Have you heard of the latest craze to get the best gas mileage out of your car or truck, it’s called “Hypermilling”? Being a hypermiller involves using any tips or tricks (and sometimes even a complete change in driving style) to squeeze every last MPG out of your vehicle. And it’s not surprising that with gas prices steadily rising, it’s catching on in a big way.
Hypermillers have certainly been the subject of discussion on internet car and driver forums, and have had their fair share of publicity in the media. So is this Hypermilling a new idea for improving gas mileage, or is it just a review of all the old gas-saving tricks we’ve all heard before?
Well, it seems that a lot of these tips date back to the 1940s and 1950s when gas was in short supply and rationed due to the effects of a world war. Some of those tips and techniques that were tried back then are now standard ways to improve gas mileage and have become well established, and many of these tips are now just common sense.
For example, a heavy car that is loaded with excess weight will use more gasoline than one that runs with less weight. With the minimal amount of weight being transported in the form of useless luggage, the improvements in gas mileage can be considerable. Even if you remove things you won’t need on a daily basis, like a heavy bag of golf clubs from your trunk, it could save you a few pennies a gallon.
If your car has cruise control, use it as this is another way to improve your fuel economy. A 2005 study by the automotive website Edmunds.com showed that using cruise control at highway speeds could give you an average fuel economy of 7%.
If you are a fast driver or one who accelerates quickly and then has to brake just as quickly, then you will use much more gas than a driver who is a stable Eddie. Stay on the speed limit, accelerate and brake smoothly, and don’t rev the engine while stationary (at red lights, etc.), just let it idle as it should to save gas.
Keeping your car in good shape and in good running condition will also give you good gas mileage improvements. Have your car serviced at the recommended intervals, as an engine that’s running in tip-top condition will use much less fuel than one that coughs and splutters just because it needs a simple inexpensive tune-up.
Another thing is just a matter of common sense, things like making sure your tires are inflated correctly will not only save you gas, but also give you a safer ride, as under-inflated tires are a safety hazard.
These are just some of the tips and tricks you should use to be a hypermiller and get the best gas mileage out of your car; added together, they’ll give you some definite fuel savings.