digg

Join DiggAbout

Donkeys and Elephants and Delegates,oh my!
Check out the most popular Elections 2008 content on Digg.

See the original image at motherjones.com

This guy can get over 100 MPG in a stock automobile.

motherjones.com — Welcome to the world of hypermiling!

Bury
show profanity settings
expand all
  • mentallyinhell, on 05/01/2008, -20/+55I couldn't stand driving like that. I'm a leadfoot by nature and suffer from roadrage. If I were to see this guy on the street I'd probably fly by him giving him the finger.
    • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -7/+15My exact first thoughts, glad to see I'm not the only one that would be extremely aggravated at this.
      • joegen, on 05/01/2008, -11/+8Hypermilers are used to the aggression - and we pretty much don't care - but as long as we are not impeding traffic ( ie: driving in the right lane) - why show aggression as you drive by?
        • Johnny1337h4x0r, on 05/01/2008, -4/+16It's pretty friggin hard to get onto a highway (and by highway i mean the lanes that are not going 45 m/h in a 60/65 m/h zone) with these types of people driving. You get off of the entrance ramp onto the right lane, only to find that you have either a grandma or a "gas contentious" person in front of you, making it hard as ***** to get onto the next lane since everyone is going the speed limit or more.
          • Jonjonr6, on 05/01/2008, -1/+11It makes it dangerous for everyone, just so some guy can save a few bucks on gas.
            And drafting rigs with the engine off is dangerous and illegal.
            Some people lose sight of what's important. Safety first, then save gas.
          • jefbob, on 05/01/2008, -1/+7Not to mention the fact that you accelerated up to the speed limit on the entrance ramp, only to have to brake to slow down to the "hypermiler's" speed, thereby wasting the gas that they saved. If through the course of their trip they have enough people do this, they would negate their effect on the overall gas consumption of our population making it pointless in the first place.
        • zombo, on 05/01/2008, -6/+5You meet all sorts on the road, learn to drive and you'll be able to deal with them all.
        • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -0/+0for the lulz, mostly
        • litkaj, on 05/01/2008, -2/+5People who drive 20 miles per hour UNDER the speed limit are more dangerous than those going with the flow of traffic. People who ride my ass so close I can't see their WIPERS just so they can improve their economy by 2 mpg are dangerous, more so than those swerving around the slower traffic. People who measure their 0-60 time on a sundial hold up traffic in town causing congestion and merging on to a highway causing those behind you to have to deal with merging at 20-30 mph below the speed limit..
        • Ramble, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3Why? Becuase it's dangerous to be going slowly, people don't expect it and one day you'll end up causing an accident.
        • bowe, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1according to the article, they use a sorta surge and coast to get high MPG. So he'd probably speed up to 70 while getting on, and slow down to 60, and then quickly go back up to 70.
        • CryRightardCry, on 05/01/2008, -2/+2Great, inconsiderate assholes with a sense of smugness about it.
          If you REALLY can't figure out the problem with some ***** screwing up the process on the roads, you are an utter moron.
          But hey, whatever saves you a few pennies in gas, right?
          Are all hypermilers jackasses?
    • Markpdotcom, on 05/01/2008, -7/+23Its people who describe themselves as "leadfoot by nature" and who "suffer" from "roadrage" who always seem to get involved in accidents and altercations.

      Its not a race, calm down, drive like an adult, not a dick head!
      • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -5/+4I'd like to actually see a study done on this because I would think the opposite. I also think that those that play racing video games (and are decent at them) are probably better drivers (able to deal with things that come up better) than those who do not.
        I think most of the time it's the slower drivers that cause the other drivers to ***** up as mentioned above because the other drivers now have to merge going 20mph less than the traffic flow.
        • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -2/+4I agree with you; I think it's more about overall skill and driving ability than speed, to a point. Unfortunately, there's no good way to measure the moron levels of a person to include those in the study, too.
        • bowe, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2The two things everyone's good at in their own mind: Driving and Sex.
      • bdbr, on 05/01/2008, -1/+5Excess speed is a common cause of car crashes. They don't call them accidents anymore, because they're usually preventable.
        • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2False false false.... well, ok I will be nice. I humbly don't believe there is sufficient proof that speed is the most common cause.

          All crashes are between two more more objects with different relative velocities. Speed is an ingredient in crashes, because with out speed a crash can't happen. By no means does this mean speed is a cause of crashes. It could be, but one must prove it.

          I posit that;
          The common cause of car crashes is one or more persons not having an appropriate situational awareness.

          * It is true that high speed can reduce one's ability to have the appropriate level of situational awareness, because the situation is changing quickly. This is not proof that it always will.

          * It could be argued that a speeding driver's level of attention is higher. The reason being, is that the driver knows they are outside the bounds of acceptable limits; outside of their comfort zone. Consequently, their situational awareness is higher. In fact, in some U.K. towns, roads are purposely designed to seem dangerous, which studies there show, increase the situational awareness and reduce accidents.

          You are dead on correct about them being incorrectly called "accidents".

          I have had a few "accidents". Speed was a component, but not causal. I know, 'argument from personal experience falacy', bear with me.

          1) A driver taking a left turn did not see me behind the car he was waiting for, once it passed he turned right in front of me. He was not paying attention to the actual traffic, but assumed that he could turn after the car in front of me passed; he didn't look twice.

          However, I too am to blame. I should always be aware and prepared for the jerks around me, who are not paying attention, and given myself room behind the other car, to help him see me or give me time to scoot to safe section of road.

          2) I was in my quiet neighborhood, returning home on a lazy Sunday morning, and a woman ran the stop sign that was 2 driveways from my house. I was going like 10mph, to turn in my drive, and she just drove though and I hit her right front tire.

          I should have not trusted her to stop, and been prepared to give her plenty of room.

          There are about 200+ others that start like this, but no accident occurred because I was careful and telegraphed all my moves and triple checked all angles. Its drivers like me who bail out the rest of those, who are not paying attention.

          You see them everyday; eyes inside the car, looking at a phone, checking a clock, looking like a zombie straight ahead when changing lanes. They are everywhere.

          Its hard to drive defensively, but there a rare times, when it was me not paying attention, and a careful driver bailed me out. So thank you to those out there and keep up the good work.
      • CryRightardCry, on 05/01/2008, -2/+2*****.
        You pull that claim out of your ass and you know it.
        The last 4 accidents I witnessed involved morons on cellphones, not aggressive drivers.
        If you are going to make ***** up, make up believable *****.
        • zombo, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2If you've personally witnessed 4 or more accidents i would say that YOU were the cause. Stop pulling ***** out of your arse *****.
          • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2Kids kids. Some decorum.
          • CryRightardCry, on 05/02/2008, -2/+1Yes *****, from my position 100 feet away I caused those accidents.
            The two I watched from the sidewalk were hard to orchestrate, but somehow I managed to cause those two cars to collide. (Really jackass?)
            Are you claiming I have NOT witnessed these accidents? What are you basing that on?
            So let's see: I offer a personal experience, and you instantly claim I'm lying?
            Ah, I see.
            Rightard *****.
            I couldn't understand why some jackass would question that, but now that I see your profile it makes sense.
            You rightards do stick together and have no qualms about making accusations you can't back up.
            I guess it's the lack of integrity and ethics.
            And ***** decorum. It's to help assholes get off easy.
          • zombo, on 05/03/2008, -0/+1@CryRightardCry
            Dave, I am claiming you did not witness these accidents and I think you're so full of ***** that sometimes you just can't help yourself. You sad, sad, POS.
      • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1I've seen 80yo driving 20 under the limit and then failing to stop at a red light...but i guess that's another issue.
    • corkster, on 05/01/2008, -2/+7Good for you! I'm sure he'll be really hurt by your almighty finger!
    • skinflute, on 05/01/2008, -2/+9One article on Digg about regrowing fingers, and now people start giving them away!
      http://digg.com/health/Lose_A_Finger_Put_Some_Powd ...
    • jamaster06, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1But if you lay off the pedal a little you might find you aren't nearly as stressed on the road all the time, and your gas mileage much improved.
      • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1I play the light timing game to avoid braking. I am not so timid with acceleration however, so I can get out of a slow-n-go pack and cruise at a constant speed.
  • shadowmoose, on 05/01/2008, -9/+59I don't care what his gas mileage is. I'm not going to strip down my card and drive behind 18 wheelers all my life. Find me a car I can drive regularly that gets those numbers and then you will earn my dig.
    • computershack, on 05/01/2008, -3/+5Ford Mondeo 2L TDCi 130. I get 60MPG out of mine and I don't hang around.
      • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Don't you guys get a TDCi 1.6l Ford Focus and Fiesta also? ..even ligther
    • Jonjonr6, on 05/01/2008, -2/+8I agree.
      I hate these articles because they tend to encourage or promote dangerous and illegal driving behaviours like tailgating and driving with the engine off.
      Then they say things like, "Wayne doesn't get high mpg marks by tinkering with engines or using funky fuels or even, most days, by driving a hybrid." This only down-plays a better more viable solution to the issue. Sure, we should all change our driving habits a little; slow down and relax and be sensible. But, ultimately, this hypermiling behaviour is what should be discouraged.
      • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1If we had regenerative braking in cars, we wouldn't have to drive like such a pussy and still benefit from his driving techniques.

        Death turn? ***** just connect the drive shaft to the internal flywheel to slow the car, coast around the turn, brake real hard and fast at the light if it turns red, and use the now spinning flywheel to zip you right back up to fast. Put that in a car and you don't have to drive like a *****.
    • t3rmv3locity, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2I'd have a hard time respecting myself if I was Wayne. I think the acronym thing is just too much.
      'I just turned off my ICE and executed a D-FAS in my Mondeo 2L TDCi 130 and my average FE is 1.3 L/100 km which is 180.91 MPG. Sorry it's 95 degrees in here but turning on the AC would ignite the ICE and lower my MPG.'
      Jesus, lay off the acronyms...I think you use more then the wowers.
  • screwy3333, on 05/01/2008, -23/+16he probably also runs a PC with Ubuntu
    • theaceoffire, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2Actually, having to drive slow to save a few resources sounds like Vista.
      Linux OS's always tend to be fast, resource light, and stable.
  • dangsta, on 05/01/2008, -5/+41i'd rather drive like a normal person than risk my own safety for a few extra mpg.
    • joegen, on 05/01/2008, -2/+9Let gas get much higher and you are going to find the meaning of the words "normal driving " changing.
      • Tenlow, on 05/01/2008, -3/+7Actually gas is going to have to go over $9 a gallon for me to decide death is an option. But that's just me.
        • MiNGLED, on 05/01/2008, -3/+1Come to the UK, it's just about to hit £5 ($9.8) a gallon.
          • 11oops, on 05/01/2008, -0/+5Thank goodness you have mass-transit systems that run from city to city, country to country. Come over here and you'll realize you can't find transportation from one side of the city to the other in about 90% of towns with less than 100,000 people. If I want to take a train to Chicago, I first have to drive 100 miles to the station, just to ride the train the remaining 30 -- makes sense, right?
          • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2Chicago has tons of trains. You are on crack. Try moving to California.
          • 11oops, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Yeah, no *****. Chicago also has more than 100,000 people and I don't live there. I admitted I can get a train to anywhere in Chicago, I just have to drive 100 miles to the city nearest to me where I can get on it (Harvard, IL). Same as if I want to go anywhere by Amtrak.
          • Tenlow, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3You also get paid more. You forget, your money is worth twice what ours is. If you were paying for everything in USD it might be a fair comparison. Yes I know there is a huge difference in macro socioeconomics or whatever, but if you factor in the local cost of living, 5gbp is not that much more than 5usd.
          • 11oops, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3To further Tenlow's comment...

            - UK minimum wage = £5.73 = $11.31/hour (effective 10/1/08)
            - US minimum wage = $5.85
    • MOJIRA, on 05/17/2008, -2/+5I saved 20$ on gas! But I just paid a 10,000$ hospital bill and now I can't move my legs. Thanks hyper(*****)miling!
  • joegen, on 05/01/2008, -16/+29Once you start driving like this - it is hard to stop. Its almost like a video game, trying to constantly beat your best mpg. And with the scan gauge II - your read out can display $$$ used by sudden acceleration and stopping unnecessarily.

    Flip me off on the road all you want - I'm coasting all the way to the bank - my mileage is 50% over EPA standards !!!
    • nevetando, on 05/01/2008, -9/+31Yeah, and the minute one of you irresponsible mother Fers loses your butt on a death turn, or can't stop in time for a pedestrian because you turned off your car and lost your power brakes, all that gas savings is out the window as your life is sued away from you.

      Tight drafting a semi is irresponsible and dangerous. turning your car off and rocketing through turns is dangerous. if one of you dumbsh!ts ever hurt my family while you were busy laughing all the way to the bank, I'd be sure to take from you everything you ever had....
      • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6Amen brother.
      • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+5Turning off the engine is rather silly to do. (Unless you're in a drive through.)
        • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Not if your on a mountain road in the middle of winter, 20 miles from Denver after putting in a 50 mile trip and you get a cell call from your father which goes like this,

          'Hey by the way, the gas gauge reads false, did you fill it after picking it up? It has about 50 miles left in it.'
          • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1You can put it in neutral and cruise on idle.. turning off your car and losing power steering (doesn't it lock when you try to turn also).. you will save from the car not being under load..
    • jinxplayer, on 05/01/2008, -6/+14Yup, way to save five dollars *****!
    • esteskid, on 05/01/2008, -1/+16BS. if you wanted to coast your way to the bank you'd buy a motorcycle/moped and get that good of gas mileage anyway
      • ProjectGSX, on 05/01/2008, -0/+5Or walk.
      • bowe, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1or a scooter.
      • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3Or instal an intravenous feeding tube, submerge yourself in a virtual reality tank and leave the business of moving one's molecules here and there to the ignorant masses with no internets...
      • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1I saw a guy on a common walk path around my house.. on a Segway.. first time i'd ever seen those in person being used and man, did that guy look like a dick..
    • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -2/+2Agreed! Bring on the tax deductions for Scanguage II's!!
    • enri, on 05/01/2008, -0/+5You can get a good fuel efficiency without driving like a jackass. I get 28 mpg where my car is rated for 26 mpg highway. I drive the speed limit. I leave enough space between me and the car ahead of me so if they slow down I can release the accelerator instead of hitting the breaks. I don't accelerate to a stop.
      I don't do anything stupid-dangerous crap like hiding behind a semi or take turns at 50 mph; and I question if turning off your car in a turn really is fuel efficient. How much gas does it take to restart your car?
      • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1How much gas does it take to restart your car?
        It couldn't be more than you burn for 10 seconds at idle.
        • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1But you're not under load on idle... not saying its "better".. but i guess it would depend on far you can reach with the car off..

          Some cars go in "start up" mode when you start the car and add more fuel to reach operating temp (good for winter) and to heat the o2 sensors.. Even though some will have a "engine is already at operating temp", it usually will still have a default 1-2 minute timer before that kicks off anyway..
    • Plastic3D, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4In North Carolina I was once pulled over by the law for driving too closely behind another car (one car length per 10 mph is the rule of thumb). I wasn't intentionally drafting, but just a heads up.
    • bowe, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4other things you can do. Switch to a lighter weight oil (could be something synthetic but not too expensive) now that it is the summer. Increase your tire pressure.
      • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1But this means I would have to change the oil. Don't wanna do that.

        /Love these new synthetics. Orders of magnitude more stable, even when old and dirty.
  • jiggelo, on 05/01/2008, -10/+37100>59
  • paker, on 05/01/2008, -11/+5These "Hypermilers" will get quite a surprise when they have to pay someone to replace the car's starter after wearing it out starting and stopping the engine to save a bit of gas.
    • BitKid, on 05/01/2008, -1/+8They don't have to engage the starter because when they start the engine they do it with a roll start.
    • paker, on 05/01/2008, -2/+4Only if they have a stick shift. That won't work with an automatic. I watched a news story about hypermilers on the local news that used the starter way to often.
    • Chirp08, on 05/01/2008, -5/+5The car is in neutral buddy, the starter doesn't know if it is on the highway or parked. Starters don't "wear out" from being used, no additional stress is being put on it. Even if the starter did go, the car is under warranty, and if it wasn't you can get a starter for $45 bucks or so and install it in no more then 10 minutes, its two bolts 3 wires in most cases.
      • yournightmare, on 05/01/2008, -1/+5Starters do wear out from being used and most of them cost a lot more than $45 and take longer than 10 minutes to put in. How do you think starters wear out, from just sitting there? And good luck even finding a core for most cars for $45. If you rebuild the starter yourself you can do it for $45, easy.
      • ricksite, on 05/01/2008, -1/+9Starters are meant to be used once per trip. If you over use the starter, the pinion gear will wear out prematurely. This wouldn't be covered by warranty because the part didn't fail, it wore out. While a starter on an old V8 engine might cost $45 and take ten minutes, a starter on a modern fuel efficient engine can cost hundreds of dollars and be a pain in the ass to replace.
        • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Yeah I remember picking up Raylock remanufactured starter for 20$ with trade in. And ten minutes later, fixed!

          Recently, as a busy professional, I didn't have time to do it, so I figured I call for a tow. 500$. Wow. thats inflation for you.
    • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Rebuild or replace it yourself.
  • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -5/+27I personally enjoy driving and consider any money lost due to decreased mpg to be"entertainment" money. But hey, that's just my opinion.
    • karan1003, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I'd have to agree - driving slow is boring
    • brianara3, on 05/01/2008, -1/+0I would have to say... If you can't afford the gas in your vehicle, you shouldn't be driving. Even at $4-5/gal in your average sedan under $40 is still a full tank. Besides, if you go fill up when it is only to the 1/2 mark it doesn't seem so bad (only $20).

      I also don't want to hear complaints from the person pumping $100 worth in to their Hummer. You paid about $50k for that thing... you should be able to afford the gas. If not, BUY A SMALLER CAR.
    • quazywabbit, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I agree. just purchased a new car. Went from a Hyundai accent to a VW GTI and the cost of gas is higher and it doesn't get as good of fuel economy, but all i had to do was shift where my money went and it was ok, plus its a fun car to drive so its still entertainment.
    • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Driving is an activity now.. like going to the movies and restaurant.. since getting to work and back is significant enough that you can calculate how much it cost.. going to the movies and restaurant? oh you're screwed..

      I loved taking Sunday drives.. not as much now..
  • frazw, on 05/01/2008, -7/+56That man is incredibly dangerous. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up slamming into the back of truck one day. Tailgating is about the stupidest thing you can do in a car.
    • lolinyerface, on 05/01/2008, -1/+6Seriously. Lets drive like idiots to save a few bucks!
    • whatwhatwhoa, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Everyone tailgates. Most people drive about around 10-20 feet behind the other car at 55mph in my town, sometimes as close as 5 feet. I always it imagined it to be safer behind a semi. *accident ahead, the semi slams on his brake, but can't stop fast enough. BAM! he plows right through the accident and pushed most of the stuff out of the way. because your car is lighter, you stop faster him and remain unharmed.* But maybe it's just my imagination.
      • frazw, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Just cause everyone does it doesn't mean it is safe. Every heard of a pile up?
        Imagine you are tailgating a truck and someone is tailgating you. Truck brakes, you hit it, guy behind seals your fate by slamming into you. Rock and a hard place dude. If you weren't tailgating, you'd just get shunted up the road.
  • joegen, on 05/01/2008, -2/+14You don't have to use all of his extreme measure to enjoy drastically higher fuel economies - I don't tailgate - or strip my vehicle and get 50 % more than the epa rating for my vehicle.
    • ricksite, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1Tell us your secret!
      • cgoff, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3Drive slower.
        • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1it depends how fast you want to drive and if you have a lot of stops.. unless you have really high winds, it depends on LOAD .. (going uphill.. rolling from a stop.. ) its not the speed.. caus you can change that with different gearing..
      • 11oops, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6His car runs on children's tears.
        • MiDri, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3Just fyi EPA for children's tears is 10 miles a gallon, they're not that efficient...
          • 11oops, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3Good thing I'm converting my car to run on Chuck Norris' tears. One tear gets 100K miles I hear.
          • lotsa1s, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Its a shame he never cries.
        • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -2/+3WTF? And your car doesn't run off children's blood? What do you think we're doing in Iraq anyway?
  • Johnny1337h4x0r, on 05/01/2008, -10/+26He saves himself a couple bucks while wasting everyone else's time. This is how you get that long as traffic on highways when there's no accident present. Oh, and please don't start acting like you drive the speed limit all the time and how good of a Samaritan you are, there is no way in hell 55 m/h is an appropriate speed limit for a highway.
    • joegen, on 05/01/2008, -7/+4I don't give a damn about being a good samartian - or driving the speed limit ( down hill I gather as much speed as I can to offset any up coming hills - this way of driving saves ME money - if you don't like it use the other lane - I could care less.
      • Chirp08, on 05/01/2008, -4/+11You are going slower then the "slow people" who in turn must shift to the middle lane, forcing the middle lane people "doing about the speed limit" into the left lane, who in turn hold up the people doing 15-20mph over turning the left lane into the equivelent of someone doing 55 pulling in front of a ferrari doing 150 on the autobahn.

        You ***** everyones ***** up, period.
        • lotsa1s, on 05/01/2008, -0/+0Then don't speed, ***** head. By speeding you take up the left lane and force the people doing about the speed limit into the middle lane, which in turn forces the slow people into the far right lane. Works both ways.
          • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2In many states you must be in the right lane, unless passing.

            If you are doing the speed limit you should be in the right lane.
            If you are going slow then you also should be in the right lane.
            If you are speeding like a a daemon get over to the right lane.

            Unless you have to pass.

            So lets say we have 3 types of drivers on a 3 lane hi-way.
            Type 1 : -5mph below speed limit
            Type 2: 0mph above
            Type 3: +5 above

            Under the rules, we will have three lanes. with each type smoothy cruising along with zero lane changes.

            Now add a single Type S driver at -10mph.

            This will create a cascade effect and you will get a standing traffic wave setup. This means that there will be peaks and toughs for miles and miles behind this driver, where cars are bunching up and spacing out, only to repeat. People get antsy when they can't cruise, and some change lanes in an attempt to get out. Which increases that chance for accidents.

            Now ***** head, lets remove the Type S driver and add a Type F at +20mph over the speed limit.
            This driver has zero effect on the lanes. In fact it becomes nearly impossible for this driver to actually drive at +20mph as she has to get in the far most left lane, which is clogged with +5mph drivers. Zero. Nada. Ziltch.
      • Johnny1337h4x0r, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2That's a nice mentality: ***** everyone else, as long as I get mine..."
        • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1You think he is selfish and going slow is safe? Look at my analysis above. The slow driver may think they are being all nice and safe, but their ignorance doesn't excuse the danger they create.

          Remember, 40,000 Americans die every year. So if we are going to get mad at "selfish at the expense of others" in this serious game, lets accuse the right persons, ok?
          • Johnny1337h4x0r, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Would this be an appropriate time to say "Woosh"?

            In case you didn't understand, my comment was with an understood /sarcasm tag. I was referring to the fact that the person who commented above me, didn't care that he screws over all the traffic, as long as he saved his buck.
          • kurtu5, on 05/03/2008, -0/+1Ah its so much easier to hear the sarcasm when shooting the ***** in a bar.

            I stand corrected. :) Happy Friday.
      • Trick07, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Going 45MPH in a 55MPH while everyone else is going 65MPH is stupid and dangerous. However, I really can't fault someone for doing just 55MPH in a 55MPH zone when everyone else is doing 65.. Or 65MPH in a 65MPH zone when everyone is doing 70MPH. Some people believe in following the rules... nothing wrong with that...
    • amoro99, on 05/01/2008, -2/+3Going 30 miles at 70 MPH gets you there in 24 minutes. Going 30 miles at 55 MPH gets you there in 32 minutes. What are you doing in that 8 minutes that is so important?
      • esteskid, on 05/01/2008, -1/+6well you'll never find out will you because you'll still be on teh ***** road pissing people off
      • brianara3, on 05/01/2008, -1/+5I use my 8 mins to GET THE HELL OUT OF PEOPLES WAY. If the average driver is going the speed limit or higher (65-70 mph) all your doing is causing an unsafe road block by going 55. If everybody would go the same speed we would have less traffic problems.
      • theaceoffire, on 05/01/2008, -3/+3Not dying.
        You never want to go 55 when someone hits you going 70.
      • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1Maybe taking a *****!
      • Chirp08, on 05/01/2008, -1/+3Do you ***** realize how long 8 minutes really is. Sit in your office chair and stair at the ***** wall for 8 minutes, set an alarm, don't actually watch a clock, and in your mind pretend you are driving. It will feel like eternity. 8 minutes is a long time when it comes driving buddy, its the difference between being early as hell or late as hell to a class/meeting/work etc. I don't know what world you live in.
        • amoro99, on 05/01/2008, -2/+2Maybe you need to relax more. I live in a world where 8 minutes is only ***** 8 minutes. If you want to stare at a wall for 8 minutes, go ahead.
          • kurtu5, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1If 8 minutes is really not that important to you, will you do 8 minutes of work for me every day for free? Seriously, I could make a nice little bit of money if you would be willing to commit long term, day after day for your whole working life.

            Can you commit to your conviction? Its only 8 minutes.
  • BitKid, on 05/01/2008, -6/+51Does anyone see the irony in the article? The guy is portrayed as the poster boy for high miles per gallon, and yet he participates in an event that is just a waste of gas.
    • joegen, on 05/01/2008, -10/+5Really??? No irony that I can see if you look at the number of gallons saved due to converting others to this driving philosophy - in the last 2 months his name has been going increasingly mainstream. Reuters had an article on hypermiling the other day.
      • ricksite, on 05/01/2008, -0/+8Judging by the comments on this page, he isn't converting anyone.
      • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -1/+3Not only that but the traffic jams he has caused and all the other unnecessary braking etc. on the road he forces everyone else to do probably adds back up to what he is saving. I'd like to see the math on that one.
    • tetsuwan, on 05/01/2008, -12/+4That's like saying that exercise is a waste of heartbeats.
    • 3tcp, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Traffic economists have done studies showing that a single car moving slower than the rest of traffic causes a ripple effect, drastically slowing down all traffic drastically. People slowing down so they can gawk at an accident waste an enormous amount of energy and gasoline because traffic is slowed down and backed up for everyone like a mile behind them.

      This guy's individual energy efficiency shouldn't be applauded because everyone else who's on the road with him pays more because of it.
  • tifosiuno, on 05/01/2008, -5/+13I bet I can beat them on my Ninja 750. Right now I get 45 - 48 mpg averaging about 90 mph.
    • Spuy767, on 05/01/2008, -10/+6Bragging about your irresponsible driving != win.
    • Branyers, on 05/01/2008, -2/+6No you don't.
      • Spuy767, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1I used to get about 300 miles on a tank riding my VF1000R, but I don't accelerate like mad, I don't pop wheelies, and i drive with the flow of traffic.
        • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1what is the fuel tank capacity in one of those bikes? I don't know motorcycles..
    • Virgule, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1lightweight.
      Thats all there is to it >_
    • jamie191817, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1+1 for motorbikes!
    • qwertycopter, on 05/02/2008, -0/+3You're four-popped-collars cool.
  • timisondigglol, on 05/01/2008, -1/+3Isn't that article this one?
    http://digg.com/motorsport/A_Race_Among_Fuel_Effic ...

    I guess if you missed it, you should see it now. Definitely worth a read.
  • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -3/+4I think it might literally be faster for him to ride a bicycle...
  • Nougat, on 05/01/2008, -3/+5"Macadam?" Really? Even I had to look that up, and it is as pretentiously incorrect as it sounds. I'm willing to bet that the "sprawling Wisconsin parking lot" was not made of fine packed gravel.

    http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=& ...
    • longchamp, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6i work for a civil engineering firm... it is.
      • Nougat, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4DAMN YOU!
        • longchamp, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3it is odd though, ive never heard the word used outside of work
        • esteskid, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3really? I learned it in elementary school, when the teacher aids would yell at us during recess and tell us to stay on the macadam, and not to run around in the fields, didn't think it was that obscure...
  • K31TH3R, on 05/01/2008, -5/+3I get that this dude wants to get good gas mileage, but he's a little obsessive about it.
    I wish we'd hurry up and find an efficient alternate fuel so this guy can feel like a huge d-bag for driving the way he does.
  • AL7AIR, on 05/01/2008, -1/+35Turning off the engine? What the ...? If I turn off the engine I don't have power steering ... and I don't want to steer through perfectly timed green lights just on faith. Just think of it: You approach an intersection and it's to late to break for a guy trying to speed through it or has overlooked his red light. Accelerate? Gimme a sec I have to get the engine running again! Tailgateing a semi? Have fun judging traffic conditions infront of the truck by looking at a wall!
    There are certain things you can do to save gas, like rolling up to a red light as opposed to speeding up to it and breaking (which is a stupid concept for city traffic anyway - just gain speed and roll with it - you might be surprised how long a car can hold a speed on its own without your food on the paddle) or shifting up as early as possible, but some of those "tips" in that article are stupid and/or dangerous not only for him, but for the people around him.
    • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3I'd be more concerned about loss of assisted braking than power steering, but you raise a good point. My car has only ever died on my once while in motion, but I was going down a fairly steep hill... That was not an experience I would wish upon anyone.
      • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1My Focus had a fuel pump recall.. the fuel filter would get clogged.. the fuel pump would over heat (clogged filter) and would fail so the car would turn off...The pump was badly placed so you got a similar effect when turning hard right (the fuel would end up left of the tank, and the fuel pump wouldn't pick up any fuel)... this is the worst kind of thing that can happen. Car shuts off in a curve.. no power steering... I know what a car without power steering feels like but if you've never experienced it with your power steering car.. it is very unexpected and scary
    • itspuddingtime, on 05/01/2008, -1/+8power steering is really only a factor at parking-lot speeds. Once you get above 15mph or so, most newer cars cut the power assist anyway. But yes, it's a bad idea (and illegal) to shut off the engine while moving. Then there's always the chance that you turn the key too far "off" and lock the steering wheel at 40mph... that would be bad.
    • whatwhatwhoa, on 05/02/2008, -0/+2the person above me is correct. above 15mph, power steering isn't much of an issue.
  • Nougat, on 05/01/2008, -1/+17Hey wait, isn't simply doing this competition wasting gas? Aren't you always wasting gas if you're driving when you don't need to be?
  • raptormn, on 05/01/2008, -1/+24buy a motorcycle
    • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2I don't understand why this guy hasn't. I mean he strips his car anyway so why not just get a motorcycle.
      • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2You can still survive most car accidents. Try that on a motorcycle.
        • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Isn't insurance on a bike like twice the amount for a car?
  • Tenlow, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1I'm a big enough hazard on the road driving the speed limit in the slow lane (speeding tickets are expensive, i learned that one the hard way). This guy is just an ass. He should be doing this stuff on a track, not on public roads being a nuisance to the vast vast majority of other cars. Sure it's great for proving a point, but past that he's going to kill someone trying to save a few dollars.
  • sfacets, on 05/01/2008, -6/+352≠100.
  • computershack, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2FFS...what's so special about this? I get 60MPG out of my Ford Mondeo and I don't spend half my time driving with the engine off or crawling like a snail.Poor economy in this car is 53MPG. A lot of the time I'm the guy overtaking people.
    When are you merkins going to realise that the rest of the world has moved on and these figures are nothing spectacular?
    • Number23, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3I'm sure you have a turbo diesel. For a lot of reasons, very few diesel cars are offered here in the US. I was in Italy last year and rented a 5sp, TD Fiat Chroma. I loved the car, it held all our stuff and it got 45+ mpg while I was driving up to 100mph on the A-1.
      • imacbook, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1Newsflash punk, no one cares about the US. You guys are digging a giant hole for yourselves by not adopting these things and soon you'll be fresh out of oil.
        • Number23, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1‘fresh out of oil”

          Keep dreaming douche. There’s lots of oil in the world and even a fair bit in NA AND America has a virtually inexhaustible coal supply.

          I would support greater adoption of diesel cars, but the refineries here in the US are set up to favor gas production that’s why it’s 50c a gallon cheaper than diesel.

    • dreesemonkey, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4You have a diesel engine and our gallon is 83% the size of yours. Way to fail at knowledge.

      • Arawn, on 05/01/2008, -1/+353 MPG times 0.83 equals 43.99 MPG. Still a very good figure, compared to what we read about in the US. And you don't have diesels, because you don't want to.
        • dreesemonkey, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1Don't blame me, my dream vehicle is a compact pickup with a small turbodiesel that gets 40mpg converted to 'greasecar' specs to burn waste oil with no processing.
    • bowe, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Diesel is also way more expensive than gasoline at the moment. Where I am Diesel is $4.34/gallon and gasoline is $3.60/gallon. So that's means to convert your miles/gallon to gasoline gallons, you're getting 43.99 Mpgal*(360/434) = 36 mpg gasoline equivalent or about what a honda civic gets. Since diesel is more energy dense, you also put out more CO2 per gallon.
      It makes no sense that Diesel is more expensive than gasoline since it is less refined, but nothing in the fuel business really makes sense atm.
  • Number23, on 05/01/2008, -1/+14I've raised my city mpg from an EPA 24 to 31 by doing the following:
    1. Add more air to your tires, say 5lbs over the recommended PSI
    2. Skip gears (1-3-5) if you have a manual trans (and what kind of man are you if you don't?)
    3 Again for the men among us, shift at 3k rpm or less
    4 Coast up to red lights. Every day I see dopes fly past me on their way to a red light only to wait for me to coast past them when light turns green.
    • imacbook, on 05/01/2008, -4/+11. It's ft/lb or PSI, you cannot combine the two.
      2. If your car has a sub 1.4L engine like most do, then skipping 1 is not an option.
      3. Not if you're going uphill.
      4. Get a TomTom.
      • shodanx, on 05/01/2008, -1/+01 ft/lb is a torque, P in PSI is pounds that is 5 more pounds than the rated pounds per square inch
        2 most cars are 2 liters
        3 how often are you going uphill in city traffic ?
        4 how is satnav going to help timing red lights ?

        most of this hypermiling is crap, but you're doing it wrong
        get a lightweight diesel car and you've done your 90% the rest is just fiddling
        personnally I have a heavy duty van for carying stuff
        a lightweight diesel car as a daily/long distance driver
        and a sports car for fun
        and it all costs me less than half a brand new civic or focus
        • imacbook, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1What exactly do you carry?
        • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+12 "most cars" have all sorts of liters of engines. (not just the one yours has.)
          3 all the time I live in San Diego where it's as hilly as heck
          4 If a GPS can't help you time red lights, then code it. The Dash Express has an open API and an internet connection.
      • Number23, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1PSI, right
        I have a 2005 Civic Si (and a 2001 S2000) with a 2.0L making 160hp
        I live in South FL. It's billard table flat here
        • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I can agree with FL being flat as all save for the overpasses on the interstate and the bridges.
  • iBlinkalot, on 05/01/2008, -1/+17"He uses the Accord for a hellacious two-hour commute to the Braidwood Nuclear Power Station"
    Maybe it wouldn't be two hours if he went faster then 50 mph.
    • arkaycee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3"He uses the Accord for a hellacious two-hour commute to the Braidwood Nuclear Power Station"

      ... OK so maybe he saves miles per gallon but then he uses a lot of possibly unnecessary gallons then.

      I used to live 45 miles from work, which had little rush hour traffic but there was no useful freeway between, so it was close to an hour each way. Now I live a little over three miles away. I put all that savings (10-20 gallons of gas a week, not to mention having to buy oil, tires, actually cars themselves ... far less often) into buying a nicer place. Conservatively, I figure I only use 5-10% of the gas I used to (counting that I drive to stores to pick things up here, which was about the same where I used to live. For the to-from work, it's more like 7%, but on the other hand I ride my bike to work a lot). Plus I get 10 more hours a week to be at home. Time is one of the few commodities that are even harder to replace than oil.
      • Wetzilla, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Time spent doesn't always = distance from work. It takes me around an hour, sometimes more with bad traffic, to get to my school in Boston most days, and I live about 10 miles outside of the city.
      • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Your time is only worth something if you are paid hourly. Most jobs are salary based. Try getting OT for the half hour you arrived early to work.
        • arkaycee, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0Time is only worth *money from that employer* if I am paid hourly. I don't arrive a half hour early. I stay home another half hour, and I get home a half hour earlier at night. That's worth a lot to me personally -- I'm not donating it to my employer.
    • ricksite, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4Maybe he could move closer to work...or get a job closer to where he lives.
      • jhandfield, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Perhaps it's a statement as to how safe he feels the station he works at is... When he's only driving 50mph, he needs as much of a head start as he can get.
      • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1or car pool
  • insomniac8400, on 05/01/2008, -5/+2Why would using purely electric devices like a defroster hurt gas mileage? I guess he leaves the radio off and doesn't use head lights at night to save gas also.
    • corkster, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6Do you understand how a car works?
    • bongle, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3The power to those devices comes from the alternator, which is a generator driven by the engine's shaft. More electricity usage = more resistance at the alternator = more fuel usage. This is also why turning off your A/C in the summer can save you gas.
      • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Didn't mythbusters do something on gas mileage with the A/C on/off and they determined that driving with the A/C ON with the windows up was better gas mileage than windows down. Besides living in FL, in the summertime there is no option of NOT having some sort of air on you. The humidity will choke you to death.
      • GeekyLotus, on 05/01/2008, -0/+0Not really. While you are correct about what the alternator does, you are not correct about why the A/C uses more fuel. The A/C is a drag on the engine because of the compression of the refrigerant. You have a compressor in your engine bay for the A/C. The compressor does not have an electric motor (unlike home A/C), it is belt driven directly off the engine. The compressor clutch is electrically engaged, but that is it. The fan is electric, but it is the same fan used for your heat in the winter. You don't hear recommendations to turn off your heat in the winter to save gas, so you can bet that the drag on the alternator is minimal. I'm pretty sure that Cerebral is correct that driving with the windows down creates more fuel usage from drag than windows closed and A/C on.
    • arkaycee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1So you just pull the energy for those electrical devices out of ... where? Of course using any extra energy has to come from that gasoline, unless you have solar cells on your car or something.
      • MiNGLED, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Solar panels on car roofs, now there's an idea.
        • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Just pray they aren't stolen or vandalized. (Solar panels are pretty expensive.)
      • insomniac8400, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Guess you don't know how an alternator works. It makes power whether you use it or not.
    • ricksite, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2The energy has to come from somewhere and that somewhere is the engine. It is probably negligible though.
    • Virgule, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2The electricity need to be produced. That is what the alternator is for. Its driven by the engine, thus, technically, turning off the lights does save gas.
    • AmericansRevolt, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1A/C gas guzzlin mostly comes from the high-pressure multi-piston compressor the car has to run to make the r134 go cold. otherwise the only actual electricity the a/c uses in a car is just the heater blower fan (with heat shut off of course!)
      • insomniac8400, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I was not talking about A/C. I know that runs off a belt. I am talking about electrical devices. That run off the power created from the alternator. Unless you remove the alternator, you should be able to use all electrical devices without a problem.
    • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2Since everyone is putting dude's comment down I have a question for all of you. Does it actually use MORE gas to run the alternator in your car? I mean the thing is running anyway right so why if you are going a steady 30mph would the car start pumping MORE GAS just because you turned on your radio, A/C, lights... whatever. I thought that all the electricity comes from the battery which is always being charged by the alternator.
      • Zaxcomp, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3You're increasing the load and resistance on the alternator when you use electrical devices.
        • insomniac8400, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1But by how much. Odds are it is not enough to effect anything.
      • ricksite, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3The battery is used for starting the car and to regulate the electrical system. Most of the electricity used comes directly from the alternator. The amount of electricity to run a car radio is a drop in the bucket compared to the energy required to propel the car forward.
        • Cerebral, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Right I've always been told that technically after you start your car you can remove the battery.
          So does the alternator produce a constant amount of electicity or does it increase/decrease as needed? Then again when/if it increases/decreases is there internal switching that changes the amt. of electricity or does it physically change something that DOES make the car work harder?
          I'm only asking because I've never heard my car work HARDER when I turn on the radio or plug my cell phone in but according to some my car should start working harder which I just don't see happening. Now the A/C I may thing something more could happen because you have external fans and whatnot that will kick in but still.
  • greatgatsbyII, on 05/01/2008, -0/+6All you have to do is avoid quick stops and starts and your car will get better than the EPA rating. So long as the car is in working order... tires etc. Also, take all the crap you have in your trunk and laying on the floor out. If you're going going to use the stuff during this trip take it out the car. (except for a flashlight and tools for emergency use.)
    • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1If cities reduce the time of the "yellow light" phase, wouldn't it be impossible to avoid quick stops? (And vise versa for increasing yellow light phase time.)
  • passedoutghost, on 05/01/2008, -0/+19Pffft that's nothing. I walk.
    • linagee, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2Your carbon footprint is bigger by walking. Try biking instead.
  • Evildudetx, on 05/01/2008, -5/+10This guy is just an *****. If he really wants awesome gas milage, ditch the car and get a motorcycle.
    • Branyers, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1What about driving a motorcycle isn't dangerous? Trying to outrun everyone on your 1000cc bike won't get you any better gas mileage than if you were driving a car.

      • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1He didn't say be an ass with the bike. What he says makes perfect sense so shut the hell up. It's not like everyone who has a motorcycle does nothing but drive 200mph everywhere they go.
        • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1And then all those savings will be added to his insurance
    • bowe, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Get a vespa, and get up 80-100 mpg. Most people drive around vehicles intended to seat at least 4 people while they're the only one actually in the vehicle. You end up carrying a lot of extra mass around and it's really pointless.
  • daeus, on 05/01/2008, -5/+2lol you have to be pretty anal if you can be bothered to Hypermile and whats with the name - just because it sounds kool dosnt mean it is, its like my freind calls himself at work a "Ceramic Technician" when all he does is washup.
  • catatonic, on 05/01/2008, -2/+3Dugg down, hypermiling produces radically varying results, well in excess of the variances a normally driven car will see over time....not to mention the questionable driving tactics. One should be paying attention to the road, not to shutting off/starting up the engine, let alone dangerous tactics like drafting semis (newsflash: airbrakes are so powerful that semis stop in distances FAR shorter than you will have time to react to, back up sparky).

    I'd love to see the european turbo diesels here, but until American automakers can get their cranial-rectal inversion disorder sorted out, we will keep seeing cars that are getting more truck like everyday, and trucks that are getting more semi like everyday.
    • Virgule, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1"(newsflash: airbrakes are so powerful that semis stop in distances FAR shorter than you will have time to react to, back up sparky)"

      forget that..... just no
  • Smokezz, on 05/01/2008, -2/+7My '02 Corvette gets 32-35MPG on the highway. Good enough for me. And lots of "fun power" when I "need it". (and bad mileage then).
    • Branyers, on 05/01/2008, -0/+4You forgot your decimals.
      • dreesemonkey, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Nope. The corvette is aerodynamically efficient, lightweight, and geared rather low. The C5 vettes (like the one in question) get incredible gas mileage on the highway when driven like a sane person.
      • Cerebral, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Only dugg up because it's funny, not because it is true.
        • Smokezz, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Believe what you want. When I need to go to Toronto, I drive it rather than the Jeep because it gets far better mileage. (Not to mention its more fun to drive) :) At 120km/h (70mph) the engine is running around 1400-1500rpm in 6th gear. My old '75 on the other hand... sucked for mileage (and power).
          • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Yeah and the jeep as the worst gearing of all... i have no idea but they must top out at like 140-150km/h ?
    • bowe, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1it's true the corvette is a lightweight, aerodynamic car, what do you expect? The added weight of the engine in the corvette isn't that much since it's aluminum, and I believe they now have displacement on demand which gives them the ability to run as a 6 or 4 cylinder.
  • jayrok, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2He could also just drive a Smart
    http://digg.com/environment/Smart_car_commercial_s ...
    • triskele, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1For a vehicle that only fits two people and a single bag of groceries and only gets 33/41 mpg, I'll pass.
  • lolinyerface, on 05/01/2008, -6/+4Inaccurate. Man gets 59 in stock accord, not over 100.
  • uglybanana, on 05/01/2008, -6/+0Seriously WTF? You can get roughly 59mpg from just about any small engined diesel car in Europe or the UK and you can drive normally while doing it. Have Americans even heard of diesel, cars with less than 6 cylinders, 1300cc engines and getting more than 150bhp from a 6L engine?
    • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -1/+0Less than 6 cylinders? Hmm...

      On a more serious note, you want to know the biggest problem with Americans driving increasingly massive cars? It's a positive reinforcement loop. For every day you drive a compact (or even a small to midsize sedan) there's an increased chance of getting run over by a moron driving a monster of an SUV, a double-wide quadruple-cab pick-up truck with 12 axles, or a megaminivan. I know several people who have "upgraded" to bigger vehicles simply for survival.
  • MrFurious2k, on 05/01/2008, -2/+3Seriously - this is fun? This guy just sounds like a pain the ass.
  • skinflute, on 05/01/2008, -3/+4100 MPG WTF H4X

    Buried for using imperial units.
  • dirtkahuna, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2I have adopted a "mild" hypermiling technique while driving my Dodge Caravan. By coasting to stop signs and red lights, inflating the tires properly, and reducing the amount of stuff I carry in the vehicle, I have increased my MPG from 21 to 25 (16%). Also, keeping the speed below 70 on the highway makes a huge difference.
    • atact88, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2"Also, keeping the speed below 70 on the highway makes a huge difference."

      lol you think? Wind drag increases exponentially above 60 mph (96 km/h). That's one of the reasons many areas use 55 mph as a highway speed limit, aside from safety.
  • alpha94, on 05/01/2008, -1/+5The kicker is that he is doing this to save us from the evil oil of the middle east. Not one mention about oil being the base of just about anything that is manufactured, like his big TV.
  • yournightmare, on 05/01/2008, -3/+4In most states it's against the law to drive with the engine off, to coast with the car in neutral, and it's certainly illegal in most states to impede the flow of traffic. And yes, driving too slow in the right hand lane counts as impeding the flow of traffic. When you are going so slow in the right hand lane that you become a rolling roadblock, you are impeding the flow of traffic.

    A courteous, conscientious driver would be more concerned with keeping the flow of traffic running smoothly because the cumulative effect of that would be less gas used by everybody (and so reducing overall emissions and not increasing demand for gas), instead of being a selfish prick and ***** up everybody else's gas mileage. Hypermilers screwing up traffic behind their rolling roadblocks are inadvertently contributing more to global warming and rising gas prices than most people, due to their own lack of foresight and their apparently obsessive greed. It would be ironic if they were doing it so "save the earth," but since they are simply selfish jerks it's just stupid instead.

    I think I'm going to start my own hypermiling trend. I'm going to get such awesome gas mileage that hypermilers will cream their shorts with envy. Here's the plan: hook my SUV to the back of a hypermiler's car and just let them pull me around. Hey, it's not *that* much dumber than drafting semi trucks, and plus I only care about *me*, and the hypermilers can flip me a bird all they want, and I won't be impeding traffic, and I'll be coasting all the way to the bank and...

    Drive reasonably to save gas, not like a selfish moron.
    • ShinyDemon, on 05/01/2008, -0/+0*fits grappling hook to front bumper*
    • thanakar, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2If he is still above the minimum speed limit then he's not impeding traffic.
    • amoro99, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3In most states it's also illegal to drive over 70 on the highway, yet people do.
  • teamgwho, on 05/01/2008, -3/+2Ok he saves a little on gas, (ok maybe a lot) but all that crazy driving has got to take a toll on his tires, not to mention he is probably putting a lot more miles on the vehicle as a result and that means his car will need repairs sooner then normal. So I can't see how he does better then break even monetarilly. So that means he's driving like an ass, risking his life and everyone elses and the only benefit is he isn't spending money on gas, he's spending it on tires and oil changes?

    Whats the point?
    • AmericansRevolt, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1youre right on. dont forget to mention all the other people that have to brake early because his dumbass is coasting in a busy street during rush hour. this guy is a moron, i feel bad for his wife.
    • Ducksa, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1How does driving slower increase mileage?
  • Metman, on 05/01/2008, -4/+2In other news, Wayne Gerdes died today when his hybrid was wedged under the back-end of a trailer. The jaws of life were unable to remove the man in time and paramedics commented that they do not understand why the man was tailgating so close. Eye witness, Ima Jackasstwo who said she knew the man stated - "He was not tail gating he was drafting!".... story at eleven
  • thanakar, on 05/01/2008, -1/+3yet this man has a huge ass tv and god knows what other energy wasting items in his home.
  • robotderek42, on 05/01/2008, -0/+7hehehe… In Wayne's world, fuel efficiency is not about the car.

    Wayne's World. LOL
  • jedcred, on 05/01/2008, -1/+6This is the kind of justification that makes all zealots proud: in the pursuit of better gas mileage, we're going to put everyone at risk. Let me go through a list of common issue that happen when you're coasting with the engine off:

    1. Brake fade. If you're only using the brakes to slow down the car, the brakes will heat up. Eventually, they will heat up to a point where the brakes start to be less and less effective, forcing you to brake longer. If an inexperienced driver is unaware of this (and most drivers are inexperienced with this issue) then they won't be stopping when they think they'll be stopping.

    2. Brake pressure loss. Among one of the things that the engine drives is the master brake cylinder, which keeps up brake fluid pressure. With the engine off, there's some loss when you brake, and it can get to the point where you may lose all brake pressure when you try to slow or stop the car. Like above, you may not stop when you want to, especially in an emergency braking situation that you didn't see coming.

    3. Tire heat-up. Like the brake-fade above, taking turns at 50 when you should be taking them at 25 heats up the tires. That squealing sound you hear is the loss of friction between the tires and the asphalt. Heating up the tires causes them to expand (starts to run you on the middle of the tires more than the outside edges) and causes the tires to lose friction faster. So that third turn at 50 miles per hour may be your last.

    4. Drop-in shifting. For manual cars the following doesn't matter (because they're designed to do this) but automatics rarely take drop -in shifting well (shifting while the vehicle is in motion) and some cars don't allow it entirely, which is what you'd have to do with an automatic at speed: shift into neutral, turn the engine off, turn it back on, then shift back into drive.

    5. Heat exchange (or lack thereof). When you're running the engine, pumps are running coolant through your engine and transmission. While running at speed will force some air into the engine compartment, this will only cool the radiator fluids, not the engine or transmission fluids. What this also means is that you will get a much larger temperature differential when you restart the car, say, after a couple minutes at speed, where the radiator fluid is many degrees lower than the engine and transmission temperature. This is a head-gasket failure waiting to happen, as cold coolant mixes with warm coolant and expansions and contractions take place. Also, you're looking at transmission failure, since the transmission isn't being cooled, yet part of it (the dog gears and the parts connected to the drivetrain) are still turning, especially in an automatic, where most of the planetary gears will be going as well.


    Oops. Didn't know about that, did we?
  • MrCalifornia, on 05/01/2008, -3/+2I'll get there before him and take his money and screw his women. There's plenty of space in the back of my SUV. Plus it smells like gas. Chicks dig that.
  • cuoops, on 05/01/2008, -0/+5Driving with correct tire pressure (most are under inflated) can save from $300 to $600 or more on gas a year. It also saves on tires, engine, and drive train wear. 1,000 people for one year is around $500,000 savings on just gas. Start adding that up and you get the picture.
    • BearinG, on 05/09/2008, -0/+1Agreed.. not just higher pressure.. "correct" pressure..
  • Patapoofski, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1I hate people who drive like this. They're worse than people who drive insane and go 20 miles over the speed limit. By not keeping with the flow of traffic he creates a very hazardous situation.
  • bincoder, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Good article. I have done this since katrina but not as ruthlessly as him. My truck a toyota manual 4 banger, did get 21 mpg (city) it now gets 29-31 mpg (city). I didn't air up the tires, nor strip it, not even wax it. That change was only from accelerating more slowly, shifting up sooner (not skipping gears) watching traffic flow and timing the stop lights, coasting in neutral as much as I can. I don't dilly dally around like grandpa either (usually around 5 or 10 over the speed limit) engine gets shut off if im in a long line at a drive thru restaurant (more than 3 cars in front or 2 if any of them contain children and housewives) no drafting or screaming around corners, I prefer to just get off the gas to slow for a curve no need to brake, it will slow down anyway and I dont want a ticket nor to wear out the tires. I don't get OMG results, but I do get almost a 50% boost in mileage which is the same as gas for $1.60 a gallon. Hypermiling to some extent should be force taught at school and the DMV.
  • britoca, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1let's see, I drove from Berkeley, CA, to Manhattan Beach, CA, on a single tank of gas in my 1986 Honda Accord back in 2003.

    approx. 385 miles / 15.9 gallons/tank = 24.2 mpg

    and I though I had done well...
  • Fetching more discussions...
    Show 51 - 54 of 54 discussions
  •  

    Login or register to add a comment

    Create a new account or login to join in the conversation on Digg. You'll also be able to Digg stories to help promote things you like.


© Digg Inc. 2008 — Content posted by Digg users is dedicated to the public domain.
DIGG, DIGG IT, DUGG, DIGG THIS, Digg graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, scripts, and other service names are the trademarks of Digg Inc.