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(interviewer purpoting this as apporved by hypermilers)..What that means is getting right up behind an 18-wheeler and into their slipstream (http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080710_13_WASH745730)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/nerd_hypermiler.jpgTulsa World - July 10, 2008

Jeff - Could you give your newspaper a call or comment online? - Ed

Washington — Drivers frustrated by soaring fuel prices are searching for ways to coax every last mile out of their vehicles.

Some of these "hypermilers" overinflate their tires or cut off their engines when coasting down hills.

Hypermiling encompasses a host of practices, "some of which are pretty good and others could border on dangerous," said John Nielsen, director of the AAA's Approved Auto Repair Network.

Nielsen talked to Gannett News Service recently about extreme fuel-saving techniques and products on the market that claim to improve gas mileage.
… http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080710_13_WASH745730

AAA just keeps on discrediting itself .......as its membership just keeps on plummenting

When asked "Any techniques out there that you would recommend? " the very first should be "drive the speed limit" followed by "drive as if you didn't have any breaks." Both of these will save a lot more gas than will taking the golf clubs out of the trunk.

Chuck

A reporter called me and wanted a interview,,, two weeks ago.

I hate the Tulsa World. From the people that own it to the horrid misinformation they always put out. I suggested to the reporter that he interview the Lorton Family that owns the paper and see what kind of mpg they get in the Bentley. I knew what ever I told them they would do the bait and switch. Just look at the BS they printed. They always do crap like that.

A know idiot paper in Arkansas contacted me today. I declined there request for interview.

The way I see it. They want to contact us so they can write a story of slander and untruths. So the advert. dept. can make big money. Not pay us a dime. Then members here donate money to get a release on a wire service. So they make money off us while members are defending themselves.

Ive written the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and asked them if they would like to do a ride and drive with me. Go from the very basics. that ,ost don't listen to. On to the mid range thinks stuff to the extreme. Be it on public roads or on a closed course like one of there officer drivers training grounds. No response from them.

I honestly believe most don't care be it private or public sector. They just want hype. Chuck big news last week in Oklahoma was "Garth Brooks Buys Beach House In Malibu!" Now let me tell you something about Okies and Garth. He is a very nice man. And people leave him and his family alone when they are out. People don't hound him. Its called respect. The news media knows this. But they bring a story up like that when they no,,, knowbody gives a rats but.

The news media is worthless. IMHO the word is out. Now let the people come forth and ask for help. Screw the press......

Chuck,,, I will help anybody. I will clinic. I will help folks with research on there cars. I will do anything I can. But many want you to do it for them. And that just blows my mind. Now I have pissed off a few folks that Ive worked with that can't drive much less HM. Ive got into a few cars and went off to clinic and it becomes very clear very fast. That they could not pass a drivers test. They run a stop sign, speed, take several corners to wide or can't hold a line. I ask them to take me back to the starting point. Get out and tell them they should not have a lic. and leave. I can't help folks that should not drive to start with. Ive brought up the very most basic skills needed to pilot a car to the press and that a lot of folks just flat don't know how to drive to start with. No speeding, No rolling stops, Hold the line in turns and sweeping corners. The press can't bring that up cause it challenges there cash cow.

Just forget the Tulsa World. They are idiots from the top down.

This really makes me glad that there was absolutely no mention of drafting in the segment I filmed a few months ago.

I just might have to contact the reporter about that and thank him.

Jeff,

After reading today's article, I believe everything you said about Tulsa World - everything.

One technique would be to use another vehicle to break the wind for you

I break wind for AAA all the time. Hey, pass me another beer, would ya? ;)

Harry

whoever the infidel was that was answering the questions needs to go back to basics.

The more you don't know, the more you think you know...

Are they also owned by the Gannett Press? Several of our local papers are also owned by the Gannett press and ever since they bought out our local papers the quality went down, the depth of the articles went down, the overall size of the paper went down, and the number of subscribers went down. It's as if they are intentionally producing garbage in the hopes that you'll subscribe to their main product which is the USA Today.

whoever the infidel was that was answering the questions needs to go back to basics.

The more you don't know, the more you think you know...

probably someone paid by the big oil companies.
________
Vaporizers (http://johan-luis.tumblr.com/)

I added a comment about tire pressure. Hope my european style sarcasm does not offend too many Tulsan's :) It just felt so good saying that the AAA clearly does not know what it is talking about.

Excuse me, but when exactly did AAA become the automotive authority for the press to go to for their automotive questions? Couldn't they have gotten a more informed response by contacting Motor Trend, Car and Driver, a professional race car driver, someone who teaches defensive driving, those two car brothers (click and clack?), or even Jay Leno would give a better informed answer. I hope Jay leaves the Tonight show and goes back to doing his own standup routine. He was great when he wasn't reading Tonight show writers' stuff. God I wish I could visit his car collection. I'd have to bring a bucket to carry my drool though.

Are they also owned by the Gannett Press? Several of our local papers are also owned by the Gannett press and ever since they bought out our local papers the quality went down, the depth of the articles went down, the overall size of the paper went down, and the number of subscribers went down. It's as if they are intentionally producing garbage in the hopes that you'll subscribe to their main product which is the USA Today.


It is owned in whole by the Lorton Family. World Publishing.

One of its claims to fame is it was one of the first papers to print in full color. Its always had a state of the art press room. People bought the sunday paper or special additions just to see the full color photos printed in the paper.

Oil money has always funneled through the paper. After all Tulsa use to be the oil capitol of the world. In the old days 80% of the major oil company's had there headquarters here. And the old oil money is still here and happy.

Of note,,, Ive been hearing Boone Pickens a OSU grad. Is about to throw a crap load of money into alt. fuel research. He is a old Ok, Tx oilman and one of the few remaining old dude wildcat types still alive. Hes old and I don't think he wants to take his money with him. His money lives deep in Tulsa. With its front men in Dallas and Houston. So this should be interesting.

Jeff, here you go: http://www.pickensplan.com/

Yawn. ZZZZZZ.

The only draft I'm interested in is the kind you drink! (Pass me another Sam Adams so I can toast the AAA's self-imolation!)

The only thing I agree with the article on is cutting off the engine while driving. that's not a practice I've ever done. As far as drafting tractor trailors... if you can't hit the brakes faster in a Civic than the guy driving the Peterbilt, you should NOT be driving!

Wouah, I very impress by the resistance that hypermiling meets.

Car and oil industries (that what AAA is) do not miss one occasion to make relation between hypermiling and follow a 18 wheels boat. Tailgating a 18 wheels for a hypermilers is equivalent to drive at 150% of the speed limit. This is the exception not the rule. Link hypermiling with trucks tailgating is a pure bad faith intention.

How come overspeeding is so acceptable and hypermiling is not at all in that sick society. Society that doesn't want to loose its right to pollute, consume all the ressources and dominate the world, I guess ?

I just hope that this is a minority that fight against the hypermiling like this and not the main stream. But this minority has a lot of visibility apparently,


Pierre M.

My mother-in-law says the same thing about hypermiling. It's dangerous to shut your engine off or to put it in neutral. I don't have power steering and my brakes work just fine. When I restart my 5-speed manual, you would never even know it. I get better tire life at higher pressures and I drive slower than the speed limit. I tend to agree that drafting is dangerous. Besides that, it's boreing and you may fall asleep. Who drives around with their golf clubs anyway. If those clubs are that heavy, you need to invest in a new set. That atricle is just plain STUPID.

Car and oil industries (that what AAA is) do not miss one occasion to make relation between hypermiling and follow a 18 wheels boat. Tailgating a 18 wheels for a hypermilers is equivalent to drive at 150% of the speed limit. This is the exception not the rule. Link hypermiling with trucks tailgating is a pure bad faith intention.

<sarcasm>
But don't you realize that if one person from your group does something bad, then all members of that group do that, even if it's not at all related to your group's activities, or has been specifically addressed and condemned by the group?
</sarcasm>

Turning the lens on that logic for a minute, I'm pretty sure that the AAA does not endorse speeding. But according to this, because I'm sure that there are several AAA members on the roads today who speed, every AAA member is a lawbreaker and the AAA actually wholeheartedly endorses reckless speeding.

Can you see the ridiculousness of this line of thinking? Can you see the parallel that's being made? If not, then you might be a AAA representative.

Triple Blah from the Triple Arrrgh!

When I grow up, I want to be a AAA rep. Not, Not, Not!

Once again, the drafting thing is blown all out of proportion. It does work, apparently, but it is just way too stressful. I tried it once for about 5 miles about 30 years ago and realized that it wasn't worth the trouble.

Faithful and True.

Hi i am new to CleanMPG I love this site, if it werent for all the hype from AAA and AOL I would not have seen your site slandered so and become intrested .
Many of the techneques I was already using but I will admit I was a close in drafter. I have learned quit a few new things here but I will never have pitty or concern for 18 wheelers that are being followed close by a little car they seems they don't have a problem with it the other way around.
I have finally slowed down to the 60 mph area and not only have impoved my milage but I am much calmer on the road now.
So let them say what they will because the people with any brains will look as I did for the truth and use it to there own advantage.
No press is no press but any press good or bad does call attention to what your doing idoits will just belive what they are told others will investigate.
Now I drive a smeller car, semi Hypermile use 6 gallons per week less oh and save over 100 dollars per month on gas. I think CleanMPG should be happy for the press Ilike having 100 per month more in my pocket
Thanks for such a good place to learn more, keep up the good work, CleanMPG rocks!!

welcome,what a great intro. love those kind of stories. fill us in, what is your daily drive like, what kind of car, where do you live?

you will find lots of great suggestions and help here.

wow, just like someone said, smart consumers will read and try to find the truth! welcome!

laurieaw
32 miles each way 25 on interstates I have flex time at work and try to not get caught up in stop and go at the obvesly bad times, lots of lights stop sings and hills . one nice hill 1mile of free caosting. 2008 Focus ses 2dr 5 speed it was hard to find and dealers would not swap when it came to this car and had to buy it 45 miles from home thought that was dumb but oh well.Something unexpected is my wife wants us to use it on the weekends instead of her Edge. Yes i hyper with her in the car and keep catching her looking at my mpg display.She says I have a few loose screws but she can't argue with the extra money we save every month.
CT central shoreline