t all highway (obviously). But I know others that do it more and are approaching 40 mpg (again, city & highway combined).
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:20 pm:
Say you “hypermile” in a truck that normally would get you 10mph and you manage 13mpg. 3mpg, psh, not much–especially if you get your sedan up from 25mpg to 34mpg. Three times as much improvement, right?
Not exactly. Say you drive 50 miles. With the truck, you would have used 5 gallons but use 3.8–30% less. With the sedan, you would have used 2 gallons but use 1.5–30% less. Even though the truck hypermiling “only” got you 3mpg, a third of what your sedan improved, you got about the same percent improvement in actual fuel usage.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I’ve installed a hook assembly on my car that is hydraulic.
I get up close to a semi, lower the hook latching onto the truck,
put the car in neutral and sit back. Since EPA only goes after the
little polluters with no money, we’re all free to ignore the law and
good sense.
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Scott reply on August 5, 2008 12:41 pm:
How much does the hydraulic hook cost and can it be fitted to a Corolla?
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david reply on August 13, 2008 3:45 pm:
this is sarcasm above.
you dont have to be nascar close to get the benefits of drafting a semi, even at a safe following distance of 4-5 car lengths you can still improve ecomony by close to 10%.
for the most part hypermiling is about following the rules of the road, stay in the right lane, do the speed limit, coast to red lights instead of stomping the gas until you have to stomp the brake.
regular vehicle maintenance, changing oil, spark plugs, ail filter, rotating tires, making sure tires are properly inflated, you can take the tires up to sidewall max to reduce rolling resistance a bit (will also improve handling responsiveness at the cost of making the ride a bit bumpier).
taking all unneccessary weight out of the vehicle will help with in city driving. the biggest thing that helped my mileage so far was keeping an even throttle with low rpms.
some sort of MPG gauge helps determine what things are helping your mileage and what arent. there are a few on the market such as scangauge and kiwi, also the diy mpguino which can be found along with many other driving tips and aerodynamic modification ideas at ecomodder.com
since i first discovered that site a few months back, my 91 civic automatic has gone from 31 mpg to 40 mpg.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:21 pm:
$75 and three human sacrifices.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:49 am
My experience with hypermiling has been somewhat successful. I can’t claim the huge mileage gains that some have reported, but I can claim some savings. I drive a Ford f-150 Supercrew which is paid off. We can’t afford to go out and buy anything “new” right now so we are just coping with the higher fuel costs. It’s also helpful to have a truck like this with a family as we can do alot with it. Anyway, I’ve been able to increase my fuel mileage a modest 2 mpg by simply adjusting my highway speed to 55 mph and setting the cruise control when possible. The truck normally would average approximately 16 mpg but now I am getting 18.5 mpg by using one of these hypermiling techniques. Of course I now try to pay attention to the flow of traffic a little more and minimize my accelerations and decelerations so the I can conserve fuel. My feelings for this is that I wish more folks would take heed and just slow down a little. Going 65-70 only gets you to your destination a couple of minutes sooner!
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August 4th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I have one of my own methods of hypermiling - coasting when going down hill. When driving through mountainous terrain I will generally coast when I have a significant stretch of steep grade down hill. (I drive a car with a manual transmission.)
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August 4th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Yes, I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid and have been regularly getting at least 15 mpg higher than was estimated on the sticker. I’ve also been able to increase my husband’s Nissan Frontier (truck) mpg. It seems the main areas that have worked for me are not going more than 70 mph and also keeping my distance from cars in front of me to prevent speeding up and slowing down a lot. Thanks for doing this site!
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August 4th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I just raised the pressure in my tires and got as tuneup. Now I am assured that we wont have to drill for more oil.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:24 pm:
Well everyone inflating their tires and getting a tuneup has about the same impact on gas prices as new offshore drilling would. I know, it’s ridiculous–just inflating the tires can’t have much of an impact, right? Exactly–neither would drilling.
That being said, I inflated my tires to in between the recommended 32psi for my car and the maximum sidewall 40psi…I’m going to go to 38psi next.
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August 4th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I’ve always “hypermiled”- never jack rabbited, coasted to stops, etc. I am taking it a few steps further, eg - I’ve started to pull forward in parking spaces so I don’t have to back up and then pull forward. I also use cruise control alot more, even on country roads where the speed is much lower. I’ve noticed not as many people speeding on the highway. I have a 2004 chevy 6 cylinder, and my city/country driving is 26.7 (the car has a computer on the dash). On the highway I can watch it climb to 30+ depending on the trip. I maintain the car well also.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:26 pm:
Sometimes those computers are wrong (doesn’t make sense to me). Like I drove a Honda Civic Hybrid cross-country last winter and the computer would say I got 40mpg when long division would say I got 48. Maybe the gas pumps are overcharging us? I mean more than they normally would :P.
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August 4th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I have been trying to keep my rpms under 2000. I am not sure this is saving me any gas but it is surely annoying my wife!
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August 4th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Unfortunately, I have not tried hypermiling. I would like to but I have always had a “heavy foot.” I probably need to start practicing this to minimize my gas expenses.
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August 4th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I’ve been using a mild form of hypermiling since I bought my current car, a 2006 Scion xA, in June of that year. I coast to stops, obey the speed limit, don’t accelerate aggressively, keep the car in shape, etc. I definitely DON’T do the controversial things, like drafting behind 18-wheelers, as I think those are way too risky.
I average 40MPG in my car, in driving that’s about 80 to 90% city. I think hypermiling is the largest single, and almost entirely unexploited, ways drivers can save money, use less gasoline, and emit less CO2. I’ve talked about this repeatedly over my web site, The Cost of Energy (http://www.grinzo.com/energy/), but it’s surprisingly hard to get people to try it, let alone stick with it.
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August 4th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I have a 2004 Prius and the dashbord display has allowed me to feather my gas pedal to improve my gas milage. Normally I am in a hurry and found I averaged 44-46 mpg. But when if focus on driving slower and eyeing the gage I can improve it to 52mpg.
My strongest suggestion is to just leave an hour earlier than ususal and drive slower (take a book). Less stressul as well.
I can contribute one speeding ticket to maximizing downhill rolling to keep speed up over the next hill (looking at wrong gage) “Da”.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:27 pm:
Take a book? Reading while driving eh? Pretty efficient.
I agree about leaving earlier.
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August 4th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I just took a trip last week with the kids to my sister’s in NC. I was able to get 43 mpg down and back from Dumfries VA. I couldn’t believe I did so well, I kept about 5 miles under the speed limit and put on the cruise control, I also made sure the tires were inflated properly (actually slightly over inflated). Except for once in Richmond I didn’t have to accelerate to pass. I parked the car once we were at my sister’s, so it was all highway driving.
It was fun to be careful!
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August 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Of course we hypermile… some of our traffic lights (Hawaii) are outrageously long to change, so off with the ignition and down with the gas usage. Not a huge savings, but a little. Not recommended for short traffic lights, and I wouldn’t try this with most of my previous vehicles, but we have Toyotas now so we know it will start right up. Also - seems like there’s always a schmuck who has to go 80 on a 55-posted highway (why are all the Titan truck drivers in this category??), but stay the course and we’ll all save a bit of fuel and money too.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:29 pm:
I had a 96 Camry that sometimes would have issues starting when it was very cold or very humid…but it would always work eventually, just had to give it gas.
I have a couple of notably long lights I’ll turn my engine off if I get caught with the yellow light and stop, but otherwise I stick it out.
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August 4th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
No, I never heard of this!
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August 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
We’ve had minimal success in our little Ford Escort. It doesn’t seem to matter whether we drive 50 or 65, it always hovers between 27 and 32 mpg.
However, our manual Ford F-150 has provided great return on hypermiling investment, increasing our gas mileage by 50%! We used to get 15 mpg, now we get 23-24 mpg!
Sometimes it scares me though, because people don’t just get annoyed–they get downright angry when you drive less than 80 mph. I do it whenever it’s safe, but I find the danger is less from traffic situations and more from road rage.
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August 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Driving at 55 mpg has definitely helped increase my gas milage. In summer with A/C I would hardly get 18 mpg. Now I get 25 mpg. It pays to slow down and not rush for everything.
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August 4th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I will run you over, IF you are in an Atlanta interstate lane nearest the inside concrete wall. Otherwise, you are quite safe.
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August 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Of course I am hypermiling. I am having trouble affording food and gas thanks to the economy.
I stick as close as is safe to the posted speed limit in the “slow” lane (extremely difficult in California, home of the road raging, cellphone talking while doing 30 over the speed limit driver), pay close attention to my hybrid’s autostop feature to make sure it engages every time I am breaking for a stop (such as at a light) and have not turned my air-conditioner on for a very long time.
I am trying to avoid quick starts from lights (or anywhere, for that matter) but I still have to do some pretty serious defensive driving on the freeway (daily) that requires me to gun it to avoid collision with the aforementioned unsafe drivers.
And yes, I have improved my gas mileage. And ironically it has had a calming effect - despite the speeders and such - because I am not a part of the rat race.
Big trucks are my friend (when I am behind them not avoiding being side swiped by them). They make nice wind breaks and you don’t have to unsafely tailgate them to get the effect, either. Been doing this one for years.
And finally the best way I get great gas mileage is to leave the car at home when I can and walk to and from my destination.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:31 pm:
I’m afraid to be anywhere near a semi because I don’t want my windshield cracked by some dumb rock they kick up. Happened when I drove my Camry through Arizona.
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August 4th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I tried this as an experiment way back in the late 60’s.
The car was big - a 1961 Ford Galaxie with a 352 and automatic. I had about a 30 mile communte and usually got about 14 mpg. For one week, I took a route that was longer in miles but had fewer stops. During the urban portion of the drive, I tried extra careful to time the lights. I probably annoyed who knows how many people behind me, but the Ford turned in 18 mpg.
Oh, and let me ask about cruise control, which is supposed to be so gas saving. Mine cuts back the throttle going into dips, then adds throttle trying to accelerate on the uphill side. Seems to me one is better off holding the throttle steady, let the car build up speed (with limits, of course) then letting the speed drain off on the uphill portion. Any opinions?
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Justin reply on August 5, 2008 2:59 am:
Yes, this technique of varying speed according to the road’s incline is known among hypermilers as “Driving With Load”* and is one of the basics which can help improve your highway fuel economy. Cruise control is useful on long, totally flat stretches. Modern cruise control takes exact speed and keeps it there despite the detrimental effect on fuel economy.
*Source: Cleanmpg.com
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:32 pm:
Driving with load is a good technique. You might be able to get away with coasting in neutral down the hill to regain your speed and not even have to give it more gas.
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August 4th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I have always been a rather sedate driver: not doing a lot of hard acceleration, using the cruise control a lot, keeping a constant speed. I was interested (and occasionally appalled) by the feats of the hypermilers, but I didn’t expect that there was a lot of waste to wring out of my driving style. Just goes to show how wrong you can be.
My car, a 3000 pound, 4 cylinder, 1999 Accord does not have a gauge for instantaneous gas mileage. On a lark I recently bought a small device that plugs into the car’s diagnostic data port (it’s above my left foot in the Accord) and can then display second by second my gas mileage, coolant temperature, etc. I learned almost immediately that I had had no clue about how my driving affected my mileage. Your speedometer can’t tell you, and your tach can’t either.
A few adjustments to my driving style have taken me from around 430-440 miles per fillup to 500–about 34mpg on my mix of 75% highway, 25% city driving.
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August 4th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I have been looking for ( and recently found and bought) and older honda civic and get well over 50mpg. The “old school” technology is better than HYBRIDS nowadays and yet, we cant build cars like any longer ? we have to have “hybrids” only ? I beg to differ and think the auto industry are making “suckers” out of us all. With a hypermiling attitude, I get just over 60mpg on the highway. That might be considered Bull***t to some, but its a fact ! I try to stay in the slow lane each day without trying to get run over by the large trucks that always seem to be a super hurry or are “late”, but dont mind spending so much money in gas each day. I laugh each time people jack rabbit start and “beat me to the next stop light”. It really sad that people cant try to relax and THINK about how much money and increased stress is spent driving fast. I think if more people just drive slower, they would have all kinds of benefits in life, like :
-spend less in gas
-have a vehicle that will run longer ( less breakdowns)
-enjoy the “drive” and be less stressed
-realize that they get to work at the same time ( slow or fast driving)
-realize that they NEVER have to worry again about being pulled over for “speeding”
I find that my quality of life and happiness is greater now that I drive slower and am more considerate of others when driving.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:34 pm:
Well there are three facets, four if you count a conspiracy with gas companies. Environmental standards (increased weight fewer diesels less efficiency). Safety standards (more weight more power). Consumer expectations (bigger without care for efficiency). Conspiracy.
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August 4th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I try to drive like we did back in the 70’s…..but…….they won’t let me drive 55..
I got a civic hybrid back in ‘04.It just seemed like the right thing to do. I liked the partial zero emmission (it was odd to me that people were buying suv’s and hummers) at 55 mph I get 60 mpg.
As a former professional driver, I believe all frwys in city limits should be 55 mph or less. Save the high speed for the interstate highways outside city limits.
Greg,what I now about cruise control it operates best on flat land It will not save fuel on hills.
yes a steady throttle is the way
By the By………….Law states slower traffic to the right.l
. But the Diamond Lane ( HOV ) is not the fast lane.
It is to reduce pollution. in heavy traffic it is not safe to drive fast in the carpool lane as the cars enter and exit most times from a dead stop.
I will drive 55.
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August 4th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Since gas hit about $3.90/gallon I’ve been hypermiling and my gas mileage has went incredibly higer. My guess is that I’ve gone from 15 MPG in my Explorer to about 25 MPG being that I was a lead foot previously. I drive with the windows up and air conditioner off for 60 miles total each day to and from work even if it’s 90 degrees, coast down hills, drive 30 miles or more on the Parkway without ever using breaks, fill up my tires with air, only go 60 miles per hour, time lights, drive through parking spots, go in work earlier to beat traffic, coast everywhere, and park right by the exit of my parking garage on a downhill slope so I don’t waste time driving through it and so I can coast to the gate at the exit. I saw mentioned somewhere that the Connecticut State Police Captain doesn’t like Hypermiling. Sounds like that guy is a pal of terrorists in the Middle East. For me, I plan on hypermiling for now on no matter how high or low gas prices get.
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August 5th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Absolutely. I have always tracked my MPG for as long as I’ve driven. Since I started hypermiling I’ve increased my MPG from a low of 29 to my most two recent tanks at 61.7 and 61.2 MPG. That’s in a 2000 Toyota Echo manual with a rating of 34 city, 41 highway (29/37 new rating).
I never tailgate, do the speed limit or less, make sure the car’s properly maintained (especially tire pressure!), and cut the engine at long lights to cut down on idling.
I’m a member at CleanMPG.com if that helps?
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August 5th, 2008 at 1:09 am
I’m getting 3 mpg more just by removing the bug guard on my car. Three mpg! It will save me hundreds of dollars over the next year. It seems like most people go the speed limit on the freeway here in SoCal now.
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August 5th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Yeah, I’ve been “hypermiling”, but to me its just driving smart.
Current ride is a ‘99 Audi A4 Avant with a 1.8 turbo engine, stick shift. In mixed driving I can manage 30mpg, which is better than the stated 29mpg for highway (with the old estimates, which were usually too high to start with). If I just go with ‘normal’ driving and not so crazy on slow accelerations and such, I’ll still get 27mpg. But then, if I actually have fun with the car and do the more than occasional full throttle acceleration, it’ll still get 25mpg. So its a mix of all three driving styles.
One thing I have found is that my normal driving has become far more calm and relaxed, which makes driving (when I do, I’m working on bike commuting, but for the fitness not because of gas prices) much nicer. I don’t get annoyed at the other drivers now, I just smile and carry on my way. Then when the time comes that I do have to (or want to) accelerate hard, I’m pleasantly surprised with how much power the car has. As opposed to ofter driving that way and then getting annoyed that the car doesn’t have enough power.
Oh, and as for coasting downhills (neutral, with the engine on for steering and brakes; engine off is just plain stupid), in many newer cars you’ll find better mileage if you leave it in gear and just go all the way off the gas. As it goes into engine braking for a couple moments the car’s computer will shut off the fuel injectors completely or almost all the way, turning the engine into just an air pump. Compare that to idling while coasting and it will use less fuel. Also used when slowing for a stoplight, leave it in your current gear as you slow down. If you are coming all the way to a stop, you only have to nudge it to neutral as your engine speed approaches idle.
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Greg reply on August 5, 2008 4:38 pm:
Ian,
Thank you for the comment about car’s injectors shutting off the gas when coasting in gear. When I got a new car, I was suprised by the deceleration that occurs when lifting off the gas. None of my older cars ever acted like this. But what you said is consistent with the way my new car behaves.
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August 5th, 2008 at 2:08 am
No, I do not hypermile. I do not draft. I do not run or roll through stop lights and stop signs. I do not shut off the engine at a stop light. I do not coast down long hills.
I drive a gasoline-engine stick-shift four-banger. This vehicle regularly turns in 38 to 42 mpg, even with approaching 200,000 miles on the clock.
Tires are aired up properly and pressure checked weekly. Filters are clean. Running full synth oil. Vehicle kept maintained. Junk in the trunk minimized to only safety basics (spare, compressor, flat fixer, jumper cables, etc.) and empty bags reused for groceries.
Shifting as appropriate to run the lowest RPM’s without lugging at that speed. Avoiding aggressive acceleration. Driving the speed limit in the slow lane, but I will, and do, burn the gas to speed up for safe merges, lane changes, and passing other vehicles in a timely fashion (only the ones running under the limit, or very unsteady ones who fluctuate speed and direction!!! due to inattentive driving–sleepy trucker, cell phone yakker, makeup applier, etc.). Anticipating light changes, letting off the gas, coasting, and downshifting to try to make the light as it turns green to avoid a stop. Keeping a sufficient following distance behind other vehicles to avoid extra braking in a stop-n-go string of traffic. Just the usual ordinary stuff.
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Chet reply on August 13, 2008 8:39 pm:
You DO hypermile! Even if you don’t like the label or being associated with the crazies in their Metros who coast with the engine off five yards behind semis and rip out the passenger seat to save a few pounds.
I think you should try out coasting in neutral with the engine on, down slight inclines and towards stale green lights. You might be surprised!
But even failing that, thank you for driving responsibly.
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August 5th, 2008 at 2:34 am
ABSOLUTELY!! It is the only safe and ethical way to drive in the post 9/11 world. Every drop of gasoline that we don’t waste by idling or accelerating too fast, or braking too hard is one drop of gasoline that we don’t have to pay the Saudis, Venezuelans, Canadians, and Iranians to give us. That as well as the environmental benefits make it a no-brainer. The financial, safety, and calmness that follow are just more icing on the cake.
I have integrated hypermiling into every aspect of my driving which has taken my already efficient Honda Insight from its EPA rating of 66 mpg to an astounding year-round average of 78.7 MPG! Plus I have tanks in the summer of almost 90 mpg, when I do my most driving. The habits that seem controversial and “too intense” to some become second nature once you have read up on them, practiced them, and internalized their inherent value. If you see wasting gas as unpatriotic, selfish, and destructive, then hypermiling should come easy to you as it is a path to driving more responsibly. If you simply don’t care about the repercussions of burning fossil fuels then its understandable why some lash out against hypermilers, calling them dangerous, stupid, or crazy. Hypermiling is beneficial no matter what your views because no matter what you think while you’re driving, as long as you’re driving efficiently, you’re saving money and gas. Every gallon you save is a gallon saved for all of us.
I employ every technique I deem safe, meaning I don’t draft trucks, I don’t roll stop signs, I don’t impede traffic unnecessarily. I do obey the speed limit. I do keep large buffers in front of me in traffic. I do anticipate what the traffic signals in front of me are about to do. All of these things add up to better awareness of the road which leads to greater safety and more opportunities to conserve momentum by avoiding unnecessary braking and accelerations.
I also treat my car like a machine which is meant to maximize mileage. I inflate the tires to the MAXIMUM SIDEWALL pressure, not the lower manufacturer’s pressure. This reduces rolling resistance while making for a slightly harsher ride. This also improves dry traction and reduces hydroplaning by making the contact patch hold the road better. I’m not interested in making my ride the most comfortable thing next to my recliner at the expense of America’s oil dependence. I use 0w-20 synthetic oil, (the viscosity recommended by Honda) which reduces friction in the engine.
Really, hypermiling is the best thing we have available to us TODAY. Not tomorrow, not next year. It doesn’t require us to burn food for fuel. It doesn’t require us to build new infrastructure. It doesn’t need government legislation. It doesn’t even require you to purchase a new car. All it takes is the willpower to take responsibility for your driving by doing so more efficiently. Plug-in Hybrids, Hydrogen cars, and battery-electric vehicles will come along and help us out of our self-made mess one day, but until then we all need to wake up and change our wasteful ways everytime we turn the key.
Driving is a responsibility, not a contest to see who can get there the fastest. Drive conservatively today, live freely tomorrow. There is a wealth of information available at cleanmpg.com for those serious about finding out more.
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August 5th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Yes, I definitely hypermile. I started a few years ago with my 2000 Chevy Blazer and reached 22 mpg. It’s an automatic, but I still put it in neutral to go down hills and when coasting to a stop. Thanks to dry weather, though, I ride my 2007 Yamaha FZ6, which can range between 45-55 mpg depending on how I drive. If I use hypermiling techniques, particularly going the speed limit or less than 5 over, I can get 55 mpg. I even risk driving in the slow lane, slower than what most of the cars do, just so I can get that gas mileage. It is pretty risky driving a motorcycle slower than the majority of traffic, but it is worth it, and I will keep driving the speed limit.
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August 5th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I drive a GMC Yukon 56 miles round trip to work and home. I take the interstate and try to keep the cruise control at 67mph. The speed limit is 65. People are always tail-gaiting me and trying to push me down the road. I feel like truckers are trying to climb into my trunk! I find the road-rage to be too stressful to try slowing down or even go the actual speed limit. Why can’t we just fine-tune our cars to run most efficiently at 70 mph instead of 55? I’m sure in Germany when driving on the autobahm (I think that’s how to spell it?) the cars are set-up to drive 100 mph efficiently. I try and do all the other “tricks” to hypermile to save gas and not put out as much pollution, but I still wonder, where is that person who knows how to make our cars get 100 miles per gallon but instead took the one million dollar buy-out from the oil companies?
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August 5th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Hypermiling with my VW bug, diesel, is a given. With the std trans
I can coast to a stop in neutral. I average 45 to 50 mpg. I avoid interstates, don’t speed, don’t idle(no such thing as fast food), and
try to anticipate light changes so I won’t need to stop. Now, I wish the lights were smarter….why turn at 6am when there is no cross traffic? Gee…..
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August 5th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Yes, I drive 60 mph, 5 miles below the speed limit, and the speed limit, when less than 65 (i.e. 55 or less) and get ~35 mpg in a 2004 4WD Toyota Matrix XR, in mostly highway driving. When I increase my speed to 65 or above my mileage plummets dramatically.
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August 5th, 2008 at 11:05 am
This is a sick joke! EPA should be pushing higher CAFE standards for ALL vehicles and researcing/implementing/supporting other energy conservation/alternative energy sources, not asking people about hyper-mileage, which includes unsafe and impractical driving practices!!!! SHAME ON THE EPA!!!!
BTW & FYI - all of mankind uses 15 terawatts of energy a year. Solar energy impinging the surface of the earth is 86,000 TW, solary energy also includes the 870 TW of wind energy that is generated… (source: wikipedia)
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Justin reply on August 6, 2008 11:20 pm:
Well hopefully we’ll get there someday, but until then its up to you to take responsibility for the carbon footprint you’re making. We can and should pressure our policymakers to bring us higher mileage vehicles, and eventually we will get them. But until then what are you doing? Are you whining about the external forces that make you fork over your hard earned money to foreign countries for gas, or do you do something that takes effect immediately and reduces your fuel consumption TODAY by driving more efficiently.
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August 5th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Hyper milling in Huntington, WV? yeah right!!
It is the worst city for driving a car. There is a light in every corner (on main streets) and they are not synchronized, so you cannot drive inside the “green wave”.
Could The Department of Transportation or someone else, help to reduce gas consumption by improving the secondary roads and adjusting the time on the traffic lights.
thanks
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August 5th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I use the cruise control on my 2008 Corolla to go the exact speed limit on my evening commutes and just about every where else I drive. You may have seen me on the beltway. I’m the only person actually going the posted limit of 55mph. I stay in the far right lane unless the car in front of me is going slower than the limit or if there are a bunch of cars about to merge. I don’t even accelerate to pass people. I’ve had cars and 18wheelers behind me honk or flash their lights, but I stick to the speed limit and eventually they find a way to get around me. I’m not afraid of other cars hitting me. Tailgaters get bored very quickly when they realize that no matter what they do to provoke me, my speed remains the same.
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Scott reply on August 5, 2008 12:29 pm:
And I only have to fill my tank once a week.
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August 5th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
My 1997 Saab 900S with 128,000 miles on it was averaging around 19 - 20 mph both city and highway. On a recent vacation, I saw a sign that said for every 5 mph you drive over 60, you are spending $0.20 more per gallon. So I put the cruise control on 65 and watched the mileage gauge inch up from 19.3 all the way to 28.9. And if I had driven more it would have been even higher.
During the trip I was relaxed because I never had to pass anyone. The rest of the traffic just flowed around me. Although I stayed in the slow lanes, the scariest part was the tailgate pressure from two semi-trailers trying to make time.
Hypermiling isn’t just important to reduce global warming or dependence on foreign oil, and it’s not just about personal finances (although that’s a strong incentive). Hypermiling helps clean the air we breathe which prevents us from getting lung disease and asthma. So those who are global warming non-believers, aren’t political or worried about saving money should think about trying it for your own good health!
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August 5th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I don’t know if this qualifies as hypermiling, but I drive SLOW. I have a 2001 Blazer, S-10 4WD. I can’t afford a newer fuel efficient car and need the 4WD where I live (rural area). Normally I get 22 mpg, but if I hypermile and drive at 60 mph on a posted 70 mph interstate, I get about 24 to 25 mph. When I slow down to 60 mph I usually get an additional 30 to 40 miles before needing to fill up again. Other drivers zoom by me, including semis. This concerns me some. I think if we are really serious about decreasing oil consumption and fuel emmissons, speed limits should be no more than 60 mph, double the fines for speeders to make up for the revenue lost in fuel sales tax. But since the “whiners” will be too large to deal with, things will never change.
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August 5th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I tried it hard core a few times, but found it quite tedious. I am trying to drive closer to the speed limit, and also trying to avoid sudden stops and starts, though.
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August 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Depends on what you call Hypermiling. Tailgating trucks and rolling through stop signs, are things lawbreakers have been doing for decades. Those are not Hypermiling techniques. They are bad practices for many reasons. Hypermiling has taken me to just over 40 MPG over the past 6 months, in a car that you rate at 31 MPG. That’s saved me enough to make a couple of car payments. Your web site indicates that my car should get 300 miles on a tank. I’ve done over 500 miles on a couple of tanks, by Hypermiling. I am an extremely safe and considerate driver, but I also obey the speed limits and stay in the right lane. I’ve waited 35 years for the government to help cut our dependence on foreign oil. Nada. Hypermiling is part of the solution.
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August 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I do hypermile, and I love it. Commuting is fun again. My civic is rated 35 mpg, or 31 on the new ratings. By hypermiling, I’m averaging 63 mpg for the last 6 months. I’ve had three tanks over 700 miles. I’ve saved over $500.
I obey the speed limit, stay in the right lane, leave space to react, slow down coming into stops, STOP at stops, shut down at lights, coast, pulse-and-glide, etc. I do not draft, I do not roll through stops.
I am a MUCH safer driver now. I’m much more aware of traffic in front, behind, and beside me. I’m always watching and adjusting. I’m ready to react to anything that might come up.
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August 5th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Hypermiling is a poor name for what we are talking about. (I really want to say that it is a “stupid” name, but that is not politically correct.) Nobody knows what it means, and it sounds like it means driving really, really fast - hyper-fast. Let’s stick to talking about “common sense driving practices to increase your fuel economy.” I pray that the name “hypermiling” is lost for good, or simply footnoted as a goofy name that did not catch on.
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August 5th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Yep, I’m a Hypermiler. There are actually national competitions that are held to compare efficiency. In the 2008 Event I attended it was a 16 mile course with no change in elevation. In a Prius EPA rated 46 MPG, I achieved 129 MPG, in a Ford Escape Hybrid EPA rated 32 MPG, I achieved 72 MPG, and in a Honda Insight EPA rated 52 MPG, I archived 168 MPG.
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.Hypermiling works and I hope more people will take the burden of efficiency on their own shoulders.
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.References: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12620 .
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August 6th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I would call it driving with common sense, not hypermiling. I drive a manual transmission 2000 Dodge neon, at (usually 5-10 above) the speed limit 96 miles a day round trip through city and highway traffic with 27 stoplights between home and work and average 37 - 40 mpg in the summer and 32 - 35 mpg in the winter.
The only “hypermile” techniques I use are coasting up to stop lights that have turned red, using the cruise control, and accelerating gently. I get where I am going just as fast as every other driver that treats a green light like a drag strip christmas tree; I’m coasting up behind them at the next light. The savings from accelerating back up to speed from 20-30 mph vs 0 mph are considerable, it’s basic physics.
If I could get a true overdrive transmission I could probably get nearly 50 mpg with 8 year old technology.
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August 6th, 2008 at 10:10 am
I have recently attempted to slow down. I tried 60 mpg for a tank of gas but found I was creating a hazard in some areas of the Interstate, specifically, near a truck weigh station. Eighteen wheelers were trying to go around me and cut back in before the weigh station. It was a little scary. I’ve compromised when surrounded by heavy traffic and am doing 65 mpg. I have to run the air because I live in the deep South and it’s sweltering this time of year. Even so, I am getting an average of 32 mpg with a Toyota Camry. I’m pretty happy with that. I would love to see 55 mpg reinstituted as a mandatory speed limit. Why are we all in such a hurry?
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August 6th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Like someone said before, hypermiling can have its dangerous aspects.
I’ve been seeing some weird things on the road lately and I’m wondering if hypermiling (the unsafe type) could be the cause.
Please don’t
1)Drive with your engine off
2) Shut your engine down at lights
3) Roll stop signs
4) Do stupid things just to save gas
We all want to get to our destination safely. I’ve often driven at a maximum of 5 miles over the speed limit, and nearly get run over doing it. But it is one way to save gas.
Other safe ways include
1) coasting up to stop signs and lights (especially effective with stick shift)
2) combining errands to reduce miles driven
3) get a tune-up (but they are expensive, too!)
This is all boring stuff but it helps a little.
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Justin reply on August 6, 2008 11:14 pm:
Most of the dangerous things you see out on the road are perpetrated by those with NO interest in fuel economy whatsoever.
Supposed “drafting” is usually an aggressive driver tailgating a hypermiler or other sensible motorist driving at or near the posted speed limit.
Rolling stop signs is a behavior most likely done by someone in a hurry and with no regard for others’ safety. Not likely a hypermiler since part of hypermiling is increasing awareness and safety out on the road. Many of the “problems” people have with hypermiling is based on misconceptions propagated by the media and AAA.
Avoiding idling at stops is perfectly safe if you are aware of when traffic is about to move and your car starts reliably (about 98% of cars on the road). That is something you can do to eliminate the worst mileage and emissions you will experience. 10 second rule. Shut it off if you anticipate being stopped more than 10 SECONDS! Anyway, hypermilers rarely get stopped by traffic lights if they’re timing them correctly, coasting and smart braking in order to avoid hitting it when its red.
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August 6th, 2008 at 10:40 am
“Hypermilling”….mmmmmm. What the $#@*! is that?
I get somewhat weary hearing new glitzy terms applied to old ideas.
To save on gas I 1) Drive less, 2) Keep my engine tuned and tires properly inflated, 3) Plan my trips, 4) Use the phone or internet, and never put over 100 miles on the tank without filling back up (psychologically, it doesn’t pain me as much to pump 15 or 20 dollars into the tank…but 50 to 75 dollars! Another story….but it helps my Karma)
Something everyone seems to forget. In the late 1970’s after OPEC bit us the first time, President Carter enacted strong measures to cut energy consumption (55 MPH speed limit, higher mpg’s on new cars, Synfuels Program). President Carter saw the future and enacted tough and unpopular measures to help our Country become more energy indepandent. But a new regime took power in 1980 and the government took a “one-eighty”. The result? Millions of gallons of additional gas use (going 70 vs. 55 MPH), the SUV craze of the 80’s and 90’s, and virtually no operating alternative energy infrastructure at present.
I’m also weary of hearing people state, “how did this ($4 a gallon gas) happen?” In the late 70’s a preventive program had been established only to be trashed by a “…there is no shortage…”administration. It’s our own dumb fault; if only we could run our cars are short-sightedness!
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August 6th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I have simply started to try to slow down a bit (like only driving 5 mph over the speed limit instead of 10 mph over) and have gone from 26.5 mpg to 28.8 mpg. And I’m not even super vigilent about it.
I have noticed the rest of traffic seems to be slowing down a bit.
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August 6th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I’ve been hypermiling for about 2 months. I checked my MPG before I started and was getting 19.6 MPG. After my second tank of gas, I got 23.5 MPG, a 20% increase. Tank #3 resulted in 25.6 MPG - an increase of 30% over the first test. The first two tests were city driving while test #3 was highway. Here’s what I did.
1) I put max air pressure in all tires. 2) I coast as much as possible. You will be surprised just how much you can coast in your own neighborhood. In the city and county I can sometimes coast for blocks on end. On the highway, I can coast for miles. 3) Keep your car moving. Judge the stop lights so you can roll through them rather than sit their and burn up gas. I now roll through about 70% of the stop lights in my travels.
4) Start slow and gently accelerate. Do not start up fast. 5) When going down hill (or maybe just a slight incline) get your foot off the gas pedal. COAST.
I head out of town on a 700 mile highway trip. My goal is 28 MPG. What a pleasant surprise over the original 19.6 I was getting.
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August 7th, 2008 at 7:22 am
I own a 6 cylinder vehicle equipped with AC and an interior air recirculation button. When driving on hot days I sometimes disengage the AC when driving to increase my mpg, but leave the recirculator button on. The cool air coming out of the dash vents gradually becomes warm again and I reengage the AC condensor unit.
My question; Is my mpg being lowered by reengaging the AC at intervals, or is it better to leave the AC on the whole time so as to avoid the sporadic engaging of the AC?
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Steph reply on August 7, 2008 8:47 am:
I was wondering about the AC too. Can someone also explain why or how does running the AC affect your gas mileage? I thought the AC unit was only dependent on electrical energy supplied by the car battery. Where does the gas come into play? Thanks.
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R reply on August 11, 2008 12:39 pm:
The AC compressor runs off electrical current provided by the alternator. the alternator requires a fraction of the horsepower provided by the engine to run the electrical systems which are being used and to recharge your batteries.
The batteries are primarily used to provide motive force to start the car- unless you forget and leave the lights on
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James Reaves reply on August 14, 2008 5:34 pm:
This is incorrect except for certain hybrids or electric cars. In 99.9% of cars the A/C compressor is run by a belt that is turned by the engine directly. The compressor is hard to turn, so it takes engine power to do it. That is the reason mileage goes down when the A/C is on.
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August 7th, 2008 at 8:25 am
The term “hypermiling” has been around for at least two years. The Washington Post had an article about this August 2006, and they probably weren’t first.
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August 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
I’ve researched hypermiling as defined by its creator - Wayne Gerdes and by applying just a few of the techniques I have increased my fuel efficiency by 20-30% in whatever I am driving.
Hypermiling techniques work just as well on a Hummer as they do a hybrid. If you are hypermiling you are saving money. Every driver should be hypermiling as it helps with traffic congestion, reduces pollution, and helps reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
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August 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Hypermiling rocks because….
1) It WILL improve your mileage (lower your gas bill)
2) It works on ANY car (bigger improvements on bigger cars/trucks)
3) Anyone can do it
3) You can do it at any level you are comfortable with
4) You can stop doing it if you are in a hurry
We could try to legislate lower speed limits, but people would still waste fuel getting up to speed and braking to slow down… education and conservation is much more effective.
People waste huge amounts of energy and then complain about it… here is something we can do NOW to make a difference to our pocketbooks NOW (not to mention helping the environment, economy, etc). No need to be an extremist, try slowing down, accellerating gently and costing more instead of braking. It works!
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August 7th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I started hypermiling in my 1994 Dodge Caravan a few months ago.
My car is rated 17/22, but I am averaging 26mpg with a highpoint of 31mpg in mixed driving and using the airconditioner.
I was amazed at the difference, especially after I installed a vacuum gauge. A vacuum gauge is good for those of us with older cars without mpg gauges. The gauge instantaneously shows how hard you are accelerating by monitoring fuel flow. It helped me keep my foot off the gas.
My hypermiling techniques have been:
Slow starts,
slow stops,
timing traffic lights,
coasting frequently,
fully inflated tires,
all filters in good shape,
minimize extra weight,
no excessive idling,
turn on engine AFTER I am ready to drive,
turn off the engine the moment I am parked,
AND JUST PLAIN SLOW DOWN.
These are all safe, easy and legal.
Its my experience that most hypermilers drive legally,
there always those who will drive like idiots.
Don’t use the gas or brakes until you really need to.
I love watching people race to a red light! Why?
I have not enjoyed driving so much in years. I am much more aware of my driving environment than most cars on the road. Also, I am noticing a lot of people slowing down. Frequently people don’t pass me even when they could easily do so. This in the Denver area.
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August 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I try to hypermile every time I am driving; I stay at or below the speed limit, don’t rabbit start, use cruise control whenevery possible, and keep my car tuned, oil changed and tired rotated. I am ready for another tune up (every 40K miles), drive a VW TDI (2003), have 150K+ on it and still get almost 49 mpg. Driving below the speed limit, especially on the freeway, caused other drivers some irritation but lately, I have noticed that I am not the only one on the road slowing down. It is great to see others taking their time and being safe, and we folks seem to be far less stressed than those charging down the road. Nice. Thanks the the opportunity to blog.
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August 11th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Yes, I am a hypermiler. I raised my gas mileage in my 2000 Honda Civic from about 28mpg, to about 40mpg. And I am not doing any of the extreme stuff. I just slowed down, do easy accelerations, minimize braking. I try to time lights so I don’t have to stop. When I do have to stop at a light, I shut my car off. I avoid sitting with my car just idling. I inflated my tires to 40psi (recommended for my car is 32psi, max sidewall is 44psi). I DON’T TAILGATE TRUCKS. I DON’T SHUT MY ENGINE OFF WHILE MOVING.
What would be cool is if EVERY car had a real-time mpg gauge in the middle of their dashboard display. I bet a lot of people would be driving easier when they saw how much gas it costs them to drive aggresively.
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August 11th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I spend a lot of time in my car. I have put 95,000 miles in 3 years on it. I have been hypermiling for the past 3 months. I have joined ecomodder.com to track my fuel usage and to learn of ways to modify my car and driving habits. I have a manual transmission and coast to stop signs and lights. I have my tires inflated to the max psi for the tire instead of the inside of the door. I have noticed that I have been annoying some people that don’t understand coasting to a light and timing it to where I don’t have to make a complete stop. My daughter gets annoyed with the manual cycling of the A/C. With these actions, I have been able to reach 8.7% over EPA average rating for my 05 Mitsu Lancer 4 cylinder car, no matter where I am driving (interstate or city). I do not do any illegal actions such as driving with the engine off or the pulse and glide (speed up to 10 mph over your target speed and glide to 10 mph below your target speed).
Planned modifications to my car:
air conditioned seat cover
covering the entire bottom of the car with plastic (avoiding the exhaust system)
covering the fog light holes and lower radiator hole with plastic (making sure not to cause overheating).
a gas pedal cruise control system that shuts off with the depress of the brake pedal (it is difficult to hold the gas pedal at the same spot with the bumpy roads that we have).
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August 13th, 2008 at 11:43 am
basically I just drive the speed limit and coast when going downhill…
went from 32 to 42 mpg
if everyone in the US would drive the speed limit we would all save tons of gas and lots of lives.
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August 13th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Yeah, I’ve done hypermiling but it’s hardly “hyper” if one considers following the speed limit, maintaining the engine according to manufacturer standards, minor modifications and just driving smarter to be “HYPER” — it’s just common sense driving.
I’ve gone from my old “keeping up with the Joneses” mindset with an average of 33mpg to my current 43mpg. I think that is a significant jump with only 3 months of actually doing this “hypermiling” considering my car is officially EPA rated at just 27 city // 35 highway // 30 combined.
It has made me more aware of not only my driving style but in how my car works and what it can do so I’m both efficient and safer. Drivers need to understand that there is a time and place for hypermiling and safety should be the priority before fuel efficiency. I never impede traffic flow, never violate any of the traffic laws and try to give everyone room to drive.
In that way, everyone can win by using less gas, being courteous to other motorists and heightened road awareness.
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August 13th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Hypermiling is a term used to describe sensible driving that most people don’t use. Drive slow, plan ahead to coast to a stoplight instead of staying on the gas until you get there.
I can squeeze over 50mpg from my EPA rated 41mpg Geo Metro simply by slowing down, and planning my stops, easy on the throttle! And this does NOT include dangerous and illegal strategies like drafting.
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August 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I’ve got a 2007 Toyota Corolla with a manual transmission which is rated 28 city / 37 highway. I’ve been doing a half-hearted version of hypermiling up until recently and that gave me an average of 31.1 mpg in suburban driving over a 12 month period. My first chance to test the car on the highway was back in early July 2008. I kept the speed under 60 mph, used cruise control most of the way, did gentle accelerations, windows closed, turned the air on only when I needed it, and drifted in neutral down long hills. I got 49.1 mpg. Since then, I’ve been a lot more focused on hypermiling in local driving. My most recent tank of gas yielded 37.3 mpg. I’m basically beating the ratings by 33% at this point.
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August 13th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Yep. Just started.
Only the safest stuff (rabbit timing, slow down in neutral, P&G,…).
I think it helps ~1-2mpg (that for my car is ~5-10%).
I keep also my tires inflated to 90% of the max pressure. You should recommend this and make it mandatory (just by itself it would outperform the need of corn ethanol). Make mandatory for gas stations to offer air for FREE and put air pumps along the freeways (as in France).
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August 13th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I have a 2007 Aveo, 5 speed, that I bought new in February. I was disappointed in the mpg of 32.5 and searched the net. I found serveral sites but found ecomodder.com to be the most informative. I commute 52 miles a day and I have raised my average mpg to 48.5 and the last 4 tanks have been over 50mpg, the last 53.84. This has been a slow improvement beginning with a shift in thinking which has lead to slower speed, aerodynamic improvements, driving techniques. All of which have come from the above site. I will never return to my former poor driving performance. I am able to drive to work and back on one gallon of gas and am very pleased.
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August 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I use a moderate hypermiling technique and never carry it to extremes. Even so I’ve improved my combined mileage from 21 to 23 mpg (about 10%). When I’m alone on the road my hypermiling is greater than in heavy traffic.
My major techniques are: inflating tires to 40 psi, trying to never let the car stop, coasting when possible, and only accelerating when going downhill (in trafffic I maintain uphill speed, but when alone on the road I let the car slow down going up hills).
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August 18th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I use a plug-in electric lawnmower because it is non-polluting and does not use gasoline, and because of these: EPA420-F-07-032 and http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/19-yard.pdf
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August 19th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I use several gas mowers I have about 8 hours of grass cutting a week at home. I need power and need to be about to ride on a mower. The mower I have doesn’t seem to use much gas, but at 4:00 a gal it is still too much.
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August 19th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
used simple and complex drafting techiques…stay at 55
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August 25th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Hi! Unfortunately we still use a gas mower most of the time, but there are more eco-friendly powermowers now. I will certainly look into buying one when we need a new mower.
In the meantime, we keep trying to reduce the amount of yard that has to be mowed by increasing the size of our vegetable and flower gardens, planting bushes, blackberry plants, and trees. Next on the list is to plant a large plot in wildflowers. I have one friend who planted the whole yard in wildflowers.
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October 14th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I was always taught to turn off all lights not in use at time plus use natural light whenever possible. Also, I turn up the thermostat when not at home when weather is warm and turn it down when weather is cooler. There is no reason to over run the AC/heat and waste energy plus think about the cost savings.
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October 14th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
There are a lot of things.
1. Changed from a 3 gallon/minute shower head to a shower head that flows at 1.25 gpm
2. Changed from T-12 linear bulbs to T-8 bulbs. I get the same light from 32 watt bulb than I did from a 40 watt old style bulb. Use compact flourescent bulbs when I can
3. Added insulation to the outside of my house and than added new siding.
4. I am using 3 pane windows with argon/krypton. These windows never even fog up even at really cold temps outside
5. I have an arctic entry
6. I installed a wood stove and use it when it is below 0 F.
7. Installed outside combustion air for my oil fired boiler
8. Try to use the stove on cold days to cook roasts etc.
9. Added roof and floor insulation
10. Wash clothes in cold water
11. Usually take showers rather than baths. A shower at 1.25 gpm uses around 10 gallons of water vs. a 40 gallons of water for a bath.
If I take a bath a let the water set in there for a while to capture the heat and when cooler drain the tub.
12. Weatherstrip the doors.
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October 15th, 2008 at 9:33 am
One thing of many my little family do to save energy in the winter and summer: we challenge ourselves to see how many days through the summer and winter we can go without or minimal heating or cooling. How we accomplish this during the summer is we open all windows and doors as soon as the air temp is to our liking and leave them open all night until we leave for work in the morning. Then in the morning we close all windows and doors then all the blinds to keep sun rays from heating our home up. It works great and we were happy with our energy bill which ran around 55-60 dollars a month due to our efforts. In middle of winter we run our heating to around 67-70 degrees, when we need it, and bundle up in our favorite pagamas and socks for the evening with hot beverages like tea or cocoa. We also keep heavy blankets out on our couch to snuggle up in when working on the computer or watching a movie. We love the challenge because we save money and resources for our daughter and her future!
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October 20th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I inflated my tires. I hear we can increase our mileage by doing that.
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October 27th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I thought this was supposed to be about energy vampires. So I’ll speak to that instead of “hypermiling.” The biggest energy vampire around is Al Gore. The Democrat party is a very close second.
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October 28th, 2008 at 9:02 am
This is the first I’ve heard of hypermiling…is that the new age term for drive slower?
Back in the 70’s, my dad taught me how to calculate the gas savings when you drive 55 rather than 65, and also compare the difference in time in getting to your destination. The difference tended to be around 10-15 minutes. The gas mileage and gas savings is significant. If the driver is taking a longer trip, what’s 10-15 minutes difference in arrival time?
I think we should LOWER the speed limit again, as was done in the 70’s. Yes, it’s unpopular. But I don’t see people wanting to slow down voluntarily. And we all need to make sacrifices in order to bring our energy consumption into check.
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November 3rd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Do we really want to see what happens if we continue to take from the environment and give nothing back?
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November 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I would like to see a national population goal of 100 million people.
We could reach that goal in several generations if we had a policy of allowing a family a maximum of 2 children.
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November 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
What would you have the EPA do to help the environment and human health?
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November 3rd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
if you look at soda bottles, they can only be recycled in about 7 or 8 states for cash, and not even in the District of Columbia….which means that potentially millions of soda bottles, beer bottles, and cans are going to landfills each year in the USA….WHY CAN’T EPA REQUIRE MANDATORY RECYLCING OF GLASS, STEEL, PAPER, CARDBOARD, ALUMINUM AND OTHER RECYCLABLE PRODUCTS BY ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTIRCT OF COLUMBIA AND ALL US TERRITORIES???
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November 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
What are the EPA’s updated EPP criteria for products?
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November 4th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Question about environment to public and to all of us those who care about it:
Do we really worked, working for protection of environment? and all measures taken byall of us(including developed countries) are enough to protect environment?
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