Guide to saving gas - hypermilers perspective

[Hot Georgia]

Hi.
I've been training in hypermiling since 2004, and currently getting around 61MPG (+800 miles/tank) in my commuter car, an automobile rated at 47. My personal efficiency record was in Aug 2006 where I crossed 1,004 miles on a single tank for 74.9MPG (Calculated miles driven/gallons used)

I used to have a favorable off-hour commute which allowed my record- But since then have joined the Atlanta rush hour traffic, and so a lower average.

Some of these tips can be controversial.
Some of these tips can be dangerous if not done properly.
All of these tips can save you gas money.
All these tips are not for everybody, so if you're not comfortable with them then don't do them. Traffic condition safety effect all of these suggestions.

If you use any of these tips, take it with moderation. You should enjoy your driving experience so if you are not comfortable then "step back a little".

My goal have always been #1Safety #2Courtesy #3Efficiency. I've never been victim of road rage, exept for two days when I had a bumper sticker "I GET 65MPG ... YOU?" I removed the sticker and immediately went back to normal.

The more you apply these tips, the more you'll save on gas. Of course, the opposite also applies.
I have omitted usual, well known tips like no jack rabbit starts etc

With that said ...

Driving for efficiency is a mindset. You can't decide to be efficient one day but not the next: It is not one or two main things you do, but a large collection of little things, every decision you make along your trip. If you drive very efficiently for a number of miles, then gas hard to pass someone- your whole earned efficiency is wasted.

*First get your vehicle ready.
1. Make sure the engine is running properly, not lacking maintenance(Including filters).
2. Have front end aligned at least every 20K miles.
3. Tire inflation

There is usually a MFG recommended tire pressure sticker located in your driver side door jam. This should be considered MINIMUM pressure. You won't be getting optimum efficiency out of soft, spongey tires so consider an increase. Some increase a little, but I run mine all the way up to the cold pressure rating as printed on the tire sidewall.
My previous set lasted to 88,000 miles and wore evenly across.
It is a ride hard as rock, but as efficient as possible.

4. Install a block/tank heater for the winter months, and consider a radiator block as well.
5. Empty all the junk out of your trunk. Do you really need to carry that 50lb toolbox where ever you go?
6. Fuel consumption gauges help you learn efficiency, but all are not the same. Some update every few minutes- rather useless. Better to have the type which gives you instant, real-time measurements like the scangauge http://www.scangauge.com/

*REDUCE SPEED
Your vehicle is most efficient while cruising on level ground between about 40-55MPH and sharply drops off above 60. It burns about twice the amount of fuel to go 70 than it does to go 50. These are my general average speeds:
70 Limit: 63
65:58
55:54
I'm always in the Right lane, and pass 1-3 cars a week, while I'm passed by thousands. Folks generally get behind for a while then go around. Again, I've never seen rage and some just "hang" safely behind for 10's of miles on end.

I love slow moving trucks because I can remain behind at a safe distance and not be noticed. I was blessed a few days ago with one going 53-65 in a 70- and gained about 10MPG for that segment.
I commute almost 50 miles to work, and my slower speed only adds a few minutes.
*START IT UP AND BE RIGHT ON YOUR WAY.
Don't let your engine idle for more than a few seconds without moving. Let it lube up and get going.
*BE EXTREMELY EASY ON IT DURING ENGINE WARMUP
Your vehicle is a comparative gas consuming pig during warmup. Treat it so, and accelerate as lightly as possible. This is especially critical for shorter trips.
*IF YOU KNOW YOU WON"T BE STAYING LONG
If you know you won't be staying long (At a store, picking up a friend etc) don't take so much time that your engine cools off again.
*KEEP THE HEATER OFF DURING ENGINE WARMUP
(For cold weather months) See the tip above. Your engine will heat up faster if it has to heat only itself, vs itself and the cabin.
Once warmed up then enjoy the heat.
*KEEP OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL
Drive with constant load, not constant speed. It means letting your speed drop while going uphill, and increase going downhill. Think of yourself as riding a bicycle. Would you really want to keep constant speed (Effort) up that tall hill? Sure, if you were looking to burn more calories (Energy).
*KNOW THE TERRAIN OF YOUR COMMUTE
You travel the same road almost everyday- become familiar with every hill whether large or small, and memorize how much fuel is required for each one. (Scanguage helps with this)
*AVOID ACCELERATING UPHILL
Avoid accelerating uphill when possible. Accelerating downhill is more efficient.
*KEEP MOMENTUM
Try to keep momentum around corners, etc. Don't slow down/speed up unneccessarily, like on flat level roads.
*KEEP A DISTANT TRAFFIC BUFFER
Leave a lot of space to the car ahead. That way you can keep momentum and not be forced to mimick the other driver's bad habits.
*TIME TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Time your arrival so not to stop. Sometimes you can slow down and let the car ahead of you arrive first, tripping the light to green for you. For blind lights, make a good guess of the light status by oncoming traffic patterns.
*DRIVE LIKE YOUR BRAKES DON'T WORK
Imagie your brakes don't work: get off the gas well before the stop without using your brakes. Use it for the traffic lights tip above and in heavy traffic.
*USE AC INTELLIGENTLY
You don't usually need a rolling ice box so don't just set it and forget it. TURN OFF the compressor while climbing hills or other power-demanding situations like accelerating. It is more efficient to switch it ON while going downhill, or decelerating.
*USE DEFROSTER SPARINGLY
Your defroster also uses the AC compressor, which relates to the tip above.
*USE YOUR SHIFTERS "N" POSITION
Again, use good safety judgement. Don't roll in N down a winding mountain pass. Don't ride your brakes. If it is doubtful, don't use this tip.
However, rolling in N (Or clutch pedal pushed) is one of the most efficient techniques you can use.
I often use this in heavy Atlanta traffic jams where one stops, waits, then rolls at .5 - 20 MPH for fifty feet, then stops again.
*DO NOT LET YOUR ENGINE IDLE WHILE STOPPED
Waiting in drive-thru's, stopped in traffic, waiting for traffic lights are all examples of when you can shut it off, and stop consuming gas.
*PARK FACING OUT
This goes with keeping momentum, and usually on a cold engine. If you park facing in, you'll need to go in reverse, stop, switch gears and go again.

You might want to consider my final tip. I use it because my car is equipped with electronic power steering assist. If it wasn't I probably wouldn't do it.
The procedure can be extremely dangerous if used in poor judgement. I use it in creeping heavy traffic, where speeds are no faster than about 10MPH. I also use it for a mile through my town, speed is below 35MPH.

The tip is to switch your ignition key to OFF, then back to RUN without restarting your engine. All the electronic saftety equipment boots back up, and you can do a low speed roll, using no gas at all. It is most efficient possible- and arguably among the most dangerous.
Again, if I didn't have electric power assisted steering, I probably wouldn't do it. The steering wheel would be just to heavy.

For reference:
http://www.gassavers.org http://www.cleanmpg.com

There's enough tips for now.
-Steve