Hypermiling with Dave

We've recently become aware of a relatively new term in the "Mileage Game" and that term is HYPERMILING.

So that you know FULLY just what HYPERMILING really is... here's the explanation offered by Wikipedia.org (The Free Encyclopedia).

Hypermilers are drivers who exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated fuel efficiency on their vehicles by drastically modifying their driving habits, sometimes even without regard for the safety implications of other drivers or the law.

For example, it is illegal in most states to shut off the engine of the vehicle while in motion on a road.

The term 'hypermiler' originated from hybrid vehicle driving clubs and Wayne Gerdes in particular.

As people began comparing fuel efficiency, they noticed that by using certain driving techniques, they could greatly improve their mileage.

With the aid of Real Time Mileage Displays, drivers were able to refine these driving techniques and greatly exceed the EPA rating for their vehicle.

Decades before the word 'hypermiler' was used, the techniques were used in events such as Mobil Economy Run dating to 1936.

Gas rationing during World War II forced some drivers to adopt these techniques, but they largely fell out of favor with the population after the war.

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So, just exactly what is it that you SHOULD do to become one of these "Hypermilers?"

If you've read or browsed our blog before, you know that I constantly preach "slowing down" as a great way to save gas. That hasn't changed. But what I believe is the NUMBER ONE thing all of us can do to save on fuel is to begin PAYING MORE ATTENTION to our driving and LESS attention to all those things like TEXTING, chatting on the cell phone, curling your hair, putting on makeup, shaving, etc... We must ALL start focusing on our driving.

What do I mean? You can EASILY pick up several extra miles per gallon with some really "easy to implement" methods.

#1. If you pay attention and maintain a more even speed and "drive as if" you had an EGG between your foot and the accellerator pedal (So as to NOT break the egg) you would gain mileage!

#2. Stay back from the person ahead of you so that you don't have to JAM on your brakes so often. Any time that you can ease off the gas and achieve, what would otherwise require braking, you're saving fuel AND those expensive brake jobs!

#3. When you see that you're going to have a RED light ahead... ease off the gas right away and COAST up to the light. If you have a MANUAL transmission, just ease in on the clutch and coast. If yours is an automatic, you can just ease off the gas or go one step farther and slip the transmission into Neutral.

#4. If the light should turn GREEN before you stop the forward motion of your vehicle, and there are no cars stopped ahead of you, gently ease your vehicle back into gear and GENTLY ease back up to the desired speed. NOTE: Any time that you can do this, you save a LOT of fuel! It's one of those 'Laws of Physics' that has to do with saving energy by not loosing all your forward momentum. That's a very "non-technical" way of saying it... but it's true anyway.

#5. As you search online for more mileage tips, you will probably notice that many places make reference to Mile Per Gallon Meters. Your car may already have one of these and... in case it does not, there are options. If your car or truck was manufactured in 1996 or later, there is a "plug-in option" that you can purchase and use instantly! We found a TRUSTED SOURCEand encourage you to visit them to get a SCAN GAUGE II. It plugs right into a receptacle under the dash and you will be able to read your mileage as you go... thereby helping you to drive more efficiently and achieve MUCH greater mileage!



#6. As your next Oil and Filter change interval, consider MOVING UP to Synthetic lubricants, if you're not already doing that. We suggest that you choose AMSOIL as it is absolutely the BEST of the choices. For some background on why we say that... go HERE.

More in our next issue, coming soon.

Hypermilin' Dave