Hypermiling?...
- Thread starter Coda
- Start date
Just do it in the slow lane and you won't get shot.
Please.
Please.
That word covers a lot of territory, I think, but I only read a few of the techniques. When I drive to work with my wife I try to incorporate some of those things. Mostly the less annoying and dangerous things like building up speed before a hill to avoid having to push down on the gas to climb. I also short shift her DSG transmission manually to get into higher gears when I hit a cruise speed. Her car is a diesel and has a lot of torque, so you don't need much rpm to get decent power. Another key in her car is to learn to hear/feel the turbo kicking in, and stay our of that rpm range if possible. I do a little bit of pulse driving if there is no one around me. I also try to time lights and such to avoid excessive braking and acceleration, but this only works when we go to work pretty early in the morning when there are few cars. I don't do the crazier things like close drafting trucks, extreme pusle/coast in traffic, or turning off the car.
It mostly works well for her car, and I can easily pick up about 4-5 extra mpg without getting crazy. I think our best commuting tank is maybe 60 mpg (VW diesel wagon TDI), but around 50-53 is more likely a representative number. Of course, you can drive that car aggressively and get like 35-40, so it is already a very efficient car.
Here is a shot my wife took complaining about the temperature reading, but it gives you an idea of what you can hit in a 633 mile average, which includes idling in drive up window lanes, picking up the kids, city stop and go driving, and so on. If we don't hit a lot of around town stuff and stick to the highway, we typically do a bit better.
It mostly works well for her car, and I can easily pick up about 4-5 extra mpg without getting crazy. I think our best commuting tank is maybe 60 mpg (VW diesel wagon TDI), but around 50-53 is more likely a representative number. Of course, you can drive that car aggressively and get like 35-40, so it is already a very efficient car.
Here is a shot my wife took complaining about the temperature reading, but it gives you an idea of what you can hit in a 633 mile average, which includes idling in drive up window lanes, picking up the kids, city stop and go driving, and so on. If we don't hit a lot of around town stuff and stick to the highway, we typically do a bit better.
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I tried one whole tank paying super attention, drafting behind trucks, the whole 9 yards. It didn't make enough of a difference, at least with my car, to make it worth it. I just generally try to avoid flooring it, and zooming from stops, and leave the AC off when i can, and that does the most for me.
I should mention with my mazdaspeed3, I see something similar to Phil....little effect at all. I blame a high compression, direct injected, turbo gas engine built for go-fast. Drive that car like a mad man and you get 22, drive with the same stuff that works with the VW and you may hit 24. Hardly worth the cost savings versus loss of 'fun'.
Lerxst
spaghetti and blankets
My GTI:
Hooligan 20-22 MPG
Average driving 25 -27
Conservative driving/highway 32-33
It's pretty crazy the range I can hit just based on how I drive and of course the style of driving (highway vs city). Driving around town and the burbs, I can hit 29-30mpg if I'm paying attention. TBH, I'm usually a little more interested in the surrounding vehicles and paying attention to possible risks to get too wrapped up in micromanaging my mileage.
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