100+ hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics

[MazdaMatt]

I care about money. If i could turn small woodland creatures and trees into money, i'd do it. "I work hard for my money" (quote) too, and I would rather spend it on fun stuff than transportation. I drive a race car. It eats a lot of gas. I'd rather not waste gas in my daily driving so those dollars can go directly to my race car gas.

Yes, a number of hte tips are silly and will only be useful to those people who aready achieve insane milage, but the list is DEFINATELY effective and proven by those people who have insane mileage.

BTW, I use about 25-30% less gas now than when I started reading up on this site, AND I learned some valuable aero lessons that I have applied to my race car. Read on and by all means maintain your skeptisism... just don't brush off sound ideas as being extreme and rediculous... try it out a little bit at a time.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by bimmerguy

I don't use any of the hipermiling techniques, I think the idea is rediculous. I work hard for my money and if I want to spend it on gas then by god I will.

Then why would you sign up on a forum that specifically discusses how best to use these techniques?

Not only are you ignorant of some basic facts, you're simply wasting everybody's time.

Buh bye!

[ronarprfct]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

If you're coasting engine off, doing anything other than rolling to a stop will lower your potential fuel economy. Yes, we're talking about tiny differences.

If you're idling and moving at a low speed, then yes, you should just go ahead and park.

The take-home message is: avoid the brake pedal. Parking is one time you may have the option of rolling to a complete stop because there's no set 'stop line' if you have flexibility on which spot you can choose.

My apologies, but it seems to me, if you are parking, coasting with the engine off, that the only way to make use of any momentum is potential parking. Using the brakes in that instance to get into your preferred parking spot(which would have to be one you could roll out of), would be no different from rolling into it(assuming it is the best place to park), as that speed and momentum is going to be lost-with the exception of what is stored as kinetic energy via PP-anyway. Unless it causes you to have to start up the engine again to make course corrections, just taking the first spot, assuming there is no difference in potential kinetic energy stored(higher parking space, greater incline), is no less efficient than orbiting. Correct me if I am wrong, but make sure I am before you correct me .

[Will]

Wow... Looks like I missed "the big show" what a shame.

I like tip #105, also. That means don't listen to to the theme from the show "Airwolf" while making your way through traffic.

Seriously, I have literally increased my MPG in my Metro from 42 when I first got it built to 51-52 now. That is all thanks to this site and the people on it! I would have settled for 41 before seeing this site, and felt good about it.

[azraelswrd]

I'm in the same boat with Will -- stuck at 33 because I didn't know better. Now I'm at 43. I'll take that.

MazdaMatt -- you're going to turn Bambi into fuel?

I'm surprised no one raised the "troll" flag earlier. He comes in blasting hypermiling on a hypermiling forum based on incomplete information and here we are now. I've seen a lot of lists but the one here is better organized than most and nobody ever said to do all of them. (remember the "orbit parking lot to bleed out momentum" tip? )

[MazdaMatt]

Personally, i think the list is totally overblown and should be prefixed with a "First 5 things you should work on, in order" so the newbs aren't overwhelmed and their opinion ruined by a list that has too many "small things". Its the 80/20 rules... 80% of the progress comes from 20% of the effort. Give people a small list that will cover 80% of the benefits and it will seem more legit.

[Daox]

The list does need refinement, and there is functionality built to take advantage of rating the tips as far as novice to advanced skill wise, and effectiveness of the tip. Its just a matter of time before it all gets put together and working.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Daox

and there is functionality built to take advantage of rating the tips as far as novice to advanced skill wise, and effectiveness of the tip.

I love the "novice to advanced" approach!!!!

[Z man]

Most intelligent people should know what rules can apply to them and how safe each thing on the list may be for their vehicle and for themselves.

Obviously turning the engine off has its risks.
I think a lot of this can be offset by the much increased attention paid to driving in general.

[dcb]

Originally Posted by Z man

Obviously turning the engine off has its risks.

I have to laugh everytime someone says a bigger bike is safer. It is the rider far more than anything else that determines safety, weather you are driving a sportbike or a semi.

99.9999% of accidents are of the "failure to reduce speed" variety. How many "hold my beer and watch this" type accidents have you seen, or even participated in You know how it goes, VROOM-SKREE-SPLATTT. Or sometimes it is just VROOM-SPLATTT.

Engine off is NOT statistically on the risk radar.