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10 Hypermiling Tips to Improve Your Gas Mileage

by: Amy Cottrell

Posted on: Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 7:17 pm by: Amy Cottrell
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“Hypermiling” is the latest buzzword used by energy-conscious drivers. Adjusting your driving techniques in order to get the most miles per gallon is the art of hypermiling. Even those who aren’t concerned about the environment are at least concerned about their monthly gas bills. Therefore, it is in everyone’s interest to learn a few effective and safe hypermiling tricks. Below are 10 ways to improve your fuel economy.

1. Lighten Your Car - Before you even start your engine, you can start hypermiling by lightening your load. Remove all luggage racks, empty your trunk and never fill up your tank all the way. Depending on the size of your tank, you might be carrying up to an extra 100 pounds by filling it all the way.

2. Plan Your Trip - Hypermiling is not just about how you drive, it is also about where you drive. Rocky and hilly roads use more gas than a smooth, straight shot. Try to consider that when you plan your route. Most importantly, you will want to avoid idling in traffic. It may be worth it to take a scenic route if it means missing some really congested roadways.

3. Be Consistent - Do you have a lead foot or a tendency to move from one lane to the other out of boredom? Excessive accelerating, decelerating and swerving wastes gas. Try to drive at a consistent, steady pace whenever you can.

4. Drive Like You’re Bicycling - This is recommended by most experienced hypermilers. Pedaling too fast while you are going up a hill on a bicycle wastes energy, yes? Think of your car the same way when you are heading up and down hills. Accelerate just enough to get yourself over the hill, and then lift your foot up and coast down the hill a bit before you accelerate again.

5. Kill the A/C - If you are making a summer road trip across the Arizona desert, this may not be a practical method of saving gas. However, using the air conditioner can certainly drain your tank more than you realize. If you can handle a few minutes here and there without the air conditioner, this is good way to cut corners.

6. Use Cruise Control - This is a hotly debated topic among hypermilers. While some contend that cruise control can actually waste gas on a large incline, the handy feature can also prevent you from over-accelerating. If you find yourself speeding on the highway without realizing it, cruise control can really save some fuel along the way.

7. Park Wisely - Believe it or not, even the way you park can affect your fuel economy. Little things like circling a parking lot for a close spot can waste gas. How many times have you spent several minutes at a busy store doing that? Instead, try parking far away and giving your legs some exercise. Another great parking tip is to park in the shade, thus making it easier to go without the air conditioner when you get back in the car.

8. Anticipate Red Lights - The less time you spend idling in your car, the better. Therefore, it is better to slow down a bit rather than sit at a standstill in traffic. If you see a red light ahead of you, consider slowing down early and timing the distance so that you won’t have to completely stop for the light.

9. Go With the Wind - This isn’t always practical, but finding a slipstream to drive in can cut down on the resistance and drag that eats up unnecessary fuel. If you can drive in the same direction as the wind and still make it to your destination, do it.

10. Avoid Icy Conditions - Not only are icy roads dangerous, they affect your fuel economy. Snow tires will cause you to use more gas and so will any ice that accumulates on your car. Ice is actually quite heavy, so be sure to scrape off as much as possible if you must drive in freezing temperatures.

These are just a few examples of hypermiling tricks. The most dedicated hypermilers try tactics such as turning off the engine while coasting or driving closely behind a semi in order to gain momentum. These tricks are not recommended, as they can be quite dangerous. However, the above advice can be followed by anyone and consistent use of hypermiling tricks really will help your budget.