Hypermiling Tips: How to Get Better Gas Mileage

As prices soar at the pump, more and more Americans are looking for ways to cut their gas costs. Most people know to walk instead of driving short distances, run errands all at once or group them more efficiently, carpooling, and, if you are in the Washington, DC area, you can slog to and from work. However, hypermiling takes gas reduction practices a bit further. Below is a list of hypermiling tips to get you started on your way to better fuel economy.

Hypermiling tip #1 to getting better gas mileage: Know your flow

This is a relatively straightforward approach to data. In order to get better gas mileage, you need to know how much you are getting. This can be as low-tech as a pen and paper, which you keep in your glove box or you can enter the data at a site like milesgallon.com. You need to know how far you have driven and on how many gallons you used. Once you determine what MPG you are getting now, you have a baseline for future comparison.

Hypermiling tip #2 to getting better gas mileage: Are you driving like a jerk?

Aggressive driving eats gas. The constant braking and accelerating is killing your gas mileage. Strive for Zen and try to avoid aggressive driving habits like the plague. I am not saying you need to drive like a 90 year old grandmother, but you should avoid constant starts and stops and sudden accelerations if possible. Are you punching the accelerator the second the light turns green? Ease up a bit and accelerate more slowly.

Hypermiling tip #3 to getting better gas mileage: Keep moving

Since stopping requires you to need to accelerate to get moving again avoid stopping your vehicle if possible. Sitting in traffic is wasted gas. This tip is easier said than done in larger cities, but if you live in a smaller city, it may be easier than you think. See a red light ahead? Try turning onto a side street to keep your car going. Have a satellite radio? Keep it tuned to the traffic channels so that you can be alerted to traffic jams and plan an alternate route to keep your car moving toward your destination.

Hypermiling tip #4 to getting better gas mileage: Keep your car maintained

Driving on under-inflated tires is not only bad for your tires; it is bad for your gas mileage. Though not recommended, some hypermilers have had increased gas mileage by inflating their tires to the maximum pressure printed on the side of the tires, which is well in excess of the amounts listed in the driver's manual for their model of car. Simple and cheap maintenance that can help improve fuel efficiency include: changing your oil regularly, changing your air filter regularly, and changing your fuel filter as recommended.

Hypermiling tip #5 to getting better gas mileage: Coast when you can

Hypermilers say that coasting to a stop will save you money at the pump. It all has to do with kinetic energy. Why brake when you can let nature do the deceleration for you? While you may be decelerating for a relatively short piece of pavement, add up every time you use this technique and it can add up to saved gas mileage. See a red light ahead? Let your foot off the gas instead of stopping at the end of the line. If you are lucky, the light will turn green and you will have adhered to Hypermiling tip #3 above about keeping moving.

With the cost of gas causing Americans horrendous pain at the pump, it is worth trying some of these hypermiling tips see if you notice better gas mileage for your automobile.