ReAnn Rothwell’s Money Saving Ideas, Tax & Organizing Tips

With gas prices staying up near the $3.00 range, It is wise to look for ways to save fuel anyway you can. Plus I think we all want to begin to live a little “greener” by lowering emission from our vehicles. According to CleanMPG.com, hypermiling techniques can help you do both of those things.

An article in the CleanMPG Forums called “Beating the EPA - The Why’s and how to Hypermile” gives some excellent information and while much of it applies to hybrid cars only, you can use many of these techniques on your 1990 gas guzzling pickup also. The article and website have loads of great everyday ideas, a few scary ones, and a few I would not attempt unless you are a trained professional driver.

The article goes on to state that whether you choose to use some or all of them is up to you but if you do use what is applicable to your particular automobile, beating the EPA  by  25 - 50% is a relatively easy thing to achieve.

Some of the best ideas that I found were:

Basic Fuel Saving Techniques

• Do not use quick accelerations or brake heavily: This reduces fuel economy by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. EPA tests do not account for this kind of vigorous driving.
• Do not idle excessively: Decreases average FUEL EFFICIENCY. The EPA city test includes idling, but drivers that experience more idling experience lower MPG.
• Do not drive at higher speeds: This increases aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) and mechanical friction, which reduces fuel economy. The EPA test accounts for aerodynamic drag up to highway speeds of 60 mph, but drivers often exceed this speed.
• Cold weather and frequent short trips reduce fuel economy, since your engine does not operate efficiently until it is warmed up. In colder weather, it takes longer for your engine to warm, and on short trips, your vehicle operates a smaller percentage of time at the desired temperature. Note: Letting your car idle to warm-up does not help your fuel economy, it actually uses more fuel and creates more pollution. Drive to your furthest destination first and then as you are heading home, stop at the closer destinations in order from furthest to closest as the car is warmed up for longer portions of your drive.
• Remove Cargo or cargo racks: Cargo and/or racks on top of your vehicle (e.g., cargo boxes, canoes, etc.) increase aerodynamic drag and lower FUEL EFFICIENCY. Vehicles are not tested with additional cargo on the exterior.
• Minimize running mechanical and electrical accessories: Running mechanical and electrical accessories (e.g., air conditioner) decreases fuel economy. Operating the air conditioner on “Max” can reduce MPG by roughly 5-25% compared to not using it.
• Do not use 4-wheel drive if it is not needed. 4-Wheel drive reduces fuel economy. Four-wheel drive vehicles are tested in 2-wheel drive. Engaging all four wheels makes the engine work harder and increases crankcase losses.
• Maintain your Automobile: A poorly tuned engine burns more fuel, so fuel economy will suffer if it is not in tune. Improperly aligned or under inflated tires can lower fuel economy, as can a dirty air filter or brake drag.

The article goes on to explain some Advanced Hypermiling Techniques. A few of the easiest to do are:

• Smart-Braking

o Incline: When coming to a red light or stop sign on an incline heading upwards, you want to travel as far up the hill or ascent as possible before stopping. Starting from a dead stop while facing an uphill climb is the absolute worst FE scenario imaginable. SB on an incline can help reduce the FE hit if performed properly.

o Descent: When coming to a red light on a descent, you want to stop well before the actual light or traffic ahead so as to use the potential still available to help you accelerate back up to speed through the light. There will have to be at least one car well out in front in the case of weight sensored lights so as to trip them for you so you can glide/coast down the incline and possibly across the intersection before having to restart your car for propulsion again.

o Slowing for/with traffic or traffic signals: Have ever heard that if you move half the distance to the goal line again and again you will never reach said goal line? The same can be said for your speed when coming to a stop. What you want to attempt is to continue slowing before you actually stop until the light changes to green and you can re-accelerate without having to do so from a stop.

• Face-Out: As described. When parked, you want your egress to be as clean as possible. Instead of ICE-On, Reverse, Brake, Drive, pull forward, you pull in to whatever parking lot, area, Face-Out. What it does is eliminate Reverse or any unintended fuel use to spin around. Some can use this technique even from their home with limited or no fuel consumption with a FAS based turn around Face-Out. If your drive allows (mine does) you are in a FAS coming into your drive, pull into the highest spot, coast back while spinning the car around 180 degrees to a slightly lower spot. You are now Face-Out for your next days or drives egress. Even if you do not FAS, it is best to spin your car around when it is already warmed up than in the morning from dead cold. Your fuel consumption at dead cold is much higher than when warm. Pros: lower fuel consumption. Cons: you have to be careful that someone would not pull in behind and limit your ability to load your trunk.

• Three Lights out or distant anticipatory focus: When driving in any environment, continuously scan the road far ahead looking for situations or obstacles, which may impede your steady state progress. In the heavier suburban or city environment, I recommend looking ahead three lights. Not only will this give you an advantage of light timing but you will also have a much-heightened awareness of the traffic and terrain conditions ahead, to the side, and even behind!

For more info on hypermiling, saving fuel and lower emissions in whatever you drive, please go to Cleanmpg.com. or Hypermiling.com