Hypermiling – Can it save you money?

With the spike in oil prices looming on everyone’s mind a new fade seems to have taken hold called Hypermiling. Hypermiling is essentially a method of increasing your vehicles gas mileage by making changes to the way you drive. Some Hypermiling proponents say that you can actually triple your gas millage.

So What can you do? According to the experts it boils down to a few things.

1. Know your Gas Mileage! Start keeping track of how many miles to the gallon you are getting, that way you know what is working and what is just hype.
2. Stop Driving aggressively. Aggressive drivers apply there breaks up to 25% more than the average drivers. All this extra braking wastes a lot of gas.
3. COAST – Let your foot off the gas the second that you see a red light and coast to the light. Try to minimize the time you spend fully stopped with your engine idling. Stop burning the gas that you wouldn’t use while you are stopped.
4. Avoid Traffic -Knowing when and when not to use certain routes can help you save a load of money. Check the traffic conditions before you leave and your wallet will thank you.
5. Accelerate Slowly – Testing has shown that Accelerating slowly away from green lights and stopping gradually for red lights can cut fuel consumption by 35.4 percent
6. Use you Cruise control
7. Remove cargo racks to cut down on aerodynamic drag.
8. Keep your tires properly inflated.
9. Ride the ridge – Riding along the painted white line decreases friction. Friction decreases your fuel economy by adding drag to the vehicle.

One thing we want to mention is Drafting. It seems that some hypermiling proponents are actually recommending this as a method to save gas. While it is true that drafting can help you save some gas it can also end your life, so remember to please drive responsibly. Saving Gas is great but it’s not going to help you when your dead or sitting in jail for driving like an idiot.

Have any Fuel Saving Ideas? Let us know.