Hypermiling refers to a collection of driving techniques aimed at improving your car’s fuel efficiency by reducing the demands placed on the engine. Since it’s possible to improve fuel economy by 37% just by changing the way you drive hypermiling is gaining interest in light of high fuel costs.
Today’s high gas prices are causing many people to think twice about how they drive. One of the best ways to improve gas mileage and save some money doing it is to hypermile.
The first step is to change your view of driving. While this sounds easy enough, many people don’t pay attention to how they drive. For example, you want to be aware of how you are pressing the gas peddle, how often and how hard.
Next you will want to plan ahead before you drive. Listen to the traffic reports for your area and plan the best route that will be direct with minimal stops and easy flowing traffic.
When you are on the road you will want to keep an eye as far ahead as possible. You don’t want to have to stop suddenly. The key is to ease to a stop.
The most important step is to pay close attention to the gas pedal. The key to hypermiling is to find a steady speed between 55 and 60 mph and then keep your foot on the pedal at the same degree. You don’t want to be pushing the pedal or releasing it constantly. Even if the speed slows or speeds up a bit, keep the pedal steady.
Here are some more suggestions on how to hypermile to save money on gas:
Drive as if you don’t have breaks, meaning you shouldn’t stop and start again as much as you normally do. Stopping and starting kills gas mileage. Coast as much as you possibly can. Increase the distance between you and other cars around you.
Be gentle with the accelerator. When you slam down on the gas pedal it pushes more fuel into the engine, making it run faster. Try to avoid idling. Turning off the engine when you stop for more than one minute can improve fuel efficiency by 19%. In cold weather, letting your car idle to warm up reduces fuel economy and creates additional pollution; all you need to do is drive gently for 5-10 minutes. Go slower up hills and faster downhill. It’s better for your fuel economy if you drive at a steady speed, which is why using cruise control and driving at or below the speed limit is important in hypermiling.
Check your tire pressure regularly. If the tires are incorrectly inflated, then there will be excess drag, or not enough surface contact with the road. The car therefore suffers a drop in efficiency. Reduce the amount of stuff in your trunk. The more weight you’re carrying, the more the engine and drive-train have to work. Remove all of that unused junk in the trunk and it will increase the efficiency.
