Mythbusters Episode Fuel Saving Tips Jun 12 @ 9EST

[Shortie771]

Originally Posted by Joggernot

Here is Pop Mech test of Fastskinz on cars. Hope the link works. Well, it seems I'm not allowed to post a link to it. So do a search on Popular Mechanics Fastskinz Test Drive and you should find it.

Joggernot

Not sure if this is the one you are talking about but HERE

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Joggernot

Here is Pop Mech test of Fastskinz on cars. Hope the link works. Well, it seems I'm not allowed to post a link to it. So do a search on Popular Mechanics Fastskinz Test Drive and you should find it.

Joggernot

Popular Mechanics generally does a better job than "Mythbusters." Here is MetroMPG's thread, which links to the article:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...aims-8321.html

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

yeah we've been through that already

[Shortie771]

yep, same page I linked

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Shortie771

yep, same page I linked

We were posting at the same time. I just spent longer looking up quotes and links.

[Shortie771]

Originally Posted by Xist

We were posting at the same time. I just spent longer looking up quotes and links.

Ah, didn't look at the time stamps. Thanks for the more informative post btw.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Shortie771

Ah, didn't look at the time stamps. Thanks for the more informative post btw.

Was the additional information necessary? It never is, when I give it!

[toc]

They didn't do a quality job on the test either, they certainly could have anticipated the lights better, and techniques such as removing engine braking by switching to neutral would have helped.
Of course, the 'busted' is likely so they aren't appearing to 'endorse' it. Is all...

[Flakbadger]

This is by no means perfect, it's just my thoughts and feelings after watching the episode.


By saying a few simple changes will double your mileage then busting it, you are missing the point of hypermiling. While it is true that none of the drivers added 100% to their original MPG, the improvements in MPG stretched 40% to 70% from little more than driving style changes. This is really impressive because none of them are experienced hypermilers—they are doing this without coaching, and without practice. Why?
Because driving style is the largest factor of a vehicle's MPG.
This doesn't mean that eco-driving is limited to driving style. I would say the largest hypermiling tip is the following: don't drive more car than you need. The single largest contribution to my MPG was switching from a 16MPG truck to a 42+MPG car. By doing this, I have increased my fuel economy by about 263%

One of the main points of the show was driving 45 MPH on the freeway. There is a moment where Kari laughs and asks if the chain of cars in her wake is because of how she's driving (here's a hint; YES). If you have a line of cars behind you while driving, you are an idiot, not a hypermiler. Hypermiling is all about compromise; getting the best MPG while not being a nuisance on the road.
Few hypermilers drive 45 MPH on the highway, rather the takeaway from “slowing down on the highway” is that aerodynamic drag is the cube of velocity, and slowing down a bit reduces your drag a lot. Instead of driving 65-75, slow down to 50-60.

By the way, what's with this “not slowing down on corners” business? Conserving momentum is a big part of hypermiling, but driving around corners so fast that your tires squeal is idiotic, unsafe, and a waste of perfectly good tires.

Finally, it should be noted that Tory and Kari drove different vehicles, the Malibu driven by Kari gets significantly less MPG than the Focus driven by Tory, so it's kind of not a wonder Tory got farther based on the control MPG, which was SET IN THE MALIBU AND IS THEREFORE FAULTY DATA.

~Matt

EDIT: P.S. thanks for perpetuating the stereotype that hypermilers are saving gas by being socially awkward and oblivious.

EDIT 2: P.S. thanks for perpetuating the stereotype that hypermilers save gas at the total expense of normality.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by Flakbadger

By the way, what's with this “not slowing down on corners” business? Conserving momentum is a big part of hypermiling, but driving around corners so fast that your tires squeal is idiotic, unsafe, and a waste of perfectly good tires.

Awww, now, don't go and ruin my excuse. "No, of course I wasn't attempting a personal best on that offramp officer, that would be idiotic and unsafe. I am a hypermiler, and I was maintaining momentum in order save gas!"

[oil pan 4]

Ok finely saw it and seems like they set that myth up for failure.

The only time I shut the vehile off and put it in park is in the drive through, other wise its in Netrual just a click away from Drive

If I wanted to I could rig up a Netrual saftey switch bypass and start the vehicle in Drive. I had one riged up on my camaro for a few weeks about 10 years ago when the Netrual safety switch circuit went out.