Resolve To Drive Efficiently To Get Best Gas Mileage
Posted: Sunday, January 01, 2012
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
Have you ever heard of hypermiling? It is a competition for drivers to vie for best possible gas mileage. The drivers literally pinch every single drop of gas out of their own cars to get incredible fuel economy.
A transportation researcher, Tai Stillwater, from the University of California (Davis) is one of the enthusiasts of hypermiling. He reports that statistics from such competitions can be both mind boggling and unbelievable. One record is an incredible 81.5 mpg for a stock 2010 Fusion Hybrid by Ford, running a total 1,146 miles on one single gas tank.
I did not know hypermiling even existed. Just don’t try some of this yourself – Hypermiling is “drafting behind 18 wheelers, removing the backseat to save weight, or zooming around corners without braking (to avoid losing momentum).”
Here are Stillwater’s suggestions for saving gas and getting better mileage without resorting to hypermiling:
Remove the roof rack
Get rid of anything outside of your car that decreases aerodynamics or adds drag. Consider items such as bike carriers, ski racks, luggage racks, and even decorative flags as increased drag on the car. Also, open windows at highway speeds work against the car’s aerodynamics.
Maintain a slower speed
Read known statistics. Going just 5 miles over 60 increases your price per gallon by $.29. This price per gallon climbs as you boost your speed to 70, 75 or more. Ouch!
Drive smoothly
The Environmental Protection Agency has weighed in on this one. It’s a proven fact that drivers who slowly and consistently accelerate from a stop or changing lanes can save money per gallon. In addition, coasting without losing momentum and being easy on brakes saves wasted gas. Jack rabbit starts literally swallow up your gas and are best avoided altogether. Using cruise control at highway speeds is an excellent way to maintain a steady driving speed. Besides, setting your cruising speed just slightly beyond the posted speed (the word is slightly and is a compromise for our hotfoots) will most certainly save you from getting a hateful ticket.
Turn off the car
Idling is a fuel waster. Just letting the engine idle for 10 or 15 minutes burns over a quarter gallon of gas, more if the air conditioning is running. I have also read statistics that the more a car idles on a regular basis, the more likely it is to develop engine problems. In fact, I have also been told that warming up the car regularly is out – instead, start the car, and slowly move it out of the driveway and onto the road, warming it up as you go. It is better for the car to slowly move the fluids through the frigid engine to warm it. Obviously, if you are confronted with traffic or speed, you have to use your best judgment.
Remove extra weight from the trunk
A lighter load is less work for the engine. An extra 100 pounds can cut fuel economy. This is most true for smaller cars. Keep your load light, and remove anything that adds extra weight.
These are common sense recommendations. I do these most of the time but I do use my Pathfinder as a truck. You’ll find a trunk full of grain and shavings or worse in the car – I never allow the load to remain in the trunk for any length of time while it is parked, however, since I think heavy loads put a strain on the underpinnings and springs.
Just thought I’d share what I recently learned during a differential checkup.
The Old Gray Mare writes for www.DressYourHorse.com and her Blog sites.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Amazing article. This is what I told my husband about those nutty interstate drivers, who pass you, then slow down, and speed up to pass you again. I drive a small Ford I bought last year, and I do not like the mileage of a VW....mine was never accurate, of course it was a Passat. My Ford gets much better mileage. I get 40 mpg on highway, which is what I travel most. I didn't buy a hybrid last year, because they get more mpg around town, and not as much on highway. We have more rural roads, and interstates that I use, than in town travel.
I promise not to do the hypermilling, but it sounds so cool...I guess that's what those knuckleheads are doing when they're right behind the 18 wheelers up close and pretty personal. They drafting I guess. Too close for comfort for me. I have slowed down a lot because I mostly carry precious cargo now. I couldn't bear it if I had something serious happen with a grandchild in the car with me or even anybody else, and for me that includes the dogs too. So I'm more likely to drive between 70 and 72 being tops. Occasionally I'll push it because I'm late and then chastise myself about it. We've got a history of high mileage in our family - we drive far and often. Our cars last forever. I think we do something right. Your Ford should work out really well for you. It already gets great mileage so you're good to go. Rural roads are OK as long as you don't get someone that speeds up and slows down ahead of you. People on the highway are nuts - many of them. With all the emphasis on gas and mileage, I thought it would be cool to tell what I've learned from my car guy. Really appreciate the read!
Thanks- I get 32mpg in my old Neon- but now it burns oil too.You get some pretty good mileage. Too bad about the oil. You just have to stay on top of it. Thanks for reading. Hope you get more great use out of the Neon. Old doesn't matter - only dependability.
Great article. And I love your graphics.I'm glad you like them. Thanks for being there and hanging in with me. Life is a bit crazy. Still. Am peddling. Hope you're having a great New Year so far.
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