Hypermiling to save on fuel...

[cynatnite]

snip:
Promoted on a growing number of Web sites, hypermiling includes pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls, which may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals; using engine oil of a low viscosity, and the controversial practice of drafting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag -- a practice begun a few years ago by truck drivers

snip:
Wayne Gerdes, a former nuclear plant operator from Wadsworth, Illinois, and the originator of hypermiling, said he gets 40-70 mpg out of his Ford Ranger pickup truck, about doubling its official fuel consumption of 25 mpg.

Gerdes, 47, estimates that hypermiling has saved him $15,000 in fuel since he began the technique after the attacks of September 11, events that convinced him that U.S. national security was being undermined by its dependence on oil from the Middle East, and motivated him to reduce his own fuel consumption.

"If every vehicle in the U.S. got 45 miles per gallon, we would not import any oil," he said.

Deron Lovaas, vehicles campaign director at environmental group the Natural Resources Defense Council, said most hypermiling techniques are "sensible recommendations" that could drive down demand and even prices if widely adopted.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080430/od_nm/hypermiling_dc

[Jack_DeLeon]

1. I'm seriously doubting...

the 40mpg-70mpg rating he is claiming to get. I could say maybe up to about the 30s as best for a Ford Ranger under absolute best ideal conditions.

That being said yeah drafting other stuff can help some. Although it will be pretty hard to draft 18 wheelers when they too start disappearing from the highways because of the cost of gas.

[sendero]

12. Me too..

... especially with a Ford Ranger, a vehicle that, like all Fords, isn't very good on gas to begin with.

[EOTE]

16. The four cylinder manual Ford Ranger is the most fuel efficient

truck sold in America. It used to be that you could rely on the Japanese to provide an economical 4 cylinder truck. As of now, the Ranger is the king of the hill in terms of pick up fuel economy.

[Fumesucker]

18. Ford Ranger and Mazda small pickup are the same thing.

Identical machines with different nameplates.

[Fumesucker]

2. I've been playing with hypermiling techniques for a while..

It's possible to cut your fuel usage considerably, pulse and glide alone can get you a twenty percent or more increase in efficiency.

Most of these techniques are more effective in a car with a stick than one with an automatic.. Autos just take too many variables out of the hands of the driver. Pulse and glide is quite doable with a stick.. With an auto it's considerably more difficult and dangerous.. It wouldn't be hard to end up in reverse trying to pulse and glide with an automatic..

[alfredo]

4. We have rolling hills here, so I use that technique some. I used to have

a Saab that had freewheeling. It was nice.

[alfredo]

3. A link

http://hypermiling.com/

[NCDem60]

5. Getting close enough to efficiently draft could

result in unlimited MPG.....from the back of a tow truck.

[eShirl]

9. doesn't it also reduce the MPG of the vehicle you're right behind?

that's what I was told years ago...
kind of like stealing gas from someone

[Fumesucker]

14. No, just the opposite in fact..

Drafting increases the mileage of both vehicles.

Closing the airflow at the back of the vehicle can easily create as much drag as opening the airflow at the front. When you draft, it helps keep the open airflow at the back of the front vehicle from creating as much drag.

You see this in bicycle racing a lot, the entire team will be lined up as close as they can get.. Everyone benefits but the guys in the middle benefit the most since they have the wind broken for them and also have the airflow closed behind them, the lead and tail riders will usually change fairly regularly in that situation since they are putting out the most effort.

[taught_me_patience]

6. There are certain things guys exaggerate

salary
gas milage
size

[VP505]

21. When you wrote "size", for sure you were talking about

the size of the fish you caught. :dilemma:

[ruby slippers]

7. I dunno, the drafting scares me...but I have to admit that I am

now driving with my windows cracked instead of using my air conditioner and I live in Florida....it will be a long, hot summer....

[DS1]

19. You're hurting yourself

typically the a/c is the more efficient option on the highway, because cracked windows increase drag significantly.

[NickB79]

8. I usually draft semi's with a 2-3 second gap between us

This puts me borderline into their blind spot, but does show noticeable gains in gas mileage for my vehicle.

The funny thing is that a 3 second gap is more than most other drivers seem to give each other where I live. Unless you ride someone's bumper at 70 mph, you're gonna get honked at or receive a dirty look.

[spinbaby]

10. I did 65.7 mpg this morning

But I drive a Prius and have a lot of long downhill stretches on my way to work. I don't for a moment believe a Ford pickup truck can get over 40 MPG.

[Fumesucker]

17. The standard engine in a Ranger

Is a 2.3 four cylinder..

I have an older Ranger and it is only 80 horsepower and gets right at 27 mpg at a constant 65 mph.

Do a pulse and glide and keep your speed well down and 40 mpg is probably doable.

[eShirl]

11. doesn't drafting increase your mileage at the expense of the vehicle you're behind?

[cynatnite]

13. I have no idea...I've never tried it n/t

[Fumesucker]

15. No, drafting increases the mileage for both vehicles.

That's why you see bicycle racers doing it constantly.. When you have only about 1/2 horsepower or so, you maximize everything.

[mainegreen]

20. I think I'll get worse mileage, but a longer life expectancy and *not* draft.

I want distance between the vehicle in front of me and the vehicle behind me.

[MadinMo]

22. Sounds like a job for Myth Busters