GAS MILEAGE

Hypermiling Defined!

August 1, 2019 by admin 2 Comments

Disclaimer: Never put yourself or other drivers in harm’s way when practicing some of these techniques which may, incidentally, be illegal in some jurisdictions.

Hypermiling with three pedals at the ready.

There is a group of people on the roads who seek to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of fuel than seems scientifically possible. Known as hypermilers, these individuals examine the EPA fuel ratings for their vehicles, then find ways to beat those numbers by 5, 10 or 20 or more miles per gallon.

Hypermiling may seem like some off-beat way of driving, but it just may be something that you are already embracing in a bid to save fuel. Let’s take a look at hypermiling and what it means for those who participate in this fuel-saving strategy.

Hypermiling Defined

Simply put, hypermiling is a process where car owners make adjustments to their vehicles or to their driving techniques (usually both) in an effort to maximize a vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

Such drivers typically operate their cars at lower speeds and engage in coasting to maximize their mileage. You should know that not every method here is safe and Auto Trends isn’t endorsing the practice, but we are pointing out the strategies that some drivers employ to increase their gas mileage.

Enhance the Tires

Importantly, never do anything with your tires to potentially harm them. Tires should always have sufficient tread and be inflated to the car manufacturer’s recommended pounds per square inch (PSI) rating when cold. Some drivers opt for low-roll resistance tires, which can increase fuel economy, but may also affect handling.

What some hypermilers like to do is to attach wheel skirts to the rear wheels in a bid to better manage airflow, a method used to increase fuel efficiency. If you install skirts, ensure that they are securely fastened, otherwise, they may fall off and litter the highway.

Kill Your Comfort

Serious hypermilers also resist using the air conditioning as they know that the climate control system is a drain on fuel efficiency. It is a comfort-killing method that can be brutal to employ on a warm day.

But keeping the A/C off isn’t enough — all windows must be tightly shut, otherwise, wind drag will adversely affect fuel economy. As you might imagine, this step is only for the truly dedicated people who can withstand intense heat and the odoriferous results.

Cruise and Speed Control

One of the best ways for all drivers to save on fuel is to activate the cruise control at highway speeds. However, you do not want to activate the cruise control when roads are wet as you may inadvertently cause your vehicle to spin.

Hypermilers, though, may not rely on cruise control as they prefer to be in control of the car’s speed at all times. On the highway you can see them in the right lane, typically going well below the speed limit and hugging the white line on the right side of the far-right lane.

Where hills are involved, a hypermiler practitioner may build some momentum while climbing and then cut off the engine while moving down the hill, coasting his way along before restarting the engine. This step is possible only if the steering wheel doesn’t automatically lock when the engine is turned off. As long as you have control of the wheel and your foot is ready to apply the brake, you can pursue this option.

Go Light as in Real Light

If the previously mentioned tips are leaving you frowning, there are some other methods of achieving higher fuel mileage that may be more to your liking. Certainly, a number of hypermiler techniques seem extreme and some are not particularly safe.

For the rest of us, you can squeeze more miles out of a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel by doing the following:

1. Empty your trunk. For every 100 pounds of stuff in your trunk or behind your back seat, your vehicle fuel economy will fall by about 1 percent. As you might imagine, smaller cars benefit more from removing junk than larger vehicles.

2. Remove your roof rack. If you carry anything on the roof of your car, wind drag will harm fuel economy, dropping it by as much as 25 percent according to the EPA. Hypermilers not only avoid this practice, but they are also likely to remove the roof racks. However, they don’t stop there — some drivers remove the back seat and anything else inside the vehicle that can save weight without compromising safety.

3. Idling is awful. Hypermilers live for green lights and will often time their driving to avoid stops of any kind. You can’t always avoid the lights, but if you are stopped at an intersection for more than a minute or are waiting for a freight train to pass, cut off your engine and you will save fuel.

4. Start slowing and avoid braking. You will kill your fuel mileage if you employ any number of aggressive driving techniques, including rapid acceleration, quick braking, and speeding. Hypermilers essentially crawl away from a stop and gradually build back to their intended speed. When it comes to braking, they often do so only when absolutely necessary, timing their driving to pass through synchronized green lights.

Hypermiler Considerations

Devout hypermilers also employ a number of other strategies to help them improve their fuel economy. On highways, some prefer to ride immediately behind an 18-wheeler, allowing the big rig to absorb wind drag. The problem here is that some ride too close to trucks, thus the rig driver is not able to see them in his mirrors. Where a safety issue exists, avoid that practice.

Smart ways to save on fuel involve taking roads that are less traveled, taking advantage of tailwinds and avoiding crosswinds as well as headwinds. Taking to the road when the weather is warm, where traffic is light and when road conditions are favorable are other ways to save fuel. And if you have a GPS system, use it to avoid traffic delays or what can seriously hamper your fuel economy.

Notes

Jalopnik: Hypermiling Is Awful And I Sort Of Hate It — http://jalopnik.com/hypermiling-is-awful-and-i-sort-of-hate-it-1647016853

Ecomodder: 109 hypermiling / ecodriving tips — http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php

FuelEconomy.gov: Driving More Efficiently — http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.jsp

Photo attribution: Public domain photo via Wikimedia.

Why Does My Gas Mileage Vary?

December 8, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

Estimating gas mileage is something that the Environmental Protection Agency leaves in the hands of car manufacturers. The mileage that you see published on the window sticker represents an estimate for city and highway driving as well as a combined mileage estimate based on 55 percent local driving and 45 percent highway driving.

Gas Mileage

Although the EPA estimates offer a good guideline, your mileage will likely vary. And, lest you think manufacturers can submit any number and get away with it, that is not the case. In November 2012, Hyundai and Kia admitted that it had overestimated fuel economy on a number of its vehicles and has been fined by the EPA. Moreover, the two Korean companies will have to compensate affected vehicle owners and will likely face multiple lawsuits over erroneous MPG claims. An EPA audit of the two companies followed extensive consumer complaints about lousy gas mileage.

According to the EPA, your gas mileage will still vary and for the following reasons:

1. How and where you drive — Clearly, if you put the pedal to the metal and are one to use your vehicle as a race car, then your gas mileage will come in lower than the EPA estimates. Also, if nearly all of your driving is around town, your gas mileage will fall. Then again, if you do extensive highway driving and use your cruise control, you can get better gas mileage.

2. Maintenance and condition — If you follow your manufacturer’s recommended maintenance intervals, keep your tires properly inflated and change your air filters before they get clogged, then your gas mileage will not suffer. Neglect your maintenance and you will see your fuel economy fall accordingly.

3. Types of fuel — Winter blend fuel is less efficient than summer blend and E85 fuel will cause your gas mileage to drop by up to 30 percent. Use the grade of gasoline that is recommended for your car.

4. Vehicle differences — No two vehicles are alike and weight differences of several hundred pounds are possible. For instance, all-wheel-drive generally adds weight to a vehicle. Added equipment including roof rails, door steps, larger wheels, safety features and an extra row of seating can also impact gas mileage. By the way, the fuel economy estimates are for a vehicle with a single occupant; fill up your SUV with seven people, lots of luggage and pull a camper and your gas mileage will plunge.

5. A new car — New cars still have a break-in period ranging from approximately 500 to 1,000 miles. This means that the piston rings on the new engine still have to adjust and your gas mileage will come in lower, at least initially according to CarTalk.com.

(See Also — Fuel Types and Your Car)

Your Mileage

Yes, your fuel mileage will vary and will often come in under EPA estimates. However, you may be able to beat the averages too by babying your car, taking it easy on the accelerator and the brake, and using cruise control on the open road.

See Also — Top Tips for Getting Better Gas Mileage

Are Pickup Trucks Really Gas Guzzlers? Myths vs Reality

May 25, 2011 by Jason Lancaster 2 Comments

By Jason Lancaster

We’ve all heard that pickup trucks are some of the worst offenders when it comes to gas mileage. To hear the media tell it, pickup trucks are tremendous low-tech gas guzzlers that waste fuel in the worst possible way…but is this true? Is this another case of the media blowing a story out of proportion?

Let’s a take a look at some of the hard facts surrounding pickup truck fuel economy and see where the truth really lies:

Heavy vehicles do consume more fuel, but they do more work too

It’s true – pickups do burn more fuel than cars, but they’re also built for a different purpose. Where cars are simply commuter vehicles, trucks are all-purpose work vehicles.

Pickups are usually 20-50 percent heavier than a standard 3,000 pound automobile thanks to stronger frames, bigger engines and transmissions, and beefier components. This additional weight allows truck owners to haul or tow equipment, building and other materials for work. It also allows boat and recreational vehicle owners to go to the lake, camping and elsewhere. Trucks do burn more gas, but they can do a lot more work than a car…which means comparing them directly to a car isn’t really accurate or fair.

Many trucks are technologically advanced when it comes to efficiency

Engine technology has also come a long way over the past few years, and the 2011 Ford F-150 with EcoBoost is a perfect example of a truck with advanced fuel economy technology. The vehicle’s twin-turbo V-6 engine offers 365 horsepower and 420 foot pounds of torque, which is enough power to do some serious hauling and towing. However, despite all this power, the EcoBoost F150 is rated at 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway.

These full-size numbers are impressive considering that the much smaller and less capable 4 cylinder Toyota Tacoma compact pickup is rated at 21-mpg city and 25-mpg highway.

The point is, not all trucks are low-tech fuel wasters – many of them use the latest technology to try and improve efficiency as much as possible.

Trucks are singled out unfairly

Many members of the media lambast a full size truck with a big V-8 engine because it has a low fuel economy rating, but this same fact is true for a number of different vehicles. Exotic sports cars, for example, regularly have worse fuel economy ratings than pickups, as do full size luxury performance sedans. Yet how often are these vehicles singled out as gas guzzlers by the hand wringing media? The Bentley Arnage and a BMW M5 might drain its fuel tanks as fast as a quad-cab pickup, but most automotive experts are too busy blasting around the test track to stop and think about how wasteful these vehicles are.

Pickups might not get the best gas mileage, but they’re a heck of a lot more practical than an M5, aren’t they?

Sometimes, bigger trucks are more efficient

Many people assume that smaller pickups are more efficient, but this is often incorrect. If, for example, you need a truck for work, it often makes sense to buy the biggest truck you could possible need. The reason? If you buy as big as you could ever need, you’ll never be in a situation where you have to make two trips.

What’s the fuel economy benefit of driving a small truck if you have to make two or three trips to haul everything?

Pickups get a bad rap because some people use them inefficiently, but don’t throw stones

Is a big Toyota Tundra the perfect commute vehicle? No. Trucks aren’t supposed to be for commuting. If someone uses a big bad truck only as transportation – and not for any other purpose – they very well may deserve our collective ire. If these people could drive a more efficient vehicle, fuel costs might be lower, there might be less smog.

Of course, truck owners who only use their trucks to commute are no better or worse than people who waste electricity…or people who litter…or people who use energy to heat an empty home. Pickup truck owners who don’t use their vehicles for the intended purpose could definitely make a better vehicle choice, but none of us are perfect.

Pickup trucks get a lot of bad press for being inefficient, but the fact of the matter is that it’s not the pickups that are bad – it’s the people who use them wastefully. Let’s stop blaming the product and start changing the people.

Confessions of a New MINI Cooper Owner

January 14, 2011 by Andrew Rosen Leave a Comment

After several weeks of debate, I decided to make the plunge: I bought myself a MINI Cooper. Like most first-timers, I was hesitant. Do good things really come in small packages? Here are a few things you might not know about owning a MINI Cooper.

1. THE MESSAGE. The marketing doesn’t stop — even after you buy the vehicle! The MINI gang does a great job of reminding you that you are now part of a new family. They are always sending cool little gifts. From the MINI Adventure Kit that arrived six weeks after I purchased my Hardtop S to the stuffed bulldog and pewter keychain given to me at the dealership – these guys know how to get their message across. There is even a glossy MINI magazine mailed twice a year.

2. THE SPEED. To say that the MINI is “peppy” is an understatement. Thanks to a short body and 181 horses, passing other cars on the highway is a breeze. I am a cautious driver. I love that the engine is reactive and responsive, all while giving me a feeling of control.

3. THE GAS. The miles you squeeze out per gallon are determined by your driving style. City results have been respectable, but it’s the highway mileage that has really impressed me. I’m easily getting 35 miles per gallon. I sure don’t miss the gas station.

4. THE ACCOLADES. I already knew that the MINI attracts attention – but I had no idea how many heads it would turn and how envious friends, family and strangers would be. People are genuinely excited to get a close look and step inside. I might not be the coolest cat in town, but I think my street cred just went up a notch.

5. THE WEATHER. Snow, sleet, ice – no problem. I had serious reservations about my run-flat tires. But so far, so good. The MINI has performed like a champ in all types of weather. As long as you take it nice and easy, and stay away from high snow drifts, there’s no reason your MINI can’t escape from the garage on a snow day.

6. THE TANK. When I close the door on my MINI, I feel like I have entered a fortress of solitude. Every entry and exit is a reminder that I have not sacrificed safety to be some eco-friendly hipster.

7. THE SPACE. Yes, the car is small – but it is a model of successful ergonomics. I’ve yet to run into an everyday storage situation that the car couldn’t handle. The seats flip down with ease and having a hatch open is crazy convenient.

I don’t want to be a full-on MINI cheerleader, so let me tell you about a few things that I am not enamored with. When I first test drove the car I found the center console, with the supersized speedometer a bit, well, off center. I have had a difficult time getting used to it, and have found that it benefits the passenger far more than a driver.

Also underwhelming has been the MINI’s heating system. The thing takes a long time to heat up; given the cabin size, that’s unacceptable. The saving grace has been the heated seats (a must have!). I’d also like for the standard stereo to pump out a more dynamic sound. Aside from the volume being relatively low, I find that I am often missing extreme highs and lows – even on satellite and HD radio.

Overall the MINI is the perfect car for my lifestyle, Unless there are triplets in my future, I can see owning a MINI for life.