"Anyone can learn to hypermile and save money, gas and the environment. It's safe and it's free," says Matt Herring of Super Commuter in North Andover, Massachusetts. For a small fee, Herring teaches commuters how to change their driving habits to save gas. Herring says he managed to go from 17 to 22 MPG in his 2005 Toyota 4Runner, which saved him 3 gallons every fill up. In one year, he drove 15,000 miles and saved about $900. In this article, you'll learn more about hypermiling, which is a technique that will save you lots of money, whether you're cruising around town or hitting the highway.
In North Andover, Massachusetts, Matt Herring teaches how to save gas by following his hypermiling tips. Before his commuters get started, he advises them to fill up at the same gas station using the same pump and track savings with a $160 scan gauge (an electronic device that provides data on how much money each trip costs you). You can also visit Ecomodder.com to log your fuel economy, he adds. Fueleconomy.gov will let you see how your car is rated, so you can compare your actual performance.
One of the most basic techniques to save gas is to check your tire pressure. The average car should have its tires inflated from 32 to 44 psi in the summer, which increases your MPG 5%. In the winter, drop it back down because higher psi reduces traction. Installing items like engine grill blocks, engine block heaters and foam pipe insulation can save you 50 miles per tank in the winters.
Experts say that being conscious of how accelerating, braking and driving techniques affect your gas mileage can really make an enormous difference and most drivers save an instant 10% of gas this way. One of the most sacred rules of the road for all hypermilers is to only brake when you have to. While most people are inclined to speed ahead to the stop light and abruptly slow down if the light doesn't change in time, the conscientious hypermiler will take his foot off the gas as soon as he sees the light is red and will slowly coast up to the intersection. This is also sometimes called "timing the lights" because often the light will change when the hypermiler gets there. Another trick is to take a 10 to 15 second buffer after the light turns green and the other cars accelerate. By leaving extra space ahead, drivers can see the brake lights well in advance and avoid hard braking. Some drivers say they save gas by watching their mileage go up over 70 MPG even while sitting in traffic!
Some people decide to save gas by modifying their cars. Most vehicles out there are not built specifically with gas mileage in mind, so there's much to be accomplished by making some basic changes to the existing structure. For instance, some hypermilers add something called a "grill block," which goes over the grill of the car and prevents air resistance (to save about 5% of your overall gas mileage.) This is one of the cheapest and easiest mods to install. To save another 4.5%, you may want to purchase "smooth wheel covers" or "rear wheel skirts" to reduce wind resistance further. The more drastic measures may include removing alternators, swapping engines, changing from automatic-to-manual, or converting to alternative fuel and electric designs. One driver converted her Volkswagen to a corn oil/diesel mod for $3,000. Or, in some cases, it could be as simple as inflating your tires and having your air filter changed every oil change. There are many ways to save!
In North Andover, Massachusetts, Matt Herring teaches how to save gas by following his hypermiling tips. Before his commuters get started, he advises them to fill up at the same gas station using the same pump and track savings with a $160 scan gauge (an electronic device that provides data on how much money each trip costs you). You can also visit Ecomodder.com to log your fuel economy, he adds. Fueleconomy.gov will let you see how your car is rated, so you can compare your actual performance.
One of the most basic techniques to save gas is to check your tire pressure. The average car should have its tires inflated from 32 to 44 psi in the summer, which increases your MPG 5%. In the winter, drop it back down because higher psi reduces traction. Installing items like engine grill blocks, engine block heaters and foam pipe insulation can save you 50 miles per tank in the winters.
Experts say that being conscious of how accelerating, braking and driving techniques affect your gas mileage can really make an enormous difference and most drivers save an instant 10% of gas this way. One of the most sacred rules of the road for all hypermilers is to only brake when you have to. While most people are inclined to speed ahead to the stop light and abruptly slow down if the light doesn't change in time, the conscientious hypermiler will take his foot off the gas as soon as he sees the light is red and will slowly coast up to the intersection. This is also sometimes called "timing the lights" because often the light will change when the hypermiler gets there. Another trick is to take a 10 to 15 second buffer after the light turns green and the other cars accelerate. By leaving extra space ahead, drivers can see the brake lights well in advance and avoid hard braking. Some drivers say they save gas by watching their mileage go up over 70 MPG even while sitting in traffic!
Some people decide to save gas by modifying their cars. Most vehicles out there are not built specifically with gas mileage in mind, so there's much to be accomplished by making some basic changes to the existing structure. For instance, some hypermilers add something called a "grill block," which goes over the grill of the car and prevents air resistance (to save about 5% of your overall gas mileage.) This is one of the cheapest and easiest mods to install. To save another 4.5%, you may want to purchase "smooth wheel covers" or "rear wheel skirts" to reduce wind resistance further. The more drastic measures may include removing alternators, swapping engines, changing from automatic-to-manual, or converting to alternative fuel and electric designs. One driver converted her Volkswagen to a corn oil/diesel mod for $3,000. Or, in some cases, it could be as simple as inflating your tires and having your air filter changed every oil change. There are many ways to save!
About the Author:
There are a variety of ways to save money when you're on a budget, but if you can find a way to improve MPG on your vehicle, it can make a significant impact on your finances. Click here to learn more about how to Save Fuel.
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