Hypermiling, What Really Is It?

Gas mileage has always been an important statistic of the vehicles that people drive, as most are looking to get as many miles out of a gallon of gas as they can. Rising gas prices and a renewed focus on the environment have led car companies to tout the amount of miles their vehicles can get per gallon. These statistics are estimates, however, as the amount of miles we get per gallon rely on the way that we drive our vehicles. Enter hypermiling, the movement that many rely on to get incredible gas mileage. But what is hypermiling?

Hypermiling is simply the act of attempting to squeeze out as many miles per gallon as possible. Hypermiling individuals will do whatever they can do to get the highest gas mileage, and employ a wide variety of tactics to do so. Understanding these tactics may help you to get better gas mileage as you drive.

Light Vehicles

Hypermilers are going to try to get their vehicles to be as light as possible, as a lighter vehicle requires less power on the road. Hypermilers will not have anything in their trunks that they do not need for the trip that they are taking, and generally try to drive with the fewest amount of passengers as possible.

If you are considering hypermiling, you should think about mileage before you even purchase your car. Look for lighter vehicle models - they tend to have a higher MPG rating because of their low weight.

The Power of Shifting

Hypermilers are attracted to stick shits because of the power and control that they provide. When you drive a stick shift, you control the shifting of gears. When you shift gears at slower speeds and at slower RPM rates, you save gas mileage. Automatic vehicles fail to give you this control, shifting at higher speeds and using more gas.

Shifting comes into play for both manual and automatic transmissions in the form of neutral. When it is possible to do safely, putting a vehicle in neutral while moving gives your engine a rest. You will use less gas, and may save on gas mileage over time.

The Dangers of Drafting

When most people ask, "What is Hypermiling", the first response they get includes drafting. Drafting is the incredibly dangerous tactic of purposefully tailgating a vehicle, preferably a large one. The idea is that the car ahead breaks the air, lowering the wind resistance your vehicle will face on the road.. Drifters will even attempt to turn off their engine while following close behind in an attempt to save gas mileage. This is an incredibly dangerous maneuver that is not recommended. It requires driving at an unsafe distance and turning off your vehicle - both issues can cause a variety of issues and accidents on the road. Do not attempt to draft, even when implementing hypermiling into your driving lifestyle.

The Importance of Tires

Hypermilers know that the tires are an important part of gas mileage for a vehicle. When under inflated or overinflated, they reduce the amount of miles the vehicle can get per gallon. Check the tire pressure of your vehicles every day and adjust accordingly, as it will help you to save on gas mileage.

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