Be careful, as hypermiling to increase gas mileage can become an obsession. “We never think we’ve had our best run because we’re always trying to get a better one,” explains Chuck Thomas, a Texas programmer, Honda Insight owner and self-described “hypermiler.” Thomas regularly competes in contests to win “the most fuel-efficient driver” title. The Madison, Wisconsin Hybridfest MPG Challenge winner, Wayne Gerdes, completed his route with an astounding 180 MPG, compared to the usual 42 for his model! In this article, you will learn about some of the hypermiling techniques that are saving drivers hundreds of dollars and gallons of gas. Not all hypermiling methods are safe, however, so you must be conscientious about which ones you choose to follow.

Hypermiling tips and techniques may include methods of cooling the car more efficiently, since air conditioning uses a considerable amount of gas. In the summer, Florida hypermiler Alison McKellar recommends conserving fuel by running the car with the windows closed without AC. If it’s 70 degrees, she may crack her driver’s side window to create some negative pressure and draw in cool air through her vent fans. If it’s 75-80, she’ll crack the rear passenger window to create a cross-breeze and use vent fans. If it’s a real scorcher out there, she’ll turn on the vents, open her driver and passenger car windows, then open her rear windows to let the hot air escape, and she’ll close the windows so the AC is cold right away. She can then use the recirculation button to move the cooler air around the car. When she accelerates, she always makes sure the AC is switched off.

Another category of hypermiling techniques includes prudent planning. For instance, hypermilers frequently look for the best routes to make it from Point A to Point B with better fuel economy. “Every time you stop and start, you waste fuel,” explains motorist James Cullen. “So it’s easy to go on the Internet and map out a route with fewer stoplights and stop signs.” Other drivers try to “time the lights” through hypermiling coasting as soon as they see a red light to increase the odds of the light turning green by the time they get there. The most extreme hypermilers may roll through stop signs to avoid braking, but this is very illegal, not to mention dangerous. A wiser way of planning includes “potential parking” and “face-out.” For example, when parking your car, you should “Park at the highest spot in the parking lot and face out,” says Wayne Gerdes. This allows you to exit by rolling forward in neutral, rather than turning the engine on, backing up and braking — three factors that waste gas.

When you’re learning hypermiling techniques, gas-saving veterans recommend looking for new vehicles with a miles per gallon display or purchasing a $160 Scan Gauge, which will show how many MPG you’re getting in real time so you can adjust your driving based on the results. Some of the most practical tips involve keeping your car properly maintained by changing the air filter and oil every 3,000 miles or three months. Every other oil change, consider realigning and rotating your tires. When you stop to fill up for gas, make sure your tires are inflated to the amount recommended in your owner’s manual or on the sticker located on your driver’s door jamb. The most extreme hypermilers like Larry Singleton of Phoenix, Arizona, will actually over-inflate their tires by about 15-20 pounds. “I consider it safe because most of my driving is around town and under 50 miles per hour,” says Singleton. However, safety experts caution this decreased rolling resistance could result in a loss of vehicle control or lead to uneven tire wear.

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