Hypermiling Driving Techniques – Do They Really Give You Better Gas Mileage?
Hypermiling is a term used to describe a set of techniques or driving habits used to get the most miles possible from a tank of gas. Although hypermiling driving techniques are often associated with hybrid cars, they are gaining popularity with owners of all types of vehicles due to current gas prices. Some of the simpler methods can make a small difference, while the more extreme techniques are not practical or safe enough to be worth the effort.
Coasting down an incline can save fuel because the engine doesn’t have to work to keep the car moving. However, it is against the law in many places to coast down hill in neutral or with an open clutch due to safety concerns. Turning the engine off while coasting is not a safe tactic because power steering and brakes are lost and there is a chance of the steering wheel locking. The benefit gained from coasting is also lost because fuel must be used to restart it.
Another trick that is becoming popular among hypermilers is to brake only when necessary. The principle of this hypermiling driving technique is to conserve energy by reducing the need to accelerate again. Conserving forward momentum is a good strategy, but extreme examples such as taking curves at unsafe speeds and rolling through stop signs should be avoided.
By optimizing your traffic route you can travel a shorter distance or avoid stop and go traffic. It may even be possible that a slightly longer route is more fuel efficient than a shorter route if it has fewer stops. Traffic with frequent stops hurts gas mileage because it takes more energy to accelerate than to maintain a steady speed.
Since tires create rolling resistance relative to their contact surface, some hypermilers overinflate their tires in an effort to increase gas mileage. It will reduce the tires drag against the road, but it will also lower traction and cause uneven tire wear. Having to replacing prematurely worn tires will likely offset any money saved from the small increase in gas mileage.
While it’s true that drafting a bigger vehicle may decrease wind resistance against your car, it’s one of the more dangerous hypermiling techniques. Following a large vehicle too closely reduces your field of vision and gives you less room to stop safely. Other drivers may find this irritating and likely won’t understand that you’re trying to improve your gas mileage.
Driving the posted speed limit is one of the simpler hypermiling techniques, but is a safe way to improve fuel economy. Most speed limits will keep the cars engine in an optimal rpm range which means less wasted energy. Cruise control is not only a great way to maintain the speed limit, but is also the most fuel efficient way to maintain speed.