Hypermiling Techniques

Hypermiling Is Literally Determining Ways To Use Much less Fuel For Your Car

2011-10-07T09:56:00.001-07:00

By Johona Kunkle

Hypermiling may be a new approach for you but, in all likelihood, you will soon become very well-versed in it. If you are unsure of the definition, the word hypermiling alludes to identifying means of decreasing the amount of fuel you use. Since many people cannot live without their vehicles, it is imperative to find methods to extend how far you can go on a tank of fuel.

There are plenty of things to do to cut expenses, and you may already think you are doing everything you can. You could already be minimizing your driving, and looking at the prices at the pump, you may also be quite frustrated. You know that you need to use your car or truck, and there aren't always actions you can take. Residing in close proximity to your job is not a possibility and getting some other job that is closer to home is highly unlikely either. Additionally, you can't picture finding another job or house that you love as much as the ones you currently have. Switching jobs isn't necessarily easy, or even possible. Often, starting a new job will involve a lower salary, and the possible fuel savings would probably not make that worth it.

You cannot always switch the location of your house to make it nearer to schools, or stores, or even work. Many times, there is no sensible solution. There are undoubtedly approaches to make everything flow better, nevertheless, you can't spend every day locked in your house, not ever going anywhere. Rising fuel costs should not dictate your regular activities. This is why, hypermiling will become more popular, and the methods you discover will be a huge benefit. In every case, in order to go somewhere, you will have to buy gas. Whenever you use your car or truck, you're going to be incurring more expenses whether you like it or not.

Carpooling may not deliver the results in situations where you have numerous places to be at the same time. With children, it is quite easy to get overextended with the things that are done. This requires a car and consumes a lot of fuel taking the kids from location to location. Carpooling is not always possible, but when neighbors take turns carrying their own and other neighborhood children, some trips can be avoided. Regrettably, there's not much that the consumer can do with the gas prices at the pumps, besides to quit buying. Considering the government's poor efforts at helping the situation, we have no choice but to find measures ourselves. Whining may make you feel better, but it won't change the price of gas, so it's high time to become more efficient.

There is plenty of information about hypermiling on numerous websites through the efforts of the government. You and your household should check into this yourselves because your own efforts will determine how efficiently you drive your vehicles. This service is offered by the government to help you know what to do to conserve your gas consumption.

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Want to find out more about build a car, then visit Johona Kunkle's site on how to choose the best 2012 Dodge Journey for your needs.

Hypermiling Is Finding Ways To Use Significantly Less Fuel For Your Car

2011-10-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

By Ashton Moubray

You most likely aren't very familiar with the word hypermiling, but the chances are that it will be quite well-known in the near future. If you don't already know, hypermiling represents discovering methods of lowering your consumption of fuel. Because so many folks cannot live without their vehicles, it is imperative to find methods to extend how far you can go on a tank of fuel.

Reducing costs can be achieved in many ways and perhaps you believe that you are currently doing all you possibly can. Although you may drive less than you used to, you probably feel a sense of frustration whenever you look at gas prices. Have you dreamed about shopping for more affordable insurance rates?

Unfortunately, there's is not much you can do when you have to use your car or truck no matter the circumstances. Dwelling in close proximity to your employment is not a possibility and getting some other job that is closer to home is highly unlikely either.

Additionally, you can't imagine finding another job or house that you love as much as the ones you currently have. Locating another job can be difficult, if not impossible. Often, getting into a new job will require a lower salary, and the possible fuel savings would probably not make that worth it.

You don't always have the option of getting another house that is near to all the places you currently go on a regular basis. Many times, no better choices are available. There are definitely ways to make everything flow better, but you can't spend every day locked in your house, not ever going anywhere. Rising gasoline costs should not determine your regular activities.

Because of this, hypermiling will become more popular, and the strategies you discover will be a huge benefit. Whatever you do, you'll be using gas, since you will have to travel somewhere. Each time you take your car, there will likely be an additional expense without any choice.

Car-pooling is not always an option if you have a variety of things going on. With children, it's very easy to get overextended in the things that are done.

This calls for a car and requires a lot of fuel taking the kids from one place to another. Even though carpooling may not be an option all the time, if you and your neighbors can take turns driving each other's children to different activities, some of the duplicate trips can be eliminated.

Regrettably, there's not much that the consumer can do with the gas prices at the pumps, only to quit buying. With the government's inadequate efforts at helping the situation, we have no alternative but to find measures ourselves. Despite the fact that complaining may reduce some of the anxiety you feel, it won't bring down gas prices so you need to take steps to drive more efficiently.

You can get quite a lot of government-sponsored information on hypermiling if you search the Internet. It is a topic that you are going to have to put in the effort yourself, with your family, because it will be up to each family. The government provides this information so you find the best ways to improve your fuel efficiency.

About the Author:

Economizing cash on gasoline is one point, but preserving money on vehicle insurance is a different state of affairs exclusively. If you will be able to accomplish both matters, the more dominance to you. Don't delay, yet begin as soon as possible.

Hypermiling Secrets To Save Gas

2010-06-11T11:16:00.001-07:00

By Garry Betsworth

"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!

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.

Secrets Of Hypermilers That Save Money On Gas

2010-05-23T11:30:00.001-07:00

By Garry Betsworth

By hypermiling to save gas, you can improve your fuel usage by 50%, simply by applying some very basic techniques to your driving, says Wayne Gerdes, who runs the website www.cleanmpg.com and teaches hypermiling clinics in Chicago. Following the World Trade Center attacks, he became concerned that the nation's dependence on foreign oil could become a major problem, so improving gas mileage would take center stage. Additionally, he appreciates that the practices are environmentally-sound as well. In this article, you'll learn more about hypermiling tips and techniques, and the various reasons why people make the switch.

Ed Kriston of AAA says their travel/auto group discourages aggressive forms of hypermiling to save gas, but encourages gentle driving. "Some of the things they do are very dangerous," he said, remarking that aggressive hypermilers drive under the speed limit on the highways or closely tailgating semi trucks in a practice called "drafting." AAA spokespeople say that other poor practices include such things as putting the car into neutral to coast on roadways, rolling through stop signs and driving erratically. On the other hand, "smooth and easy acceleration and braking, maintaining a stead speed, using cruise control and looking ahead to anticipate changing traffic conditions are both safe and reasonably effective," explained Marshall L. Doney, AAA Automotive Vice President.

There are a number of reasons and techniques used when hypermiling to save gas. One driver reported that he gets 55 MPG on the highway, despite the fact that his Toyota Prius is only supposed to get 45 MPG. He observed that he shifts into neutral when going downhill and pulls in behind large trucks to break the draft. He is motivated to hypermile for the sake of the environment and "because it's cool."

Another hypermiler reported that he maintained a speed of 60 miles per hour (instead of going 75 as permitted) on a recent road trip and used just half a tank of gas, as opposed to the full tank that used to be the norm for such a trip. His reason for slowing down was to decrease the level of air pollution he produced. Yet another driver saved an eighth of a tank in his Dodge Dakota pickup simply by keeping his speed to 60 miles per hour as opposed to 65. The reason he does it is because of high gasoline prices.

Here are some practical hypermiling tips to help people who are interested in hypermiling to save gas, save the environment or simply to take the stress out of driving. First, avoid accelerating quickly or braking heavily. Do not idle your engine when sitting still. Keep your tires properly inflated. Avoid speeding. Warm up your engine before taking off. Remove excess cargo and racks to reduce weight and air resistance. These practical tips can help you get ahead. If you really want to see just how much you can be helped, look into buying a $160 Scan Gauge, which will show you exactly how many miles per gallon you're getting in real-time.

About the Author:

There are a range of ways to cut costs when money is tight, but measures to save on fuel for your car can make a significant impact on your finances. Click here to find out more about how to Save Fuel.

Best Hypermiling Hybrid Tactics To Save Money On Fuel

2010-04-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

By Garry Betsworth

The new automatically hypermiling hybrid can get 200 miles out of one gallon of gas, which is good news to drivers who are used to pain at the pump. However, it's not just owners of hybrid cars that are noticing the benefits of changing their driving habits, with fuel efficiency in mind. "Thoughtful driving techniques can make a difference even in old gas hogs," says Richard Keeler, who hypermiles his 1979 Nissan 280ZX sports car. One of his favorite tricks is "pulsing and gliding," where he'll get going to 70 in a 65, then practice hypermiling coasting until he reaches 65 again. Doing this, he can get up to 18 MPG, which isn't great, but is much better than his gas guzzling vehicle usually gets.

"When I see someone roar past me, I think 'They just used enough gas to last me a week,'" says hypermiler Laurie With. She owns a Honda Civic hypermiling hybrid and drives ever so slowly wherever she goes, as to not waste any precious fuel. In suburban areas, she coasts when she sees a red light and waits an extra second when the lights turn green. When she's on the highway, she sticks behind semi trucks, which block her draft, and trucks along at a slow pace. She'll also plan her travel routes down roads with fewer stops to increase gas mileage.

People serious about saving gas use techniques like "pulse and glide" -- where you accelerate and coast for as long as possible before accelerating again. Parks your car facing outward to avoid shifting from reverse to drive, and avoid making left turns whenever possible, so you won't have to stop and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass. Learn your routes and know the lights; if you do it right you may never hit a red light. And don't complain about being stuck behind slow-moving cargo trucks because this allows you to burn even less fuel by traveling 20 on a 55 mph road.

No one knows hypermiling hybrid tactics better than Clean MPG website founder Wayne Gerdes, who has won multiple awards for his hypermiling excellence. He once took his Honda Insight hybrid on a 40-mile journey and reached an unthinkable 200 miles per gallon fuel economy. Similarly, he took his Prius on a 30-mile trip and reached 127 MPG. Even his 2005 Honda Accord reached 66 MPG and his 2003 Ford Ranger pickup got 85 MPG, even though gasoline mileage was an afterthought during the production of these vehicles! "A top-rated hypermiler will shave about half off the gas bill of a non-hypermiler in the same vehicle," Gerdes explains. He recommends using a Scan Gauge to calculate instant MPG ratings, let drivers know how much a certain trip has cost them in gas and provide video-game-like feedback so drivers can score their personal bests.

Wayne Gerdes, the hypermiling hybrid expert, currently holds the world record for getting 2,250 miles from a single tank (164 MPG). He drove 800 miles from Chicago to New York in his hybrid Toyota Prius in 17 hours and still had a quarter tank of gas left over when he reached his destination. Whether you're driving a hybrid or an old gas guzzler, the experts say the first step to getting better gas mileage is to be aware. Hybrids come with automatic MPG calculators, but regular drivers can buy one for $170 (www.scangauge.com), which will show them in real-time just what a difference their driving habits can make. We can complain all day long that our cars "aren't built efficiently." Or we can accept our role in fuel consumption and do something about it.

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Nascar: The Start Of Hypermiling To Save Gas

2010-03-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

By Garry Betsworth

What sort of picture do you get when you think of hypermilers? Perhaps you imagine young people from Berkeley, California or Portland, Oregon, sipping their Fair Trade coffee, operating their homes off solar power and converting their old cars to vegetable oil mods. Or maybe you just imagine that annoying slow-driving person in front of you who seems hardly bothered by the fact they're coasting several car lengths behind everyone else at 10 MPH below the speed limit. What you may not have expected is that Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. uses the hypermiling technique to save gas.

Hypermiling is a method used to get more gasoline mileage out of your car, whether you're driving hybrid cars or old gas guzzlers. Many drivers weren't satisfied with the initial offering of hybrids that got 30 to 45 MPG and were convinced they could do better. However, one beneficial component built into these new vehicles was the fuel economy gauge, which allowed drivers to see what drove down their MPG ratings or picked them up. They began accelerating slower from green lights, coasting to a stop well before the light and changing their driving habits to get as much as 100 MPG. It may surprise you, but many of these same strategies were first used by professional race car drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr., who couldn't afford to run out of gas mid-race.

In June 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr. caught flack from critics for coasting past the pace car to hypermile as much as possible, and making it to the end of his Lifelock 400 race just in time to run out of gas. He turned his engine off to coast whenever he could, knowing that the race would be extended past the scheduled 200 laps. "I didn't know how much they were going to worry about it," told news reporters. "All the cars out there are gassing it, shutting 'em off, coasting about a half straightaway, cranking 'em back up, gas it, coast. Everybody's doing it." This technique is also known as "pulsing and gliding," which works by making your engine use fuel when it's most efficient. Drivers accelerate with lots of throttle and then glide or coast in neutral with the engine off. When the speed begins to drop again, the driver will give the vehicle another pulse on the gas pedal. Experts say this fuel economy technique is not recommended in heavy traffic, but is rather designed for open road driving.

Sure, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is more about getting the checkered flag than conserving fuel and saving the planet. However, the racing world sees a benefit in saving fuel economy. This was especially important during the 1970s oil embargo when fuel was in short supply. The Daytona 500 shortened some of their races in response to the crisis. As the price of gas climbed higher and higher in the new millennium, drivers looked at this technique to save gas. Even though sponsors like Sunoco usually pay for the race fuel, there are times when avoiding an extra pit stop can make the difference between first and second place. Thanks to Earnhardt's stunning victory, hypermiling driving techniques took center stage.

Using the hypermiling technique to save gas on the Nascar track takes a lot of guts and nerves of steel. However, it's a wonderful feeling to pass all the other drivers and pit crews stopping to refuel. Even though pushing his gasoline mileage to the limit was an enormous gamble, Earnhardt still came out on top. In the process, his fuel conservation was doing something good for the environment. Perhaps if more race car drivers and owners of hybrid cars took note of his driving techniques, we wouldn't have so much to worry about with looming fuel shortages.

About the Author:

There are a number of ways to cut costs when you're on a budget, but learning how to save fuel for your car can make a significant impact on your bank account. Click here to find out more about how to Save Fuel.

Hypermiling Techniques

2008-07-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

These are some of the most easy tips and hints to learn about Hypermiling

Drive a stick shift. I truly believe if you're not driving a manual transmission, your car is driving you. Most of the time an automatic transmission will make the right choices, but it can't see everything you can. A torque converter, the device that transmits energy from the engine to the wheels in an automatic transmission, has an 10 to 20% efficiency loss under 40 miles per hour on most cars.
Shift slow and low. I shift from 3000 rpm to 2000 rpm on every gear, with a little variance for actual road conditions. I rarely go above 4000 except to get out of trouble on the road or on a very short exit ramp. Shifting at higher RPMs gives you more power and feels sexier, but shifting lower gives you more mileage. If you must drive an automatic, the car will do this for you if you accelerate slowly.
Use cruise control. If you have a manual transmission, the car will not be able to downshift you to slow down as you go down a hill. It will simply keep you at speed to ascend and then let off the gas as you go back down, which is exactly what you should be doing. All the other times it will keep your engine at exactly the same speed (although your throttle may vary to maintain it against gravity). Some days I will have my car in cruise control for all but a few minutes of an hour or better on the road. In an automatic, your car will slow you down on purpose, so you want to disable your cruise control in hilly areas and do it yourself. It will also keep you from "creeping" up in speed without realizing it. In a perfect world you could also set the "throttle control", as a constant throttle position is better than constant engine speed for efficiency.
Drive the speed limit. My car is a pretty nice place to be. I've got like 150 satellite radio channels, climate control, comfortable seats, and a phone. The only thing that getting to my destination faster is going to give me is a chance to start working or doing chores earlier. A ten mile an hour speed difference on the highway will "save" me maybe fifteen minutes a day.

This is easy to do on I-83 in the city or I-695 but even I wouldn't pretend that it's possible on I-495 around D.C. or on the more aggressive parts of I-83 near the PA line where drivers are consistently go 10-15 miles above the limit. Good mileage is important, but part of defensive driving is knowing when to keep the speed differential between you and the other guy within reason.
Stop using the brake to slow down. Wind resistance and friction already do a pretty good job without your help. When I used to commute from Hunt Valley to Parkville, I had a game with myself where I couldn't touch the brake more than five times in my 17 mile trip. I always scanned 7 to 10 seconds ahead, conditions permitting, and let off the gas a lot sooner at the sight of brake lights than I would have otherwise. A lot of the times, timed down-shifting and coasting had me in 2nd or 3rd gear just in time to apply a little gas as the other car's brake lights went off and traffic started moving again. I also "lost" a lot when everyone around me was driving like an idiot. Sometimes you just need to stop quickly through no fault of your own.
Empty the car of junk. Every extra pound in the trunk costs you money to haul around town for no good reason. Keep the spare tire and jack.
Change your oil every 3000 miles. Engine friction wastes gas and decreases engine life. I'm no mechanical expert, tho. I just do what I'm told as close to the schedule as I can.
Check your tire pressure. Proper tire pressure makes your tires more responsive in dangerous situations, and doesn't waste energy on friction from excess contact. Don't overfill, as the possibility of a blowout is even more dangerous.
Coast. Its all about paying attention to the road and letting your momentum do all the work. In fifth gear at 65mph without pressing on the gas pedal I get around 81 mpg. In neutral at 65 mph my Honda Civic gets 325 mpg. It's actually illegal in Maryland to drive with an open clutch (manual) or in neutral (automatic), but it's also illegal to speed and drive carelessly, neither of which I'm doing when I'm hypermiling. It's also a dumb law and almost impossible to prove unless you have an accident and your car's black box tattles on you. Coasting is about the only thing on this list that could get you in trouble so make your own decision on whether you are nimble enough to stay out of it.

If you wish to learn more about how to cut your gas budget in half then check out this detailed guide on more tips and secrets on gas saving techniques Half Gas Prices