What experts think of hypermiler driving techniques

[atlaw4u]

100 miles per gallon? For 'hypermilers,' that sounds about right.

Chris Woodyard - USA Today - June 24, 2008

Hypermilers use many tactics to try to get extra fuel mileage. Some are more practical than others. Some sacrifice comfort. Some are considered unsafe by driving experts. Some of the techniques, and how practical and safe they are for most drivers:

Easy starts

Don't floor it. Gently accelerate to cruising speed and take it easy when you get there.

Practicality: Great idea, experts say. Jackrabbit starts waste gas. Gentle driving techniques are safer, too. "If you drive carefully, you can almost always meet or beat the EPA (gas mileage) estimates," says Ron Cogan, publisher of Green Car Journal.

Coast to stops with engine off

Hypermilers call coasting to stop signs and lights either "auto stop" when driving hybrids that automatically shut off the engine in coast mode, or "forced auto stop" for switching off the key in other cars.

Practicality: Some hybrids are designed for that. Coasting in neutral in other cars is generally harmless, but switching off the engine while moving is downright dangerous, says AAA spokesman Geoff Sundstrom. Power steering and brakes won't work. The steering wheel can lock up.

Pump up tires

Many hypermilers inflate tires to the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall, not as recommended on door stickers or in the vehicle's manual. Higher tire pressure can lower rolling resistance.

Practicality: Potentially dangerous, says Dan Zielinski, spokesman for the Rubber Manufacturers Association, a tire trade group. Going way above recommendations can amount to "dangerously overinflating" and affect handling, make tires vulnerable to road hazards, cause tires to wear out faster and possibly impair stopping distance, he says.

Drive the speed limit — or less

Cars get better gas mileage going slower on freeways because there is less wind resistance. "The higher the speed above 60 (mph), the more fuel you're losing," Cogan says.

Practicality: Consumer Reports tested a Toyota Camry and got 5 mpg more at 55 mph vs. at 65. California Highway Patrol Officer Heather Hoglund says slowing down is great, but stay in the right lane with other slower traffic.

Drive off center in lanes

Called "ridge riding," you lessen resistance by driving off center in a lane, out of the worn tracks left in the pavement by traffic.

Practicality: OK, but only if there is room to stay well within your lane and not impede — or crowd — other traffic.

Time stop lights

Pace your driving to hit as many green lights as possible.

Practicality: Great idea, say experts. And more cities are trying to help by timing lights on arteries to get more cars through on green, to save fuel and promote obeying the speed limit.

Hang back from cars ahead

More space in front of your car gives you more room in which to work speed changes that can squeeze out more mpgs.

Practicality: Safe. Also adds margin for emergency stops… [Read More]

[jamtee]

I have figured out why the commenter's always latch on to the drafting and dismiss all of hypermiling as dangerous.

"The guilty dog barks the loudest." Can you imagine anyone going 10 mph over the speed limit that has not tailgated a slower vehicle ?

[Damionk]

I have noticed in a few of the recent articles when a FAS is mentioned people say the steering wheel can lock. Which if I am not mistaken only happens if you turn the key to the off position. Maybe we could try and emphasize that the key remains in the on position but the engine is not running.

[nissynis]

It seems there are two articles -- one on tips, and one a more general discussion. I found the general discussion article to be quite fair, especially in comparison to much of the misinformation out there:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/...ving-gas_N.htm

[laurieaw]

so my question would be...........what makes them experts?

[Jaral]

I dunno. All I know is that with the key in on or accessory position, my steering doesnt lock, my ps dies but the car is very easy to handle (safer probably, since over-turning/over-correcting is hard to do without ps), and I have enough brake boost to do a 100-0 easily without running out. My car doesnt have airbags, so I cant comment on that. The only danger with FAS for me is if I end up needing to use my brakes several times in sucession - and all I have to do then is let my foot off the clutch to bump the engine again.

Of course, I have a manual.. so it might be different if you needed to reach for the key to restart.

[WriConsult]

That comment about the steering wheel locking is ridiculous. Anyone FASing with a brain immediately turns the key back to the RUN position. Then your steering wheel remains free to turn. Airbags, ABS, and other safety equipment still work.

My VWs take it a step further. Even with the key in the OFF position, the steering wheel won't lock until you remove the key. My guess is this is another safety feature mandated by the German government, something they've been doing a lot of lately.

Not surprised to hear this crap from the AAA. They are shills for the RV and oil industries, always have been. They've been blatantly anti-conservation for decades.

Also the statement about tire inflation was completely misleading. The article talked about inflating just to max pressure, then the RMA spokesman went on to talk about the dangers of overinflation, which was NOT what was being advocated.

Same old usual media idiocy. It would be nice if they went to the same effort to decry the dangers of speeding, yakking on the phone, staring at the nav system and all the other stupid stuff I see drivers doing on the roads daily. jamtee, I think you nailed it with your guilty dog comment. Not only is that the way reporters (not the safest drivers as a class) probably see it, but a large segment wants to think hypermiling is dangerous so they can dismiss it out of hand. Same as the Art Spinella anti-hybrid stuff out there: the stuff gets traction because it's what people WANT to believe so they can avoid feeling guilty for not saving fuel.

[F&T]

I once got a warning ticket for ridge riding. The officer said I was supposed to stay in the center of the lane. But the car was way more driveable, and thus safer, on the ridges. So, when he was out of sight, I went back to the ridges.

As for tire pressures, the ruling document, if you will, is what the tire manufacturer stamps on the tire, not what the car manufacturer prints on the glove box door.

Faithful and True

[Alanbhope]

I have an AT in my Fit, and I find that steering is usually pretty much unaffected while I am gliding with the engine off. Of course, I don't usually do that when I'm on a winding stretch of road.

The only time I have problem with braking is if I am braking and releasing repeatedly on a long downhill. In that situation, after I've used the brakes a few times I'll turn the ICE back on to build up the pressure again, then, if there's still more downhill, I'll turn it back off.

The statement about the steering locking up is reasonable for people who don't fully understand the various key positions. Better to tell them not to do it, I think. If they want to learn more, they can Google "hypermiling" and get here for the real "how-to".

Alan

[Aether glider]

Originally Posted by F&T

I once got a warning ticket for ridge riding. The officer said I was supposed to stay in the center of the lane. But the car was way more driveable, and thus safer, on the ridges. So, when he was out of sight, I went back to the ridges.

As for tire pressures, the ruling document, if you will, is what the tire manufacturer stamps on the tire, not what the car manufacturer prints on the glove box door.

Faithful and True

Not sure if thats a law in your state but as long as your maintaining your lane your ok.
Most LEO's consider a car driving on the fog lane as possibly impaired. If you touch it twice probable cause for a traffic stop. (In my state anyway)

Of course when they pull you over and your not impaired that should be the end of it.