Share your hyper-miling savvings.

[MMMdude]

I have started hyper-miling again with my 2000 Toyota Celica.  My car already got relatively decent mileage at around 31 mpg.  With hyper-miling I am right around 37 or 38mpg. I  haven't upped the psi in my tires and also lug around my golf clubs everywhere.  I'm sure lightening up on the weight and increasing tire pressure could get me to 40 mpg.

What improvements have you seen?

[This_Is_My_Username]

I did the following to the car:

pump up tyres to max psi according to the tyre sidewall, +2psi.
remove floor mats
remove steering wheel cover
remove the wooden board that is the floor of the boot.
remove passenger side rear mirror, install internal mirror.
remove windscreen fluid resevior, and windscreen fluid motor.
remove windscreen fluid spray nozzles and tubes.  Cover the holes with clear stickytape.
remove mud flaps
remove broken stereo and clock.

I did the following to my behaviour:

accelerate more gently from a stop
coast to reduce speed, instead of braking.
brake less through corners
attempt to time the green lights to avoid stopping.
drive slightly slower on the highway.
draft at a safe distance
keep engine revs slightly lower via gear selection. (manual car)
be aware of other drivers to avoid pissing them off too much!


coming up:
drivers side internal mirror installed, and removing drivers side mirror soon.
remove broken speakers.
remove power steering (?)


I went from 6.8L/100km to 6.2L/100km.

[mpbaker22]

I have a honda civic hybrid.  I used to get 33-37 mpg.  I started hyper-miling about a year ago.  Depending on the amount of highway/city driving, I get 42-55 mpg.  I actually get 60+ on the highway, but city driving brings it down a ton. 
When I ride my bike to work, my average mpg for the week also drops because the car commute is almost all highway.

I haven't done anything other than regular maintenance at the dealer to make mileage better.

I watch for brake lights up to 1 mile ahead so I can coast to a stop/crawl.
I go 55 on the highway unless it's an out-of-town road trip.
Time most green lights.

[Khao]

remove floor mats
remove steering wheel cover
remove the wooden board that is the floor of the boot.
remove passenger side rear mirror, install internal mirror.
remove windscreen fluid resevior, and windscreen fluid motor.
remove windscreen fluid spray nozzles and tubes.  Cover the holes with clear stickytape.
remove mud flaps
remove broken stereo and clock.

Are you also on a diet to lose as much weight as possible and make sure to always take a shit before going for a ride? If you're really doing all of this, I'm not sure where the limit between saving a few dollars and driving an unsafe vehicule is. Unless I missed the sarcasm or something...

[Under_Score]

I have a 2012 Honda Fit Sport with an automatic transmission. Since I only use it for commuting, I took out the back and front passenger seats. I have my one floor liner and no other floormats/liners. The only other things in the car are the spare tire and jack, necessary paperwork, my GPS, my iPod, and my tire pressure gauge. I have the tires set to 36 psi. The car is rated by the EPA for 27 city 33 hwy.

Over the last 3 months, I have averaged 44.4 MPG. This includes about 10% city travel and some highway traffic. Aside from removing extra weight, the thing I found helpful that a lot people overlook is taking off your shoe. The feel of the pedal is so much more precise, you have much less wasted movement. It also makes you think more about how much pressure to apply.

I don't draft trucks since they are usually doing 60-65 and I am hovering around 55.

Here is a link to my car's MPG stats if anyone is interested: Honda Fit MPG The average for 2012 Honda Fits is 33.8.

[Guses]

Are you also on a diet to lose as much weight as possible and make sure to always take a shit before going for a ride? If you're really doing all of this, I'm not sure where the limit between saving a few dollars and driving an unsafe vehicule is. Unless I missed the sarcasm or something...

Except for the windshield wiper fluids, nothing in the list is unsafe.... then again, if he lives where there is no snow, wiper fluid is not necessary either.

@This is

Check into removing the spare tire and carrying a patch kit and a pump instead.

I only get about 7-8 L/100 KM on average, at best with hypermiling and high pressure low rolling tires (51 PSI). Without hypermiling, I would get around 9-10 L/100 KM or more depending on driving style.

Now that I am biking, I get much better stats :)   

[Under_Score]

I thought about getting fix a flat or a patch kit, but the roads I drive can get crappy at times. I will sacrifice a bit more MPG to have a fresh tire ready to bolt on.

[Guses]

Fix a flat can be used only for minor punctures. If you are expecting tears or cuts or driving in the middle of nowhere, please do carry a spare!

I keep my spare in the car for the same reasons.

[Osprey]

This may sound lame, but my biggest tip is to avoid traffic when possible.
Funny thing, MrOsprey always used to insult my driving until he saw an episode of Mythbusters where they tested out a bunch of hypermiling tips and ended up saving petrol. It annoys me that he still doesn't apply any of them. How do I get him to drive differently? He is an aggressive driver and the kind who revs on the spot at uphill stops instead of breaking.

[Under_Score]

This may sound lame, but my biggest tip is to avoid traffic when possible.
Funny thing, MrOsprey always used to insult my driving until he saw an episode of Mythbusters where they tested out a bunch of hypermiling tips and ended up saving petrol. It annoys me that he still doesn't apply any of them. How do I get him to drive differently? He is an aggressive driver and the kind who revs on the spot at uphill stops instead of breaking.

Yes, 43% Lame but 100% True. I started working 9:30 - 6:00 and it saves me 10-20 minutes at either end vs 9-5.

Regarding the the MrOsprey situation, driving efficiently is a habit. I know I should run every morning, but I still go months without doing it. I think the keys are to do it in steps and being able to see a difference. Drive one commute efficiently, then step up to a full tank and see what the MPG difference is. 

I vaguely recall a MMM post about forming habits, maybe that will serve up some inspiration.

[This_Is_My_Username]

remove floor mats
remove steering wheel cover
remove the wooden board that is the floor of the boot.
remove passenger side rear mirror, install internal mirror.
remove windscreen fluid resevior, and windscreen fluid motor.
remove windscreen fluid spray nozzles and tubes.  Cover the holes with clear stickytape.
remove mud flaps
remove broken stereo and clock.

Are you also on a diet to lose as much weight as possible and make sure to always take a shit before going for a ride? If you're really doing all of this, I'm not sure where the limit between saving a few dollars and driving an unsafe vehicule is. Unless I missed the sarcasm or something...

none of that is unsafe.  In fact, the internal side mirrror eliminates the blind spot, which makes the car more safe.

[Khao]

none of that is unsafe.  In fact, the internal side mirrror eliminates the blind spot, which makes the car more safe.

I could never drive without windscreen fluid up here in Canada but if you can, I guess that's nice. I just googled for internal side mirrors and I don't see how it's any different than a normal mirror and how it eliminates the blind spot. I think it looks cool though when from the exterior you don't have any mirrors

[Mr.Macinstache]

According to my ScanGaugeII I actaully get better mileage at 70mph than I do at 55-60, in my 98 Civic hatch.

I got rid of the heavy exhaust manifold for a header and put on a more free flowing exhaust system. I also sold my steel wheels and got allow ones (a lot lighter). All of this came at a cost but for the 2-4 more mpg I can get it will eventually pay for itself.

[Guses]

I just googled for internal side mirrors and I don't see how it's any different than a normal mirror and how it eliminates the blind spot. I think it looks cool though when from the exterior you don't have any mirrors

I assume that the positioning (closer to the driver and perhaps a bit further up) allows the blind spot to be shifted from beside the car to behind or very very close to the car, effectively eliminating it.

I got rid of the heavy exhaust manifold for a header and put on a more free flowing exhaust system.

Please tell me you did not put an obnoxiously loud fart can exhaust on your civic...


On topic, decreasing the diameter of the tire and wheel will also help your mileage significantly. My winter tires get better mileage than my summer tire due to this.

[Mr.Macinstache]

I just googled for internal side mirrors and I don't see how it's any different than a normal mirror and how it eliminates the blind spot. I think it looks cool though when from the exterior you don't have any mirrors

I assume that the positioning (closer to the driver and perhaps a bit further up) allows the blind spot to be shifted from beside the car to behind or very very close to the car, effectively eliminating it.

I got rid of the heavy exhaust manifold for a header and put on a more free flowing exhaust system.

Please tell me you did not put an obnoxiously loud fart can exhaust on your civic...


On topic, decreasing the diameter of the tire and wheel will also help your mileage significantly. My winter tires get better mileage than my summer tire due to this.

Oh yeah, the fart add serious horsepower to boot.

No I put a Flowmaster 50 series actually, and a Magnaflow hi-flow cat, along with the standard resonator. It sounds like it should. No annoying farts, not that I care if anyone is annoyed by it anyway.

[Forcus]

be aware of other drivers to avoid pissing them off too much!

Thank you so much for that. (As a non-hyper-miler)I don't have a problem with people going slow (under the limit) and coasting down to stoplights, etc. - it's a free country - I do have a problem with pulse and glide. It makes you unpredictable. Which means it requires more of my attention focused on you (not you, you, of course) and less on other hazards, and more focus = more mental strain = further ability to detect other hazards.

[Mr.Macinstache]

I've been using some hills and coasting out of gear.... almost averaged 40mpg with city driving on the way to the office.

[nawhite]

On topic, decreasing the diameter of the tire and wheel will also help your mileage significantly. My winter tires get better mileage than my summer tire due to this.

I'm curious how you are seeing this. If you had smaller tires than your speedometer and odometer are calibrated for, then my guess is that the smaller tires are making the speedometer read that the car is going faster than it actually is and odometer is reading that the car is going farther than it actually is. So you are A) going slower than you think which improves your mileage and B) Going not as far as you think so your calculations end up overestimated.

So basically lets say it takes 1000 rotations of the old larger tires to go 1 mile. The car is calibrated to think 1000 rotations = 1 mile. Then you put on smaller tires that take 1100 rotations to go one mile. So when you drive, your wheels spin 1000 rotations and the odometer ticks one mile but in reality you haven't gone that far, you've only gone 10/11ths of a mile. Then you go to calculate your mileage manually and you see that your odometer reads that you went 110 miles and used 5 gallons of gas, so you think your car is getting 22mpg but really you only went 100 miles so you really only got 20mpg. You were just decieved by your odometer.

[Spork]

On topic, decreasing the diameter of the tire and wheel will also help your mileage significantly. My winter tires get better mileage than my summer tire due to this.

If I were to guess, I'd bet you mean "winter gasoline gets much better mileage than summer gasoline".   

Summer gas (especially in the post-ethanol days) has gotten really bad.  And engines in general run better in cold/dense air than in hot/thin air.

[Mr.Macinstache]

x2 on being deceived by your odometer in regards to tire sizes.

Also, good point on the gas quality, but I thought it was the other way around... the winter petro was the junk mix?

[Spork]

x2 on being deceived by your odometer in regards to tire sizes.

Also, good point on the gas quality, but I thought it was the other way around... the winter petro was the junk mix?

I'll be damned.  You, sir, are correct.  (linky)

Well, basically, winter blend gasoline has a larger percentage of butane in it.  And since butane is cheaper and has less energy, winter blend thus costs less and gives us a lower MPG when we burn it.

I've got an old car that won't even run on the summer fuels... but I guess that is more a factor of temperature and how badly ANY of today's fuels deal with vapor lock.

[Half-Borg]

In theory smaller tires get you a better milage because there is less rotational energy needed to spin them, which makes it easier to accelerate and brake. I'm not sure how big this effect is in reality.

[Mr.Macinstache]

In theory smaller tires get you a better milage because there is less rotational energy needed to spin them, which makes it easier to accelerate and brake. I'm not sure how big this effect is in reality.

Only up until a point where you reach diminishing returns. At highway speed for example, more rotations = less efficiency.

[Half-Borg]

My car is more efficent around 3000 rpm than at 2000 rpm, so that depends on speed. But you are right, on the highway you don't accelerate and decelerate that much anyway. You can also get wheels with about the same diameter, but smaller rims, more mass to the center, same effect.

[Guses]

I'm curious how you are seeing this. If you had smaller tires than your speedometer and odometer are calibrated for, then my guess is that the smaller tires are making the speedometer read that the car is going faster than it actually is and odometer is reading that the car is going farther than it actually is.

I am using tires that have a smaller diameter but the same aspect ratio, not just smaller wheels. The odometer is within 0.2% accuracy. You get worse error from tires that are becoming more used.

You can use a tire size calculator to find the smallest tire that will also give you accurate odometer readings.

I am manually calculating mileage, I am not relying on the onboard CPU for readings.

If I were to guess, I'd bet you mean "winter gasoline gets much better mileage than summer gasoline".   

Summer gas (especially in the post-ethanol days) has gotten really bad.  And engines in general run better in cold/dense air than in hot/thin air.

This may or may not be true. However, cold engines are also bad for mileage. We routinely get temperatures around -30 F in the winter. The engine takes a good 15 minutes to reach operating temperature. During that time, it runs rich.

That is beside the point as I have measured that my best mileage runs are typically when I just put on the winter tires or when I am just about to take them off. Then it gets worse as temperature go to -30.


It is true that the size of the tire will have the biggest impact in a situation where you need to accelerate and decelerate often.

[mustachianism_is_aredpill]

This may sound lame, but my biggest tip is to avoid traffic when possible.
Funny thing, MrOsprey always used to insult my driving until he saw an episode of Mythbusters where they tested out a bunch of hypermiling tips and ended up saving petrol. It annoys me that he still doesn't apply any of them. How do I get him to drive differently? He is an aggressive driver and the kind who revs on the spot at uphill stops instead of breaking.

Fact: It takes more driving skill to be a hypermiler, than just driving normally

Solution: Subtly challenge him. Something like "Don't worry about it if you can't do it, honey. It is hard and I guess not everyone is capable of driving that well."

[Mr.Macinstache]

Good news to report! My last tank of gas I got 39.5 mpg. This is a new best for me and the old 98 Civic with 138k miles. I think I did so well because the last 50 miles in the tank we all highway. The rest is all stop and go city. One day I'll figure out what a tank of pure hwy driving will do. About 45mpg is my guess. It looks like the "mods" are going to pay off.

[bluecollarmusician]

I traded in my 2007 Mitsubishi Galant w/120,000miles @30 MPG for my First Generation Honda Insight w/58000 miles @ 75+mpg.  Add in hypermiling on my way to work, and I am averaging 85-95MPG on that commute.  I don't do nearly as well when driving around town- but in my first 1000 miles I have averaged 75mpg.  This car is crazy- over 700 miles on my first tank, and when I filled it up the bill was under $30. ($3.09/gallon for 9.something gallons.)

This car is built for it, but I do make sure that the tires are pumped up, but otherwise, everything is stock.  The biggest drain is acceleration, so what helps the most is minimizing stop and go.  Once at speed on relatively flat terrain, it is pretty easy to average 90+ in this car.

[esperto]

My old 98 Saturn SL1 averaged 47mpg until the end of it's life at which point I was averaging about 44 mpg.  I had 246,700 miles on it when I sold it to a mechanically inclined fellow.  My best tank ever was 52.9 mpg one time when the stars were aligned and I was super focused.

I replaced it with an 08 Toyota Yaris and am currently averaging about 46 MPG in it.  I did push it to 53 mpg once (beating my old best by just a little bit).  I don't hypermile as aggressively as I used to though.  I mostly grab the easy low hanging fruit like keeping good following distances, driving without brakes, lower driving speed.  I don't do the extreme stuff like Pulse and Glide so much anymore.

Now the next thing I need to grow my mustache is do something about the house so the commute isn't 36.7 miles each way and I can drive the little sipper less.  Telecommuting twice a week helps lessen the pain somewhat.

[ivyhedge]

We don't often hypermile, but do practice anticipatory driving to a great extent - even while biking! ;)


We also no longer own any autos and instead rent our stunningly large, secure, underground parking spot to a dude with a gorgeous Porsche.


I currently RelayRides a car for a 130-mile round trip once/week and proudly put owners' "efficiency" estimates out to pasture. "It gets 26mpg? Watch this..."


Really - on a straight shot up 95, against traffic, I have abs no need to exceed 57-58mph. "Hello, Mr. Officer!"