5 Hypermiling Techniques to Increase Fuel Economy

Gas prices are continually increasing these days.  Most people are doing whatever they can to increase their fuel economy.  For some this means getting rid of their car altogether.  Of course, this isn’t a realistic option for many people.  If cutting out driving isn’t an option, you still need to find a way to save money on gas.  There are several people who have done just that.  These people are called “hypermilers”.  Hypermilers employ gas saving techniques to get the most out of their car’s fuel economy.  Here are 5 common techniques they use to get better gas mileage.

1. Slowing down- This is the easiest technique to adopt for yourself.  Many hypermilers drive 10-15 miles below the speed limit, especially in high speed areas.  The faster you drive the less gas mileage you get.  Of course, you’ll want to make sure you’re not going to hold up traffic by going too slow.

2. Picking your route- Another technique you can do is to carefully pick the route you take to your location.  You can plan to take the route with the least amount of stops.  You may also want to pick a route where you can stay at a slower constant speed.  This is a great way to get the best gas mileage from your vehicle.

3. Using thinner oil- Many hypermilers use thinner oil when they get their oil changed.  The thinner oil is much easier to move through your engine.  It’s also important to change your oil on a regular basis.  As your oil ages, it becomes thicker, so you need to make sure you get it changed often.

4. Inflating your tires- While this is a questionable technique, many hypermilers over inflate their tires to get better gas mileage.  While this does work, it can be dangerous.  Over inflating your tires decreases their traction and can cause more rapid wear and tear, so you should use this technique cautiously.

5. Coasting- Another risky technique hypermilers use is coasting.  This is where you actually turn off your engine and put your car in neutral to coast to a stop.  Some areas have laws against driving with your engine off, so you should be aware of any restrictions.  Again, this technique is risky to you and other drivers on the road, so you may want to consider other techniques first.

These are just 5 of the techniques hypermilers use to improve gas mileage, and they come up with new techniques all of the time.  While these are mostly basic techniques, you can find several advanced techniques by researching the subject online.