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Web sites promote "hypermiling" to save on fuel, any other methods to add on
According to the following yahoo news article, 'hypermiling,' the method can double gas mileage. Are there any other methods out there can be added on.
By Jon Hurdle Wed Apr 30, 5:44 PM ET
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - As U.S. gasoline prices hit records on almost a daily basis, an increasing number of motorists are following a radical driving technique designed to eke out every last mile from a tank of fuel.
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Known as 'hypermiling,' the method can double gas mileage, even in gas-guzzling vehicles that would normally get less than 20 mpg.
Promoted on a growing number of Web sites, hypermiling includes pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls, which may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals; using engine oil of a low viscosity, and the controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag -- a practice begun a few years ago by truck drivers.
The price of gasoline -- which hit a record of nearly $3.61 per gallon on Tuesday, according to travel club AAA -- has rapidly emerged as the public's biggest economic concern.
Gas prices are a "serious problem," ahead of jobs, and healthcare, according to a poll released on Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The "advanced" techniques of hypermiling are in addition to well-known approaches including keeping speed down, accelerating gently, avoiding excessive idling and removing cargo racks to also cut down on aerodynamic drag.
Adherence to hypermiling and other disciplines are designed to boost mileage well in excess of the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration's official ratings, which apply to each car model.
COSTS SAVED
Wayne Gerdes, a former nuclear plant operator from Wadsworth, Illinois, and the originator of hypermiling, said he gets 40-70 mpg out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck, about doubling its official fuel consumption of 25 mpg.
Gerdes, 47, estimates that hypermiling has saved him $15,000 in fuel since he began the technique after the attacks of September 11, events that convinced him that U.S. national security was being undermined by its dependence on oil from the Middle East, and motivated him to reduce his own fuel consumption.
"If every vehicle in the U.S. got 45 miles per gallon, we would not import any oil," he said.
Deron Lovaas, vehicles campaign director at environmental group the Natural Resources Defense Council, said most hypermiling techniques are "sensible recommendations" that could drive down demand and even prices if widely adopted.
"We should be looking under every rock for potential energy savings," he said.
He said he could not recommend drafting behind fast-moving trucks because it could potentially lead to highway accidents.
Hypermiling can even make fuel-sipping gas-electric hybrid cars more efficient. Chuck Thomas, 50, a computer programmer from Lewisville, Texas, said he has been getting 71 mpg from his Honda Insight, a hybrid whose EPA rating is 58 mpg, in the two years since he has been hypermiling.
Among Thomas' techniques is "pulse and glide" in which he accelerates and then coasts with the engine off until around 15 mph when he kicks the engine back on and accelerates again. "It's the automotive equivalent of skateboarding," he said.
By Jon Hurdle Wed Apr 30, 5:44 PM ET
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - As U.S. gasoline prices hit records on almost a daily basis, an increasing number of motorists are following a radical driving technique designed to eke out every last mile from a tank of fuel.
if(window.yzq_d==null)window.yzq_d=new Object();window.yzq_d='&U=13c04c320%2fN%3dqTbyKkLEYrI-%2fC%3d499324.12562999.12919407.12174408%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d4324550';
Known as 'hypermiling,' the method can double gas mileage, even in gas-guzzling vehicles that would normally get less than 20 mpg.
Promoted on a growing number of Web sites, hypermiling includes pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls, which may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals; using engine oil of a low viscosity, and the controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag -- a practice begun a few years ago by truck drivers.
The price of gasoline -- which hit a record of nearly $3.61 per gallon on Tuesday, according to travel club AAA -- has rapidly emerged as the public's biggest economic concern.
Gas prices are a "serious problem," ahead of jobs, and healthcare, according to a poll released on Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The "advanced" techniques of hypermiling are in addition to well-known approaches including keeping speed down, accelerating gently, avoiding excessive idling and removing cargo racks to also cut down on aerodynamic drag.
Adherence to hypermiling and other disciplines are designed to boost mileage well in excess of the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration's official ratings, which apply to each car model.
COSTS SAVED
Wayne Gerdes, a former nuclear plant operator from Wadsworth, Illinois, and the originator of hypermiling, said he gets 40-70 mpg out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck, about doubling its official fuel consumption of 25 mpg.
Gerdes, 47, estimates that hypermiling has saved him $15,000 in fuel since he began the technique after the attacks of September 11, events that convinced him that U.S. national security was being undermined by its dependence on oil from the Middle East, and motivated him to reduce his own fuel consumption.
"If every vehicle in the U.S. got 45 miles per gallon, we would not import any oil," he said.
Deron Lovaas, vehicles campaign director at environmental group the Natural Resources Defense Council, said most hypermiling techniques are "sensible recommendations" that could drive down demand and even prices if widely adopted.
"We should be looking under every rock for potential energy savings," he said.
He said he could not recommend drafting behind fast-moving trucks because it could potentially lead to highway accidents.
Hypermiling can even make fuel-sipping gas-electric hybrid cars more efficient. Chuck Thomas, 50, a computer programmer from Lewisville, Texas, said he has been getting 71 mpg from his Honda Insight, a hybrid whose EPA rating is 58 mpg, in the two years since he has been hypermiling.
Among Thomas' techniques is "pulse and glide" in which he accelerates and then coasts with the engine off until around 15 mph when he kicks the engine back on and accelerates again. "It's the automotive equivalent of skateboarding," he said.
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Comments
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Promoted on a growing number of Web sites, hypermiling includes pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls, which may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals; using engine oil of a low viscosity, and the controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag
Forget road safety, lets safe some cash!0 -
Very interesting...I have a Prius and get over 60 mpg at the moment, and we are still in our first 10,000 miles. So I expect it to keep ramping up.
I use a few of these techniques; pulse and glide [the engine turns onto electric when not accelerating as part of it's make-up], and accelerate gently, coast when I can, and draft behind big vehicles [when not in a hurry] and very rarely brake [you have to anticipate stopping and let the car slow rather than waste energy by braking all the time].
If I drove this car like I used to drive, I would probably get around 35-40 mpg; and I'm very happy with driving this way which means less stops at petrol stations.
I wouldn't inflate the tyres too much though...0 -
I just want to say:
Pumping up tyres over the recommended pressure is down right dangerous. Fuel economy will be marginally better, but there is a risk of a very nasty blow out.
Tailgating the car in front is also extremely dangerous for you and the other car. The fuel saving benefits will be negligible, so why risk your life and the car in front, for your own greedy self.
The best way to be fuel efficient is to drive a small engined car, keep it well maintained and drive it gently and smoothly.0 -
I can see some people trying this pulse / coast thing in regular cars and causing accidents. A Prius might be designed to do this sort of thing, but most cars loose brake and steering power with the engine off.
Is pulse and glide a good idea in the congested UK?
To avoid causing congestion and frustration in other drivers you need to be driving a reasonable constant speed as fast as speed limits and road conditions allow (Institue of Advanced Motorists teach this view). Pulse and glide disturbing traffic flow will just cause a ripple effect in a line of traffic increasing fuel consumption and emissions for all other cars in the area. Driving too slowly to conserve fuel decreases road capacity, increases congestion and increases fuel consumption overall. One cars minimum efficient speed is not the same as another. Most family sized cars with 6 speed gearboxes need 55mph+ to use 6th gear, older 5 speed gearboxes and you can get away with 45-50mph.
If you have the road to your self - do as you will, when there are other cars about keep the flow of traffic going which minimises emissions overall.
On the subject of the Prius http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/used_car_reviews/article3552994.ece
OK I admit I drive a BMW, a 2.5 year old 320d which when tested by What Car against the Prius on that market back then beat it. In the real world What Car got 44mpg long term average out of the 320d and 42mpg out of the Prius and there was a lot of town driving in their day to day routes.
Using low viscosity oil - might save fuel, but if your not using the correct grade of oil for your engine design you will burn oil and / or damage the engine resulting in higher costs and environmental impact. You need to stick with the recommended oil for your car regardless.
Onto things which can be done:
Minimise braking by anticipating what is ahead
Try to do accelerating when going down hill
Never have the engine running on the drive first thing in the morning to warm the car up - especially in winter - wastes fuel, the engine takes longer to warm up and engine wear is much worst until operating temperature is reached.
Diesel car owners - use an additive like Millers Diesel Power Sport 4 in regular diesel, saves around 5% to 7% on average on fuel and helps to keep your engine cleaner. This is equivalent to using a premium fuel like BP Ultimate Diesel but at lower cost. I recon save about £80 a year doing this on 14K miles a year and the engine is a bit smoother, quieter and possibly a tiny bit more responsive.
For diesel engines, do your accelerating up to cruise speed in the engines peak torque band, usually 2000 to 3500 rpm, this way you get into top gear and constant cruise earliest, which is most efficient for a diesel engine. I've compared changing up a gear at 2000rpm with using the peak torque range for acceleration over 2 week periods (a tank of fuel) and get a good 2 to 3 mpg more this way. Trouble with changing up a gear at 2000rpm is that you spend a lot more time in a lower gear this way.
All this is just my opinion of course
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The best way to be fuel efficient is to drive a small engined car, keep it well maintained and drive it gently and smoothly.
Even this depends on your circumstances. If you put a smaller engine which is may be under powered for the weight you need to transport, that engine can be working too hard, outside it's best efficiency and use more fuel than a bigger engine.
A few examples contrary to official EU fuel consumption figures:
Audi A2 1.4TDI - many owners report fuel consumption no where near official test figures and higher than the same car with the 1.9TDI engine in it which acheive much closer to official figures.
Some years ago 1.6 petrol engine Mondeo owners would find higher fuel consumption than those with the more torquey 1.8.
I used to have a 2.5L V6 petrol car which marginally beat the 2.0L 4 cylinder petrol cars I had before on fuel consumption. I can only assume it was because cruising on the motorway the revs were considerably lower with the 2.5 V6 compared to the smaller engines.
And how much longer will the bigger engine last avoid the need to manufacture a new engine for longer?0 -
The quoted article. They call it "drafting" while the rest of the world calls it "slipstreaming" but that's the Septics for you.0
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Who mentioned tailgating???
To get any effect from slipstreaming/drafting you have to be very close the vehicle in front. a few metres behind and you will actually be in the turbulant air of the vehicle in front and be wasting fuel as you car pushes through it.
For this reason tail gating seems an appropriate term.0 -
To get any effect from slipstreaming/drafting you have to be very close the vehicle in front. a few metres behind and you will actually be in the turbulant air of the vehicle in front and be wasting fuel as you car pushes through it.
For this reason tail gating seems an appropriate term.
F1 and BTCC cars don't slipstream a few metres from the car behind. A few metres is almost a whole car length. To slipstream you need to be about 50cm from the car in front.The man without a signature.0 -
vikingaero wrote: »F1 and BTCC cars don't slipstream a few metres from the car behind. A few metres is almost a whole car length. To slipstream you need to be about 50cm from the car in front.
Exactly, thats what I said. When I said a "few metres" I meant that most people driving on the road should be driving a few metres behind the car in front for safety reasons. If you are going to be slipstreaming the car in front to save fuel you need to be very close up their backside, which is called tailgating and is dangerous, so there is no way you should do this to save fuel. This was in response to the question "who mentioned tailagating?", I was stating that if you're slipstreaming, then your tailgating.0
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