Hypermiling: Getting "Regular" Cars Up To 70+ MPG

It's really no surprise that the combination of various gas-saving techniques known collectively as 'hypermiling' are getting more attention these days with oil hitting record highs (though part of it is because of the weakness of the US dollar).

Some hypermilers do it for sport, like that team that achieved 110 mpg, driving 47 hours and 1,397 miles on 12.87 gallons of gasoline, in a regular Toyota Prius. Or the DIY 'AeroCivic' that gets 95 mpg. Others do it to save money, or help the environment, and some are motivated by the 'national security' angle, like Wayne Gerdes who started hypermiling after Sept. 11, 2001. He says he gets 40-70 mpg out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck, about double the EPA rating.

Perfecting hypermiling requires some dedication, but the basic principles are easy to learn for all drivers: "pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls, which may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals [to reduce rolling resistance]; using engine oil of a low viscosity, and the controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag -- a practice begun a few years ago by truck drivers; keeping speed down, accelerating gently, avoiding excessive idling and removing cargo racks to also cut down on aerodynamic drag." Avoiding unnecessary braking and coasting to slow down.

If you've tried hypermiling, tell us about your experience in the comments.

::Web sites promote "hypermiling" to save on fuel

More Fuel Efficiency Articles

::Learn Why Driving at a Relatively Constant Speed is Greener

:: Team Achieves 110 MPG Average In Prius

::Drafting Behind Trucks: Does it Work?

::Bush's New Fuel Economy Rules Look Good... Until You Read All 417 Pages

::We Want Fuel Economy Feedback in All Cars

::Efficiency is Crucial to a Green Future

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[ENK727]

I've found following the speed limits and doing 55 on the highway helps. It's amazing how fast so many people drive and really go a good 10-15 mph over most of the posted speed limits. Also accelerating slowly and having a smaller car. So glad I never bought an SUV.

[aceholiday]

remove unused or unnecessary weight/creature comforts. easy

[mamacat]

I had a 1965 Chevrolet SS, that came stock with a vacuum gauge in the dash. Way back then, it easily got over 20mpg on the freeway, even with a 327 V-8 and a 4 barrel carburetor. Using that stock vacuum gauge got to be a habit, and helped to improve fuel economy. I have felt that GM made a big mistake not keeping up with aides to help the driver get better mpg.

[blueshift]

I'm only an ubermiler, if that. I get 34 highway, 28 average out of my AWD Volvo S-60 - a pretty good bump above the official epa ratings. It's not hard, now that the semitrailers have slowed down, allowing me access to the right lane so I can go 62. (A year ago, I would have been driven off the roads going any less than 75....thank heaven for $4 gas. Do I hear $5?)

Most important instrument on the car, after the speedometer, is the feedback computer so I can monitor mileage efficiency in real time. Why doesn't every car have one of these?!?

Also, as long as I'm not blocking other traffic, I coast to stops, let speed degrade on hills, try to restrict acceleration to downhills.

[RTIII]

I've been 'hypermiling' since the 1970s, though I don't use all the techniques all the time. In particular, freeway on ramps are often unsafe if you're accelerating too slowly. Similarly, many exit ramps are too short to provide enough room, and backing up a freeway for the extra mileage is not only frequently not safe, it's also rude...