Discussion
Anyone here into hypermiling?
I'm alternating between pushing every last inch of perfomance out of my cars and a fun challenge I've recently found called hypermiling, which is basically about getting maximum fuel economy by almost any means. Now I'm not prepared to sacrifice safety here nor am I prepared to highly inflate my tyres (just cause I don't want the hassle of having two tyre settings for two driving styles I may unpredictably switch between) but some of the techniques are brilliantly fun, in a nerdy way, when you actually try to perfect them. Knowing exactly where to let off from 70mph in top down to hit 30mph by the sign. Doesn't use any fuel at all in a remotely modern fuel injected car. Or you can even turn the engine off in some circumstances and there's still residual vaccuum to use the brakes in an emergency.
So... who else wants to confess to being involved?
Techniques here: http://www.hypermiler.co.uk/hypermiling/hypermilin...
I'm alternating between pushing every last inch of perfomance out of my cars and a fun challenge I've recently found called hypermiling, which is basically about getting maximum fuel economy by almost any means. Now I'm not prepared to sacrifice safety here nor am I prepared to highly inflate my tyres (just cause I don't want the hassle of having two tyre settings for two driving styles I may unpredictably switch between) but some of the techniques are brilliantly fun, in a nerdy way, when you actually try to perfect them. Knowing exactly where to let off from 70mph in top down to hit 30mph by the sign. Doesn't use any fuel at all in a remotely modern fuel injected car. Or you can even turn the engine off in some circumstances and there's still residual vaccuum to use the brakes in an emergency.
So... who else wants to confess to being involved?
Techniques here: http://www.hypermiler.co.uk/hypermiling/hypermilin...
Switching off the engine whilst on the move is not a good idea. Indeed, it might validate your name! The brake servo will run out of power if you need more than a couple of dabs, requiring you to restart the engine at a potentially difficult moment.
Apart from that, it's actually illegal (not that I know of anyone ever being prosecuted for it).
However, the general challenge you have given yourself sounds like fun so long as it does not interfere with the flow of traffic or the expectations of other road users – such that it might affect safety in any way.
Apart from that, it's actually illegal (not that I know of anyone ever being prosecuted for it).
However, the general challenge you have given yourself sounds like fun so long as it does not interfere with the flow of traffic or the expectations of other road users – such that it might affect safety in any way.
I enjoy a decent hypermile if I can leave early enough to reach my destination on time 
Favoured techniques include choosing the best queues at massive roundabouts, and aiming for gaps in traffic so I can sneak past queues without braking/stopping (occasionally ignoring advisory lane markings...) and slowing effectively to the back of queues to achieve the highest possible minimum speed, if you get me, so you have to use less fuel accelerating.
I don't go slower than HGVs on motorways: mainly because I don't want to force HGVs to outer lanes, and partly because I reckon around HGV speed (56 or 57 on my speedo) is a great speed for fuel economy in my motor.
And even when I am in "maximum fuel efficiency mode" I still find myself overtaking a fair few people, even as they pootle at 35-40 on A road long straights.
Favoured techniques include choosing the best queues at massive roundabouts, and aiming for gaps in traffic so I can sneak past queues without braking/stopping (occasionally ignoring advisory lane markings...) and slowing effectively to the back of queues to achieve the highest possible minimum speed, if you get me, so you have to use less fuel accelerating.
I don't go slower than HGVs on motorways: mainly because I don't want to force HGVs to outer lanes, and partly because I reckon around HGV speed (56 or 57 on my speedo) is a great speed for fuel economy in my motor.
And even when I am in "maximum fuel efficiency mode" I still find myself overtaking a fair few people, even as they pootle at 35-40 on A road long straights.
cosicave said:
Switching off the engine whilst on the move is not a good idea. Indeed, it might validate your name! The brake servo will run out of power if you need more than a couple of dabs, requiring you to restart the engine at a potentially difficult moment.
Apart from that, it's actually illegal (not that I know of anyone ever being prosecuted for it).
However, the general challenge you have given yourself sounds like fun so long as it does not interfere with the flow of traffic or the expectations of other road users – such that it might affect safety in any way.
I'm not say I necessarily turn my engine off, but if I did I would leave the ignition on, the car in gear, and clutch down to be able to bump start instantly Apart from that, it's actually illegal (not that I know of anyone ever being prosecuted for it).
However, the general challenge you have given yourself sounds like fun so long as it does not interfere with the flow of traffic or the expectations of other road users – such that it might affect safety in any way.
(Yes, I'm also aware how this could go horribly wrong)
Somewhatfoolish said:
I'm not say I necessarily turn my engine off, but if I did I would leave the ignition on, the car in gear, and clutch down to be able to bump start instantly
(Yes, I'm also aware how this could go horribly wrong)
Yes; despite being slightly perplexed by this latest post (engine off but ignition on to enable a "bump start"?), I think I know what you're getting at. But even with the engine still running, unnecessary coasting* is also illegal.(Yes, I'm also aware how this could go horribly wrong)
I hope you realise I am not moralising here; I've only mentioned the legal aspect of it in case you did not know, or in case others who may read this thread do not know.
- In this instance, 'coasting' refers to not having a gear engaged whilst moving – although this obviously does not apply at very low speeds to prevent stalling. The reason it is illegal is nothing to do with the government's lost revenue on the fuel you did not use, but in order that the vehicle may be driven under its own power at all times.
Edited by cosicave on Tuesday 29th May 21:21
Wouldn't call it 'hypermiling' as such, but I do love planning my deceleration for hazards, lane changes, junctions etc in advance to avoid braking. My car prefers it too because I can often pull away again in 2nd having not come to a complete stop where everyone else rushes up to the obstruction and brakes to a stop.
Slip-streaming is very effective on the m/way, and you don't have to be following at an unsafe distance for it to work. A hi-top van or simular is ideal. If you haven't tried it, you'd be amazed at how little you have to use the throttle to maintain a constant m/way speed.
Slip-streaming is very effective on the m/way, and you don't have to be following at an unsafe distance for it to work. A hi-top van or simular is ideal. If you haven't tried it, you'd be amazed at how little you have to use the throttle to maintain a constant m/way speed.
Anyone else get slightly negative connotations from 'hypermiling'?
I think of a muppet with tyres at infinity PSI driving 3 yards away from a lorry on a motorway...
I also don't like 'ecodriving' or 'driving efficiently' as they sound a bit nerdy.
Mostly I just say to people 'I can get 45 mpg if I'm not in a hurry'
I think of a muppet with tyres at infinity PSI driving 3 yards away from a lorry on a motorway...
I also don't like 'ecodriving' or 'driving efficiently' as they sound a bit nerdy.
Mostly I just say to people 'I can get 45 mpg if I'm not in a hurry'
BertBert said:
I see no point in owning 6 cylinders, each of 600cc and then trying to go hypermiling. Each to their own though!
There is somewhat less excitement to be had from a diesel 4-pot- so the journeys may as well be stress free and cheap. Please note, any money saved will almost certainly be spent on V-Power, tyres or brakes for the race car.blugnu said:
VR46 said:
Hypermilers do my head in, they disrupt the flow of traffic and impede "good progress". Personally I'd shoot em!
Not if they're doing it properly they don't. It's about making good progress without using much fuel. I'm all for making smooth, efficient progress and one can certainly learn something from studying hypermiling techniques, but from perusing their forums an awful lot of hypermilers seem to be nutjobs with rather skewed priorities.
mollymoo said:
Not from what I've read it isn't. Hypermiling is about maximising fuel economy at almost any cost. Making good progress is not a priority I've seen discussed and several of the techniques are unsafe, illegal or a disruption to other traffic. You're thinking of plain old efficient driving with good observation and forward planning. Hypermiling is a whole other ball game: people taping cardboard aero parts to their cars, meticulously logging their journeys, engine-off coasting, drafting lorries, screwing with traffic flow and generally taking everything a bit too far.
I'm all for making smooth, efficient progress and one can certainly learn something from studying hypermiling techniques, but from perusing their forums an awful lot of hypermilers seem to be nutjobs with rather skewed priorities.
But how does that impede traffic flow? If everybody was hypermiling then nobody would ever touch their brakes...I'm all for making smooth, efficient progress and one can certainly learn something from studying hypermiling techniques, but from perusing their forums an awful lot of hypermilers seem to be nutjobs with rather skewed priorities.
davepoth said:
But how does that impede traffic flow? If everybody was hypermiling then nobody would ever touch their brakes...
Beware of entering a debate about "hypermiling" where you may have two different types of drivers in mind: idiots; and those who are merely trying to save a bit of fuel.Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff