Drive your car on the smell of an oil rag
My brother and I were discussing how he manages to maximize the miles per gallon on his Cadillac.
“I’ve read a number of articles on hypermiling where, through various techniques in driving, these guys get amazing gas mileage out of their cars. I tried a lot of the methods and they really do work. Some of them, like putting the car in neutral when coasting I don’t like to do because I worry about the control aspect, but I’ve found quite a difference in my own gas mileage even without that one.
I drive a 2001 Cadillac DeVille, and can consistently get 30 mpg or better. This is mostly highway, with some city driving in the mix. I know I’m saving well over 10% on my fuel costs so this amounts to about $500 per year, or more, saved.”
Anybody can be a hypermiler says Wayne Gerdes, “America’s greatest hypermiler,” who averages 59 miles per gallon on his Honda Accord.
You can read the article here but the basic rules are:
■ Drive the speed limit. (For every 5 mph above 55 miles per hour, you can lose as much as 10 percent of your fuel economy. So slowing down can save you gas.)
■ Drive without brakes (e.g. avoiding stops when you can and coasting to the traffic light)
■ Turn off your car and coast (dangerous according to experts)
■ Optimize your route (avoiding big hills and stops and starts)
■ Watch your tire pressure (takes more gas to move a slightly flat tire)
■ Stay on top of oil changes and use thinner oil
Other tips:
■ Remove your roof rack and clean junk from the trunk
■ Minimize idling at gas fill-ups and stay away from drive-thrus
■ Choose smooth road surfaces
■ Avoid bad weather/peak traffic
■ Windows up
