A class of drivers called “hypermilers” will go to extraordinary lengths to save fuel. They’ll cut off their engines while coasting downhill on the highway. They’ll drive 20 miles per hour in a 35 zone. They’ll duck behind tractor trailers to block their wind resistance. They’ll spend hours calculating the most fuel efficient routes for all their trips. Not all of these practices are recommended or even legal, however. The Federal Trade Commission has put out a list of practical things you can do — legally and safely — to improve your fuel economy.
The FTC recommends driving more efficiently on the road to save gas. It’s important to stay within the posted speed limits, not just for fuel economy, but for your safety too. Experts say that your MPG significantly decreases at any speed above 60 miles per hour. While some American highways are posted at 65 to 75, you can usually get away with driving 60, so long as you are safely cruising in the right hand lane. Another tip is to drive less aggressively. While it’s tempting to step on the gas and speed ahead to the next light, you’re losing up to 5% of your fuel efficiency this way. For increased gas mileage, the FTC recommends anticipating the traffic conditions ahead, easing off the gas when you see stops up ahead and cruising to the lights. “Idling unnecessarily wastes fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air,” the consumer advocacy website says. Turn off your engine whenever you predict a wait of more than a minute.
According to the FTC, drivers can save fuel by decreasing wind resistance caused by roof racks or bike racks, which can decrease fuel efficiency by 5%. You can save another 2% by emptying out your trunk, the consumer protection agency adds. It’s important to keep your tires inflated, your oil changed every 3 months, your air filter cleaned and use the manufacturer’s recommended oil and gasoline grades. When you’re running errands around town, they also recommend taking as few trips as possible. Drivers have been able to save 50% of their fuel just by driving around town on a warmed up engine, as opposed to driving the same distance across several trips starting from a cold engine.
Consumers may also save fuel by considering alternative fuel vehicles that run off methanol, ethanol, electricity, corn oil, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and other mixtures. The FTC says that using these alternative fuels “may reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions,” while also increasing fuel economy. When purchasing these vehicles, you must pay special attention to how many miles per gallon you’ll receive because, in general, these vehicles don’t travel as far on one tank as gasoline-powered vehicles do.
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Tags: better gas mileage, fuel, fuel efficiency, Fuel saving, hypermiling driving techniques, increased gas mileage