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Tips for improving gas mileage 30% or more

philly.com — Area gas prices reached record highs again yesterday, and crude oil neared $120 a barrel. So, how would you like to improve your fuel economy by 30 percent or more without buying a new car?

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  • Bukowsky, on 04/25/2008, -1/+73FTA - "I commute by bike most of the time now."

    I wish I could ride my bike around town more, not because I want to save the environment, mainly because I want to save my wallet from emptying out... but, Houston is too spread out to ride a bike anywhere.
    • mrgreenjeans, on 04/25/2008, -0/+52It certainly isn't a bike friendly town. I've been hit by cars three times (you really do roll up the hood, just like on t.v.)
      • jesuswuzanalien, on 04/25/2008, -6/+1Haha -Nelson
      • battletrax, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2People drive in the bike lanes where im from =/
        • pontiac, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Yeah not all cities are that cool. Take Albuquerque. We have some bike lanes but they're pretty spread out. And where they do have them they seem to always end abruptly. Like you'll be on a busy street in the bike lane and then all of a sudden it's gone and you're left in the middle of traffic on a bike. And let me tell you I've heard more than a fair share of stories of people having thrown stuff at them while biking. I haven't personally while biking but I have had people on several occasions throw ***** at me while I was walking down the street. I think Albuquerquians pride themselves on how much they hate pedestrians.
    • EatingPie, on 04/25/2008, -4/+39I was hit by a 30mph Ford Probe. The hood acted like a cushion. Had it been a Hummer, or any other SUV, I'dve been in the hospital.

      The key to cycling is to obey the laws. Do NOT run red lights... something cyclists, for some reason, think is okay. Stay in the bike lane. Use hand signals. Watch people pulling in/out or getting in/out. Those are the most important tips I can give.

      Some cities are certainly better than others for cycling. San Diego is also extremely spread out, but it has great bike lanes, which helps make the experience far more enjoyable... and safer.

      -Pie
      • jcm267, on 04/25/2008, -13/+1They make bike lanes?
        • djbon2112, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3If you lived somewhere that gave two ***** about getting people out of cars, then yes you'd know what they are.

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bike-diamond-la ...
          • jcm267, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1They don't have sidewalks around here, either. Cycling for transportation is impractical where I am because I don't live in a city or a suburb, so chill out.
        • linagee, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1San Diego has no bike lanes in the "south of the I-8" area. You can ride on the street with drivers and it is legal, but you will get some angry stares and honks. San Diego actually isn't very bike friendly I think.

          When someone is going 50mph in a 30mph zone, this does not make for safe biking.
    • Dumbledorito, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6I lived in Houston for a while. The torrential rains would keep me off of a bike, as well as the resulting splashes from the cars zipping past you through the lake-like puddles.

      However, there were times I thought I could get somewhere faster on a bike, especially on the 610 loop during rush hour.
      • Bukowsky, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3oh man... i completely understand. I have to take 610 to I-10 everyday at rush hour, just to get home. It's the worst.
      • thisguy47, on 04/25/2008, -0/+10You're crazy! A bike on 610? I'm scared to drive on that *****.
        • Hypermarkalan, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2That was my first thought, too. Please, please, tell me you're not actually riding ON 610.
    • petrodollar, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5Something like 90% of bicyle collisions happen at intersections. The best way to minimize the risk of getting hit is to pay close attention to the laws. Also, invest in a decent helmet - preferably one with the shell moulded into the foam instead of taped on at the endges - and some lights if you ride in the evening.
    • Tenlow, on 04/25/2008, -2/+16The trick is staying out of the way of cars. I hear a lot of cyclists saying "share the road" and all that crap, but they are also the people who get hit the most often because they do not understand a bicycle riding in the middle of a lane at 16mph is a hazard to a car driving at the 50mph speed limit on the road. I've been on both sides of this coin, as a driver I yell at the cyclists who don't use the bike trail/lanes and insist they have every right to use a full lane even though they're going 1/3 the speed limit. They are also the assholes who don't stop at stop signs, because they pick and choose which laws they want to follow. As a cyclist, I stay out of the way of the 2 ton metal objects moving at high speed all around me. Seriously, I do not want to get hit. Staying out of the way, like riding on the side of the road or in a bike lane or on (our town's) bike trail, goes a LONG way. I have a styrafoam lined helmet and an underarmour shirt who's armouring abilities I am beginning to doubt. They have lots of metal and airbags and seatbelts and wouldn't even notice hitting me if they had the radio up loud enough.

      Do not assume you are a car. This will save you a lot of trouble.

      Sorry, I got a little off topic there. Um, don't drive real fast. There, I'm relevant now.
      • petrodollar, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2I feel the same way. When I'm on my bike I want to yell at all the idiot drivers. When I'm in my car I want to yell at all the idiot cyclists. I used to carry copies of the traffic laws and give them to drivers that tried to run me off the road when I lived on the north side of chicago.
        • greenvortex, on 04/25/2008, -0/+10So true. Human capacity for self-rightousness is limitless, and nowhere is it more prevalant than on the road. Ever notice how every person who drives slower than you is an idiot, and every person who drives faster than you is an *****? Because apparently, only YOU know exactly how fast everyone should be driving.
          • petrodollar, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1No. Idiots include people like the guy who sped up until he was about 6 inches behind me because I had the nerve to move into the left lane when the right lane was under consruction. In my city, cyclists are entitled to 24 inches of clearance from the curb or any obstruction between the curb and the street.

            Idiots also include people who run red lights at busy intersections because they think bicycles don't have to obey the rules.
        • dfeifer, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3And I am the dumbass in the right lane that should have their license taken away for doing exactly the speed limit, not tailgating, and not going from 0-55 in 1.6 seconds.
        • linagee, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Why does everyone here seem to think limit = speed you should be going? I mean, if it was written in the DMV handbook this way, fine. But limit would imply the fastest speed you should be going, not the normal speed... (Maybe a global change of Speed Limit to Speed Maximum would be good?)
      • Robthefrog, on 04/25/2008, -0/+0You should probably attend a street bike riding class. They specifically say not to ride in the right gutter. Sure a bike lane is best, but when you're sharing the road with cars, you should be slightly to the right of the middle of the lane. That's the safest place to be, visibility wise and "having a place to go" if things get ugly. If you're already all up in the gutter, you have no where to go, and nobody can see you in the first place. So get over it. Wait till you can safely pass them and move on. Most importantly, don't assume you know everything.
        • linagee, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1You can take a class and become educated on the law, but that doesn't mean the rest of the road is equally educated.
    • foomojive, on 04/25/2008, -1/+16i get yelled and/or honked at almost every day riding my bike. I live 13 miles from work and there are zero bike lanes the whole way. much of the road has no shoulder so my only option is to ride on the edge of the asphault. please have some patience with bike commuters, they're just trying to get home and obey the law. losing 2 seconds on your commute home is nothing to get worked up about.
    • aeon2012, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4Houston is built for and by fat people.
    • tedc, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1As a former bike courier, the best advice I can offer is to avoid sudden maneuvers when there are cars about. For example, nervous cyclists often hug the curb as much as possible. If there is a parked car ahead, they wait until the very last second and swerve out to pass it, figuring they will minimize their exposure to traffic that way. What really happens when you do this is you totally freak out the motorists. Drift out gradually from a good distance behind the obstacle and everyone will know what you are trying to do.

      Also pay special attention to pedestrians -- especially the ones with a cell phone in one hand and a hot dog in the other who are trying to check their watches as they hop out into the street. They assume they will hear any car coming, and that at least the first step off the curb should be perfectly safe, right? In all honesty, I fear pedestrians more than motorists when I'm cycling in a big city. If you hit one, you will invariably take the blame should it go to court.
    • FredFredrickson, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1California is the same way, unless you happen to live in a big city, and happen to have a job within that city. Judging from the traffic on my commute, however, I don't think too many of us are that lucky.
    • falkonv7l, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2thats it, I am moving to Hawaii and getting a bicycle ;D
  • louiebaur, on 04/25/2008, -2/+26I have been riding my motorcycle all the time now good thing that gets good gas mileage
    • LemurHorde, on 04/25/2008, -0/+24I'd consider getting a motorcycle because they are cheaper, more efficient, and easier to park, but for some reason they are invisible to people in other vehicles, I'd have to get another license and test which would involve going to the DMV (aka queue from hell) possibly more than once, and it rains fairly often in my area. Lastly, I was present at an accident where a lorry truck collided with a motorcyclist. I watched some people get him out from under the tires. If he wasn’t dead already, he was on his way out. So whoever is reading this, be especially aware around motorcyclists and give them extra space while driving, because you don’t ever want to see someone broken like that.
      • shadowspawn, on 04/25/2008, -4/+8Loud pipes save lives.
        • eyepower, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4that's just not true... most ppl drive with the radio on and cant hear no matter how loud. This is especially true if they have a luxury car that prides itself on a quiet ride. BRIGHT LIGHTS save lives. The solution isn't being heard it's being SEEN.
        • haydesigner, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3No, they don't. That is a dangerous myth.
          By the time you would hear them to react to anything, it is already way too late.
    • LongShlong, on 04/25/2008, -4/+39My cat's breath smells like cat food.
    • UltramegaOK, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6I'd love to get a motorcycle. But in Seattle it rains so often it'd be a nuisance with my textbooks. Plus I'm scared of soccermoms in the Volvo crossovers and Hummer H3's.
    • DommoOrigato, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4I'd get a motorcycle as soon as everyone else had one. To many people don't pay attention when they drive, and the laws of physics just don't work out in your favor on a motorcycle.

      However, they are a ton of fun.
    • IMKyle, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Motorcycles are a great way to get good MPG. However if you want a car so you can idk live though a serious accident, you should look at something like a diesel Jetta. They generally get around 50 Mpg.

      Oh and for y'all that like to go fast, propane is like nitrous in a diesel (except much cheaper) :)
      • linagee, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Don't some people buy SUVs because they think their chances of survival are higher in an accident? Stop the FUD. You can die in many situations.
  • CSHYDRASHOK, on 04/25/2008, -2/+31I also ride a motorcycle. Started last summer on a Ninja 250 that got 70mpg. Now i ride a 600cc that gets between 45-50mpg. Its faster but i miss the 6 dollar fill ups. Now it cost me 12 dollars to fill up.
    • digggggggggg, on 04/25/2008, -0/+8Compare that with the astounding $50+ fill ups for most cars nowadays, and even a literbike starts looking good.

      I ride a 500, which seems to have a good balance between power and fuel economy.
    • Bradygilg, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3Well, it's not like the mpg affects how much it costs to fill a tank, just how often.

      • miket, on 04/25/2008, -1/+7tank size just might affect the cost though.....just maybe ;)
    • cDubs, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2how's that work out for you in the pouring rain? I enjoy the roof over my head, my A/C in the Florida sun, and the 49mpg I get out of my VW TDI
    • Kloud, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1That's a blatant lie.
      The Kawasaki 250r gets 60 MPG MAX. Of course, that's the absolute, top notch, skewed-for-marketing number.
      I have one myself (it's my only mode of transportation), and I get in the 45-50 MPG range. I think I have some room to talk considering I've put 4,600+ miles on the bike since I got it in '06.
      • bwa236, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1It really depends on your location. I don't have an explanation for it, but I know that people who ride my ZZR600 Kawi more north of me get better mileage than I did in FL (bike bought in FL). By about 10mpg or so. LIke I said, I have no explanation, but I have about 15 people confirming the same results. Check out a zzr600 forum on SBN for a discussion if you want.
        4600 miles in two years isn't really a lot. I have over 10k and mine's an 06. My friend has over 20k on his '05 R1. But I get your point anyways.
        And I drive a car too.
      • CSHYDRASHOK, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Are your carbs rejetted? Something has to be wrong. I get that kind of mileage out of my 600cc bike. I never got below 50 mpg on the 250 i had, even when i would ride up in the mountians at above 3000ft. And usually i got between 65 70 mile per gallon in the city.
    • chadseld, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4I've been riding a 'Buddy' scooter (125cc). The odometer says I get 100MPG. I think the odometer is on crack but I am comfortable saying the thing gets 80MPG. Not too manly though.
      • linagee, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Your MPG sounds about right actually. Hahaha. Manly. It's more manly to save your money for something that appreciates in value.
    • falkonv7l, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I am looking at the 2008 250R heard that they made some improvements to the power band.
    • bwa236, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I hear ya, Just the other day was the first time I ever paid more than $10 to fill up my Kawi. A little bit of me died inside.
  • cricket01, on 04/25/2008, -1/+13Motorcycle too. I ride a FZ1 so the mileage isn't quite as good, but beats the heck out of most cars. I use my truck only about 20% of the time now, which saves a lot of gas, and time on the freeway.
    • dfeifer, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I have a 03 Vstar 1100 custom. My only vehicle currently with 43k miles on it. 46-48 mpg is nice.
    • altidude, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I'm averaging about 53 MPG highway on my H-D Sportster 1200. I'm saving nearly $200/month in gas on the commute vs. driving the cage.
  • LemurHorde, on 04/25/2008, -0/+105To sum up three important techniques.
    1: Don't slam the gas pedal, slowly accelerate.
    2. Time your driving so you don't have to stop at red lights. Try coasting in slowly for example so you never actually stop before the light turns green. Waiting at red lights = 0 miles per gallon.
    3: Prevent excessive use of breaking and speeding up again by driving defensively and leaving a large gap between the driver in front of you (2 seconds or more). The stop-start driving caused by tailgating is much more energy wasteful.
    Also check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypermiling
    • Shiftgood, on 04/25/2008, -2/+63^Not only good tips for saving gas... but just not being an ***** driver in general.
      • Terasiel, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4Amen
      • jwoelmer2, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3I think it's quite appropriate that the assholes are the ones paying for being an *****.
      • Slizzo, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Ah crap, I meant to digg you up, but hit the down button by accident. Sorry!

        Continue to digg me down if you so choose.
    • AndyStitzer, on 04/25/2008, -2/+28You should also roll through stop signs
      • ian937262, on 04/25/2008, -4/+23We should adopt the 'roundabout' system like in the UK and Europe. Much more efficient than a 4 way stop sign
        • InferiorWang, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1They put a roundabout near my grandparent's house, but they made it so small they had to go back and add an extra path that bypasses the roundabout for people making right turns. City planners have a hard time grasping new things here (not that roundabouts are all that new).
          • Robthefrog, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1They have a round about in this Firewheel mall in the Dallas area. Nobody knows how to use it. I avoid it at all costs because it's a whole bunch of stupid ***** soccer moms and daughters talking on cell phones.
        • dfeifer, on 04/25/2008, -0/+0We had one put in down the road. For two weeks a police officer was sitting there giving tickets to people that were not stopping. This was the first roundabout in our county, which is very large, and I do not think this officer knew how they were even supposed to work. He was trying to treat it as a circular 4 way stop.
        • bdbr, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1We had a project that had a lot of us Americans working in a town near Reading UK, and one thing everyone loved was the roundabouts. Part of the reason they work so well is because people know how to use them. There are a few here now (out in the country) and many drivers act very confused on them.
        • linagee, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Blame hollywood for the confusion. Roundabout? Oh no!!! (/Chevy Chase movies)
      • Terasiel, on 04/25/2008, -1/+16Roll through stop signs right into the nearest police station.
        • eyepower, on 04/25/2008, -1/+5In your state do they actually take you into jail for that offense? Here in MO it's just a $50 ticket... substantial, yes, but when you're on the road at night alone - no harm, no foul. Don't forget, no cop, no stop.
        • fr34k5h0w, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1That's why when you approach the stop sign you do a traffic check. If you don't spot cherries you are golden. I lived in the country until last fall and we would always obey the no cop no stop policy. The cities work just about as good as long as you can see both directions as you are approaching the intersection.
        • linagee, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1to eyepower: $50 is not substantial! LOL. $50 is tiny. Try living in california some time. The cheapest ticket you can get here is like $500.
    • Blah_Blah_Blah, on 04/25/2008, -7/+2i also pop my car into neutral on downhills, its been a habit, although it seems to help
      • commenter01, on 04/25/2008, -0/+8going down a hill doesn't require gas to keep the engine from stalling (at least not in theory), since the wheels are effectively turning the crank. idling (in neutral) does. in the end it probably makes no difference. however, not having the car in gear might be dangerous for various reasons, like for example brake failure.
        • eyepower, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1So having my car in 3rd or fourth gear will actually stop me whilst rolling downhill? I think not. So doesn't neutral put me a little closer to second or first which could slow me down significantly?
        • grumpyrain, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Yes, for heavens sake don't use neutral to coast. If you have a manual feel you must free-roll, put your clutch in. Simply put, you never know when you may need to accelerate at a moments notice to avoid a collision.

          @eyepower, no neutral means you are rolling. It is no closer to first than fourth. Furthermore, it is unlikely your engine will let you change back into first (or if it does it will significantly protest). In modern engines, engine braking is very limited. Most are happy to spin too high to achieve engine braking.
      • screensnot, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Newer cars will shut off fuel injectors when coasting. You may be costing yourself money by putting it in neutral.
      • Blah_Blah_Blah, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1oh man, i guess i learned something today. thanks guys!
    • commenter01, on 04/25/2008, -1/+12Weight, weight, weight! Empty your car and trunk of useless things. Hauling that 30 pound file box around translates into a lot of gas over the year.
    • ferrariman60, on 04/25/2008, -2/+4Don't forget to skip shift and start in 2nd if you have a manual. And don't slip into neutral going downhill, my gas mileage gauge always goes way up, so I would not go for that tip. But in my unscientific tinkering, skip shifting certainly works (in heavy traffic conditions). Same with stopping in second. And for god's sake, check your tires once a week to make sure you're not underinflated. That's probably the single worst thing for gas mileage that a car can have going on.
    • e2superman, on 04/25/2008, -10/+1Driving like this is boring. We are all entitled to pay an extra premium for things we enjoy. I enjoy driving -- the above rules take that away.
      • SilasTomorrow, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1The point isn't whether or not it's 'boring' (an opinion). This article is about what you can do if you want to save some $$$ on gas, but they aren't 'rules', of course. Anyways, glad you have the extra cash to burn...
    • WestEast, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0Actually alot of it can increase fuel running costs, like coasting...nearly all engines are installed with "Anit stall systems" so when you depress the clutch (manual), the anit stall kicks in and will have the engine idle sitting higher tahn it would if you just slow in gear letting the engine doing the breaking, its been proved, shows such as Top Gear have proved this.

      Dotn acellerate fast........duh.....

      Try and sit and the higher speeds but not reall over 60mph, this is usually most engines best crousing spot to get your best average MPG.
      • Zera, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1"the anit stall kicks in and will have the engine idle sitting higher tahn it would if you just slow in gear letting the engine doing the breaking, its been proved, shows such as Top Gear have proved this."

        You missed the point..... he's not instructing anyone on how to slow down, the author provides an alternative to slowing down. He's suggesting taking your car out of gear as soon as you know you are probably going to need to stop. The majority of engines DO stop slowing the car when you take your foot off the gas at high speed. The author suggests that you start coasting instead of keeping the 55 or 65 mph speed going until you get real close.

        I've been doing this for since I started driving, just because it's my nature to not be wasteful, and I think it's a clever practice that can save you significant amount of money even if gas is only a dollar a gallon. Plus, I think it makes you a more aware driver.
  • DeskFlyer, on 04/25/2008, -10/+10Whatever you do, DON'T over-inflate your tires.
    • SVOboy, on 04/25/2008, -3/+19I overinflate my tires.
      • DeskFlyer, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_n ...
        • Chalks777, on 04/25/2008, -0/+9there were a significant number of comments on that article that contradicted its conclusion. Here are three in particular that I find enlightening:
          "I'm sorry but your mileage test is invalid. You had to climb up to Phoenix by 1000 feet and you had a drop to LA by 1000 feet. That's 2000 feet of climb difference.."
          "I get 27mpg driving my concorde from Columbus to Chicago, and 30mpg driving from Chicago to Columbus. Prevailing winds are the culprit."
          "... This tire store has a cow when I do this [over-inflate tires] (they want 32 [PSI]). They tell me the same myth of wearing out the centers. I told them to check the wear across the tire in 4 locations...it was the same all the way across. I keep all 4 tires at sidewall max and rotate the tires every 5000 miles and I have a perfect wear pattern. ..."
          • DeskFlyer, on 04/25/2008, -1/+7Thanks for pointing that out. Still, the very same physical reason that allows you to improve gas mileage (by reducing friction between the tires and the road) will make it easier for you to lose control of your car due to the decreased footprint of the tires, especially in slick conditions. I wouldn't recommend it simply for that matter.
          • SVOboy, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1Reducing rolling resistance != reducing friction in all cases. http://www.officer.com/web/online/Editorial-and-Fe ...
          • H0tKarl, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1A lot of people tend to scrub the outside edge of the tires off first. Over inflating can counteract this
          • CMuffa, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1Your correction made me angry. I was mad at the article by fruit boy, but then I read this! And besides, everyone knows that you have to factor the weight of the vehicle (see sticker in driver side door jam) and the grade of the tires (printed on the sidewall) to fully determine how many psi go in the tire. It just so happens that people don't stray far from the manufacturer default tire sizes so not to do too much math to get back on the road.
      • grumpyrain, on 04/25/2008, -1/+11Over inflating your tires does improve fuel economy, but causes excessive premature wearing along the centre of the tread. Any savings you make from over inflation will be well and truly lost by having to replace your tires twice as frequently.
        • Terasiel, on 04/25/2008, -0/+13Or as my tires taught me, they will also break apart even easier when you hit the right pothole. I literally had a tire explode. Not as awesome as it sounds.
    • N00F, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2The method I use to inflate my tires is to read the manufacturers maximum pressure printed on the tire and then subtract 10% and fill to that. For example, the max. pressure rating on my sport tires is 51 psi. I fill them to 46-48 psi. I have done this all during my entire driving life (20 years) and have never had any problems, premature wear or uneven wear. I am sure I have saved a bit of fuel over the years though. The only downside might be, you could experience a little bit of a rougher ride. For sport tires though, it gives an increase in handling (less sidewall flex).
      • screensnot, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1It's not as easy as that. The same tire can be used on a 2,500# vehicle and a 4,500# vehicle. Would you fill them both to the same pressure?

        If you are using OEM-size tires, use the manufacturer's recommendation (in your owner's manual, on your door jamb, or behind the fuel door).
        • MagicIcarus, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2The weight of the car actually factors into the psi of the tire. If you took a tire with 35psi from a honda civic and put it on a f350, the psi would raise with the additional weight. That's why a tire inflates faster when it's not on a vehicle, because there's no additional pressure.
          • screensnot, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2That is not true at all.

            Try it yourself. Check the pressure on one of your tires, then jack it up off the ground and check it again. You won't find a significant difference.
    • frostbyt, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2I overinflated my tires, just now.
  • mattnyc99, on 04/25/2008, -0/+17hypermiling--great word. then again so is any word with mega hyper or super attached to it...
    • grumpyrain, on 04/25/2008, -0/+11especially Compu-Global Hyper Meganet.
    • thefezman, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3I think half of the made-up words in the Hitchhiker's Guide have mega or something like that attached to them. Like grated Arcturan Megadonkey or Mega-gin.
      Slartibartfast!
    • Hypermarkalan, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Why thank you. You're pretty great, too.
    • bdbr, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1As long as they don't use the term "hack", I'm good with it.
  • LaurenApril, on 04/25/2008, -0/+31it cost me $4.15 a gallon to fill up my tank this week, so any tips definitely help
    • cliffski, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I filled up my hatchback today in the UK and paid £60. that's about $120, for 50 litres. So if you think YOU need to save gas...
  • EatingPie, on 04/25/2008, -7/+8These tips strike me as basic common sense, several of which I've been using recently. The main thing I gained from the article was that every 5mph over 60mph costs 5% to 7% of gas mileage.

    I was totally opposed to re-raising the speed limit here in California. It was originally lowered to save gas during the "Energy Crisis." After 25 years, there was suddenly *more* oil to be found, and at a cheaper price? No. It was a "convenience" law, making our lives more "convenient" at the cost of the environment. (Reminds me that during WWII it was the law to recycle, and a few years after the war one senator got elected on the platform that he'd rescind the recycle law.)

    -Pie
    • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/25/2008, -3/+8That's not really true. I'm sure there is some math behind that, but when I go 85 on the freeway vs 65, it definitely makes a difference (I did lots of testing when prices went up past 3 bucks), but it's no 20-28% reduction, barely even half that. I lose about 2mpg off of a max of 23 to 24mpg. So if I zip around at 85 everywhere, I'm getting 21 to 22 mpg. Lots of miles of city driving is what kills me more than anything.

      That 5-7% figure must involve EPA numbers somewhere. My car doesn't even come close to hitting it's EPA estimated miles per gallon coasting down hill in Neutral. They're full of it.

      55mph law? FK that. I'll say FK that when I'm 90.
      • zeroepoch, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Same here! My car only loses maybe 2 mpg when I drive from LA to SF going 90 instead of 70. My wife driving the car though LA traffic is much more of a gas hog.
    • DommoOrigato, on 04/25/2008, -0/+7I'd agree. Like I said in another comment it's more of an issue of gear ratios and power bands in a specific vehicle.

      I've had cars where the "optimum" fuel efficiency varied quite a bit. On the low end was a Focus that got it's best mileage at about 60mph on the nose, to a V-8 that got it's best mileage at around 78 mph.

      If cars were designed to cruise optimally at 55-60 mph, then sure you'd get big mileage increases, but in a car that's geared to cruise most efficiently at interstate speeds, you likely aren't going to gain any mileage by driving at 55.
    • ClunkClunk, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3It's a combination of gear ratio, drag coefficient, and engine efficiency. For all EFI cars, there's a sweet spot in mileage, generally in the highest gear possible, with a low engine load (load is a calculation in modern EFI engines that determines how hard an engine's working, based on air flow, rpm, timing, and pedal position), and the slowest speed possible (to minimize drag, because aerodynamic drag increases at a far greater rate than speed increases).

      How this all boils down to actual fuel economy depends heavily on your vehicle. Some cars, depending on all those factors, will perform very nearly the same at 55mph, 65mph and 75mph, while others may see dramatic economy changes at all speeds. That's the big problem with changing freeway speeds to get better mileage. Most vehicles will get better mileage at 55mph than 65mph, but a significant percentage will not. This gap is larger now due to computerized EFI systems than it was back in the 70s when the original 55mph national speed limit was set.
      • tarjan, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I get about 26-27mph at 55-60. At 85 I get 29mpg in my vette.

        This is a useless article as it depends on too many things and you saving gas wastes other peoples gas so net it is an overall LOSS.

    • DommoOrigato, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I'm digging you up.

      The whole 55mph thing is a myth. Every car varies. In my experience I've found the following.

      4 cylinder cars optimum mileage(automatics) at high 50s to low 60s (Ford Focus/honda accord being the cars)
      V6's are typically mid 60s to around 70 (Ford Taurus, Olds 88, Impalas)
      V8's are usually in the 70s somewhere (Chevy Tahoe, Mustang, Silverado Truck)

      It all has to do with the power band on the engines, the gearing in the car(which I think is the biggest factor), and of course the Aerodynamic drag. However, those mileage sweet spots are for automatics only. In a manual it's a bit easier to play around, and optimize for specific driving conditions(which is why I usually get about 5% better gas mileage using a manual).

      In an ideal world where each car was geared properly for a fuel efficient cruise, then you'd see a peak mileage at about 50 mph(as that's the threshold of Aerodynamic drag becoming a very significant factor, and yes I have done wind tunnel testing with vehicles). However, then you run into economic issues pertaining to time. If I make a 300 mile drive, I can do that in 4 hours at 75 mph, versus 6 hours at 50 mph, while using perhaps 15% more gas. So at some point you have to decide how much your time is valued.

  • Tomson74, on 04/25/2008, -2/+59Dont live in Ca.
    Dont drive an SUV.

    • petrodollar, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5I just spent damn near a month trying to choose between three mid-size v6 sedans, but at the last minute I decided ***** it and bought a civic. Got over 35mpg on my second tank without even trying and couldn't be happier.
      • grumpyrain, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6America has got to be the only country that considers a v6 a mid sized car.
        • jcm267, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2It's also one of the few countries that doesn't consider putting a sooty diesel sedan out on the road "environmentally friendly".

          Europe has old cities with old roads that can't really fit decent sized cars, America has new cities with roads big enough to fit cars that I can sit in without my knee jammed against the dashboard.
          • petrodollar, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I'm 6'1", 180 lbs and I fit just fine in most subcompacts. I drove a Scion xA not too long ago - easily one of the smallest cars sold in America - and was amazed at how much leg and head room I had.

            I wanted a V6 for the power but the Altima, Camry, and Accord all had major faults IMHO and I couldn't justify the extra $$ for a G35.
          • jcm267, on 04/25/2008, -0/+16'3.5" and I have no headroom in most small cars (the Corolla is an exception, tons of headroom) and I never have enough leg room (though, again, the Corolla comes close).
          • petrodollar, on 04/26/2008, -0/+16'3.5" is pushing it. What about smaller european cars like the jetta? Dutch people drive small cars but are obscenely tall.
        • haydesigner, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I imagine that mid-size refers to the size of the auto's body... NOT the power of the engine.
        • petrodollar, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I think the accord is now classified as a large car, but whatever. It is a travesty what honda did to it. And the auto trans (no manual for the sedan? WTF?) and VCM suck.
      • BigPapi, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I did the opposite. I test drove the new Civic because I was curious about the fuel efficiency and ended up with an 05 BMW 330ci coupe for $6K more. Yeah, the mileage sucks in comparison, but good god is it fun!
        • petrodollar, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1I wanted a four-door though because I carry a lot of ***** in my back seat and because I do a lot of designated driving.
    • desertDenizen, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Become a work-from-home knowledge worker. Seriously. The life kicks ass at so many levels and is more available than most people realize. I haven't had a "real" job in 8 years and I do just fine. NO COMMUTE!!!
    • Hillsfar, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I hate to tell you this, but about 10 percent of Americans are Californians. You guys hated it when some of us left to migrate into Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, etc. Are you SURE you want us and the millions of illegal immigrants we host to move into your states?
  • scy1192, on 04/25/2008, -8/+2I doubt most methods are reproducable by the layman.
    • Chalks777, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6Really? You can't drive slower?
    • cphelps, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1This is one of the dumbest comments to ever be posted to digg.
  • FukUrCouch, on 04/25/2008, -8/+25Slow the ***** down and quit bitching about gas prices! It makes no sense to own a prius and speed down the fwy at 80+ mph
    • Bukowsky, on 04/25/2008, -5/+20Can a Prius even go that fast?
      • h0ms4r, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Al Gore's son has done it.

        http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=3345350&page=1
      • commenter01, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1you have to add a flux capacitor for that kind of speed. and then you've got to worry about the cops on your tail cause of the fire spewing from your tires. it's worth it tho.
        • Silentnite85, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Yeah but if your adding a flux capacitor, be careful about going past 80. No need to get some neck nookie from your mom.
      • McSwankypants, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Oddly enough, a Prius was doing that this morning on my way to work. I was surprised as well.
    • H0tKarl, on 04/25/2008, -1/+12It makes even less sense to spend $25,000 on a new vehicle in an effort to save money.
      • Light11, on 04/25/2008, -2/+4i know right? taxi companies must be so dumb!
        /s
      • drgruney, on 04/25/2008, -0/+8Exactly... a co-worker of mine recently got rid of a car that couldn't have been more than 5 years old. Still has plenty of life ahead of it. Anyway, she purchased a Prius and started telling everyone in the office how she cares about the environment and pretty much that no one else does.

        I explained to her that I'm keeping my 10 year old car out of the landfill... and that her 90% plastic car used up plenty of crude oil in production alone.
        I know it's overly dramatic but in all honesty we're probably better off driving our cars until they fall apart than trading in for a new car with slightly better fuel economy.
    • darkciti2, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2It takes more to save MPGs than slow down. In fact, going too slow can hurt your MPGs.
      • eyepower, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3perhaps it's good to know the speed at which your particular vehicle achieves peak mpg performance. It of course depends on the gearing of the car
  • aebo06, on 04/25/2008, -3/+9What if we are in a hurry?
    • VinceNoir, on 04/25/2008, -3/+7Plan your time better... If you're in a hurry it probably means you're late. If you're late, it probably means you didn't plan properly. If you didn't plan properly, it's your own damn fault. Take some REAL personal responsibility.
      • e2superman, on 04/25/2008, -2/+1Some people just plan their schedule so that they can get more done in a day. We take the risk of being late 10% of the time for the reward of having 20% more done since we don't get places damn early sitting on our azz ;).
        • MattyI, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3True, but IMO many more people sit on their azz at home, wait until the last second to leave the house, then drive like a maniac to get where they need to be on time.
  • weister42, on 04/25/2008, -0/+14The HIGHEST in-city mpg I've ever achieved with my 1998 Cadillac Deville is about 16mpg, I do just about every single driving tip from these type of lists except riding the public transport, and I live in a town of 30,000 so forget mass transit.

    The type of cars you own directly impacts your mpg.
    • expert01, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I have an 85 fleetwood, and I was getting around 18 liters per 100km (whatever that is - ***** computer being stuck in metric). But that was before I fried the BCM and lost climate control/fuel center.
    • FredFredrickson, on 04/25/2008, -2/+116 MPG? You *****!
    • jo21, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1i do 30mpg in my nissan almera 2008 easily.
  • Hiji, on 04/25/2008, -3/+12Ride a bike.
  • theinept, on 04/25/2008, -3/+41Since I lost my job I've started driving like an old man and with tremendous results. Been doing it for a few months and I've seen a 15-20% increase in fuel economy with my Mazda 3. Plus I get to piss off lead-footed fools. Just like it says in the article. Coast into reds, try to time your greens, avoid slowing down whenever possible, accelerate conservatively, drive at the speed limit, etc. It becomes sort of a game or challenge and it's fun.

    I'm also convinced that my conservative driving saved me from an accident recently where a driver attempting to turn left in an intersection nearly struck me as I was passing through a green. If I had been going 10-15 kph faster it would have been an accident. As it was, I was able to stop with plenty of time.
    • H0tKarl, on 04/25/2008, -5/+16If you would have been going 30-35 kph faster, you would have cleared the intersection before he got there.
      • theinept, on 04/25/2008, -0/+17And at 88mph I could have gone back in time!
        • dralezero, on 04/26/2008, -0/+3And stopped to warn the other driver from turning left!
      • cphelps, on 04/25/2008, -0/+6I was going to point out the same thing!
    • bird67, on 05/11/2008, -0/+0check Ethos out I was getting 18/25 I now get 27/36
  • Ganja420, on 04/25/2008, -3/+11fly on magic carpets
    • MScrip, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2If I had a magic carpet, I'd be there in.... 3 hours.

      - Kevin James, Sweat the Small Stuff
      • Silentnite85, on 04/25/2008, -0/+23 hours? It's a magic carpet, why wouldn't you go faster?

        I might fall off...
    • Parkinsons, on 04/25/2008, -5/+3I can show you the world
      Shining, shimmering, splendid
      Tell me, princess, now when did
      You last let your heart decide?

      I can open your eyes
      Take you wonder by wonder
      Over, sideways and under
      On a magic carpet ride

      A whole new world
      A new fantastic point of view
      No one to tell us no
      Or where to go
      Or say we're only dreaming

      A whole new world
      A dazzling place I never knew
      But when I'm way up here
      It's crystal clear
      That now I'm in a whole new world with you
      Now I'm in a whole new world with you

      Unbelievable sights
      Indescribable feeling
      Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling
      Through an endless diamond sky

      A whole new world
      Don't you dare close your eyes
      A hundred thousand things to see
      Hold your breath - it gets better
      I'm like a shooting star
      I've come so far
      I can't go back to where I used to be

      A whole new world
      Every turn a surprise
      With new horizons to pursue
      Every moment red-letter
      I'll chase them anywhere
      There's time to spare
      Let me share this whole new world with you

      A whole new world
      That's where we'll be
      A thrilling chase
      A wondrous place
      For you and me
      • Silentnite85, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Wall of text crits you for 9000. You die.
      • corneliusJones, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I love that song and listen to it regularly. Last night actually.
    • bobjewback, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2imagine the insurance on it
  • shadowspawn, on 04/25/2008, -10/+6FTA: "In that kind of economic environment, could these slower, gentler driving techniques catch on?"
    "Extremely unlikely," said Leon James, who for decades has been studying road rage and other aspects of the driving psyche at the University of Hawaii.

    I had to stop reading there. Hawaii doesn't exactly have "roads" like anywhere else in the country. Or anywhere else to really go to in a rush. I mean christ, it's HAWAII.
    • mcalica, on 04/25/2008, -2/+11are you ***** stupid? seriously...do you think people in Hawaii still live in grass huts, too? Oh wait, how am I typing on the internet, there's no electricity in Hawaii! There is CRAZY traffic on Oahu; my girlfriend spends about two hours in traffic every other day...and we have "roads"(don't know why you put quotes, but i'll copy you!) on all of the islands, so I really have no clue what you are talking about. You sir, are ignorant.
      • Devotia, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5You take your car to work. I'll take my board.
        • H0tKarl, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2I pick up all the babes in distress with my bitchin 308.
    • d0ug18, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4Don't have to go in a rush? Like anywhere else in the world the people in Hawaii (specifically I live on the island of Oahu) all have to go to work. Hell, I have to get up early like everyone else to get to work with minimal traffic (saving some gas) as well as carpool with a friend. If we don't go in early (or after traffic passes which is like 8:30 9:00am) we have to sit through about over an hour or more traffic to go about 13 miles!! And we are completely SOL if there is an accident on the road because that could easily double the commute. So, sorry, but you need to open your brain and don't assume things about people or places you don't know very well.
      • Silentnite85, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I'm going to hazard a guess that it's not nearly as bad as the major metropolis's of the Continental US. I mean I'm pulling numbers out of my ass and everything, but it's 80% likely that my percentages are made up.
      • ParanoydAndroid, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2You'd be very very wrong. Honolulu is actually worse than most other cities. Our land here is so expensive that roads aren't really built to actually accomodate driving, and we only have one road that runs between the two largest cities (Honolulu, Pearl City) it's basically congested every weekday from 6am-10am or so, and 3pm-8pm or so and every weekend from ... well on a weekend I don't think I've ever seen H1 in town not congested. Congested as in a dead stop, bumper to bumper. The number of cars in Honolulu has also exploded well beyond reason, I've heard that it's tripled in the last 20 years or so, and we just don't have the infrastructure to deal with it. To top it off the driving culture here is insane, and basically indescribable to anyone who hasn't experienced it. It's considered perfectly normal to merge into a lane as long as there's enough space for the corner of your car to fit, the idea being you can force an opening for the rest of your car. It's totally normal for someone going 30 to merge into your lane on the highway when you're going 60. To top it all off you don't use your horn, ever. It's just not done.

        To sum it all up: way too many cars, badly designed roads, limited road options, bad driving culture all mean honolulu has worse traffic than anything I've seen in San Diego, LA, Houston, Colombus, and Chicago (though Chicago is really damn close)
        • Silentnite85, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Have you been to Detroit? The whole city is shunned collectively by anyone in the state who can avoid it. There are designated driver's from any small town who can handle driving there, and whole myths have sprung up about some of the crazy shenanigans that they witnessed.
    • rayjitsu, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Haven't you watched Dog the Bountyhunter? There are parts of Oahu that you definitely want to speed through and avoid.
    • robman8023, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1You don't know ***** about Hawaii. That much is obvious.
  • NonLeftistDiggr, on 04/25/2008, -0/+13Avoid stop and go traffic and as much city driving as possible
    Accelerate slowly (this one makes a big difference if you're a normal lead foot)
    Coast whenever possible Drive 65 and less (in the FKING right hand lanes!!!) if you can stomach it.

    Keep your tires inflated, although this is really only tip for the people who wouldn't notice fire under their hood.

    The top three boil down to minimizing acceleration, it takes a $hitload of energy to increase the speed, or get moving from a stop, 3000 pounds of anything .
    • AndyStitzer, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5Your car will also last a lot longer if you drive like that
    • DommoOrigato, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2That is absolutely true. People wonder why the transmission falls out of their vehicles, and rapid shifting of gears is pretty much the primary culprit. If you're gentle on your car, your car will be gentle on your pocket book.
    • SilasTomorrow, on 04/25/2008, -0/+6Dugg for reminding them to drive in the RIGHT HAND lanes! Ugh, pet peeve of mine.
  • str1fe, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5One thing that helps me to get better mileage is to accelerate more slowly. Slower acceleration seems to use less gas than when you just step on the pedal. The other thing is when you're slowing down for a red light, just tap the break (to break cruise control) ahead of time and let the car coast to the red light until you need to use the break to slow down (slowly decelerate, like accelerating before) and come to a stop.

    Another weird thing about some cars is that sometimes you get better mileage when going a certain speed. It really only applies to high ways, but for my car at least, I get better mpg at 68-70 than at 65 or 75.
    • DommoOrigato, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3
      The whole "you get the best mileage at 55 thing" isn't really true. From a vehicle dynamics perspective it is(as it's at about roughly 50mph where aerodynamic drag forces start to exceed the friction and rolling resistance of the car), but the truth is that cars are designed to go faster, and the gearing often isn't very good at that speed(as in the gear isn't in the optimum power band of the engine, and your car is working too hard to keep that speed).

      I've noticed this in A LOT of cars. My car gets prime mileage at exactly the same speed as yours does(like at 70 exactly). I figure this is due to the cruising gear ratio. What they've got to do on cars is design them with the intent of cruising at no more than say 55-60 mph. Gear them so that the engine is hardly working, and then just have everyone cruise around.
      • expert01, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1God knows why you're getting buried when you're right.
    • darkciti2, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Older cars used to have a marker on the odometer that indicated the "ideal" speed for the vehicle. It was usually around 55 or so. I think it was mandated during the Oil Embargo before Regan took office.
      • expert01, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Older cars were marked at 55mph because that was usually the max speed limit.

        At least that's what I've been t old.
    • Densetsu, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Who uses cruise control when there's a bunch of red lights to stop at?

      Cruise is for the highway, not the city.
      • str1fe, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Going a constant speed instead of going up/down by maybe a mile an hour constantly improves your mileage - not by a whole lot; it's small but it's there.
        • grumpyrain, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Cruise control is usually bad for economy. Most systems don't have sensors to anticipate upcoming hills, nor do they know when the car is actually going up a hill. Basically, they look at the speedo, and if it notices you are going slower than the set speed, it increases the throttle. What this often causes is a situation where you go up a small hill, and just before the crest the cruise bumps the throttle which drops a gear only to have 5 seconds later you hit the crest and roll gently down the other side. Cruise control is great for flat roads, but even on the highways, it is worth switching off when you get to hilly areas.
      • farrell13, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Cruise control is great in the city.

        School please!
  • SmellyFingers, on 04/25/2008, -14/+105I just steal gas. Pump some gas, drive away...simple as that. I'm black btw.
    • TheMachine1, on 04/25/2008, -2/+21A rubber hose is an Arkansas credit card.
    • inverselogic, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Cheech and Chong that ***** aye?
    • SilasTomorrow, on 04/25/2008, -0/+6Sarcastic humor + social commentary in the same post?!? Beautiful!
  • iamyak, on 04/25/2008, -0/+14Simple. Push your car 30 percent of the time.
  • Slices, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5.... OR start walking around more. How's that for ecological thinking?
    • H0tKarl, on 04/25/2008, -4/+6OR, kill yourself.
    • FecalHurler, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Yeah walking to work everyday is...practical?
    • FredFredrickson, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2I'm all for saving the environment, but I've heard walking isn't as ecologically sound as you might think... it takes more food energy to move your body a few miles than it might if you just drove or biked it.
  • idavidtang, on 04/25/2008, -8/+0How about getting out of Iraq?
    I like to drive my gas guzzling ways, thank you.
  • Terasiel, on 04/25/2008, -6/+7Considering I have to drive about 60 miles a day, minimum, this article doesn't mean much to me. Basically all it says in the whole article is "Drive slow and cruise whenever possible." Congratulations.
    • N00F, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Get a Diesel car.
      Well, if you live in Cali. I guess that's not an option.
      Today's diesels are very clean btw.
      • fatrandy13, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1uhh, diesel fuel is more expensive... how would that help at all? besides you trying to make your point about diesel being clean.....
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel
        • evilregis, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Because diesel gets better fuel economy than gas.
      • N00F, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I used to drive a "Gasser" I would get 450km to a full tank full. It was a 2006 Toyota Echo Sedan. It got good fuel economy. The tank size was 45 liters. My 2006 Jetta TDI Diesel gets 1000km to a full tank. It takes 60 liters to fill. If you compare the economy of gas to diesel, I am driving at a discount of about 50% compared to driving with gas. So, if it costs me $50 to fill the echo and it costs me $70 to fill the Jetta, I can drive more than twice as long on a full tank with the Jetta. Also, the Jetta is much more powerful. Despite the extra strength, I still get 45 mpg on the highway.
  • mikhial66, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Did we really need an article saying that slowing down will get you better mileage?
  • schmitey, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6My advice...buy a K&N oem replacement air filter. Cost about $40 but its good for a million miles (you clean it obviously) and it gets better airflow the cotton. The biggest thing is just make sure leafs and crap don't accumulate in the airbox. If you live out in the country or up north its more common than you might think for mice to make a nest in your nice warm airbox and clog things up (they love hoarding dogfood for some reason)!
    • H0tKarl, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Don't forget to clean the filter oil off your MAF sensor every month.
      • tgui, on 04/25/2008, -0/+0STi owner here with a k&n panel filter. I agree in most cases, though if you don't submerge the filter in oil when cleaning, you're ok. And buy some real MAF cleaner, the exposed element is sensitive.
      • schmitey, on 04/26/2008, -0/+2I hate so say it but I never considered that! I saw a big jump in gas mileage at first and then it slacked off... Right on man, I owe you one! I've run data scanners and I know its not my oxygen sensors. I even cleaned out my EGR ports (Honda is flippin awesome and my accord has an access panel to them!)...
  • darkciti2, on 04/25/2008, -1/+5I've learned how to drive like a hypermiler, and I'm getting more than 41% higher than the EPA rating for my car.
    You can read more about how I did it here: http://aspire.dashpc.com/
    You should also check out ecomodder.com and gassavers.org for better tips on how to hack your ride for better MPGs.
    • H0tKarl, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2Apparently you've also learned how to act like a complete douchebag.
    • tgui, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2So, save a little gas at the cost of pissing off everyone around you in traffic. There is something to be said "go with the flow" of traffic. Most cops agree.
      BTW, I get 30mpg highway with my 400+ hp turbo while driving like a person who enjoys speed. (like a dick) :)
  • JupiterSSJ4, on 04/25/2008, -0/+12Get all the ***** out of your trunk! Tons of extra weight = less gas mileage.
    Inflate tires properly
    Don't use AC
    Don't drive like a race car driver, slow and steady, 55mph max. Higher really kills gas efficiency
    Install a better air filter / intake like a k&n
    • e2superman, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Driving used to be a pleasure until I followed your tips. 55mph... ok grannie. You honestly will cause accidents on the freeway in any major city driving that slow.
    • LeRenard, on 04/25/2008, -2/+1A K&N may flow more, but that does not make it better. It flows more because it traps less particulates, which then enter and damage your engine slowly. Why do people think they can get something for nothing? If the factory could have upped their mileage numbers and maintained reliability with a 50 dollar air filter element, they sure as hell would have, because their cost would have been almost nill in those quantities.
  • FChicken, on 04/25/2008, -2/+16Or, you could spend $3,500 for a Ninja 250r, redline it at every light, and still get 60 mpg.

    Motorcycle FTW :D
    • WoollyMittens, on 04/25/2008, -0/+20And receive "death by soccermom" at the next intersection.
      • lovedunks, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Yeah, this is really what keeps me from getting a motorcycle. I am not a big risk taker but dumb people in their SUVs just do not look both ways before darting off into traffic. I swear every motorcycle crash I've seen over the past few years has been the result of some dumb soccer mom not paying attention.
    • CSHYDRASHOK, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Ya i did that with my 250 too. I road it like an ***** and only got pulled over once in the 3000 miles i put on it. Passed a cop at 70 in a 30 zone. No ticket.
    • savantidiot, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1donor bike ftl
    • Kloud, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2No.
      Redline it at every light and you'll be getting 35-40 MPG. 60 is the ideal number they toss at you to get you to buy the damn thing.
      I've put 4,600+ miles on my '06 250R and I've written down my mileage per fill-up every single time I've gone to the pump.
  • Netik09, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5I remember looking forward to paying less once I got a fuel efficient car, but now that I drive a 4-cylinder I pay more. Frustrating.
    • gr3yn3t, on 04/25/2008, -0/+44 cylinder cars have to work a lot harder then 6 cylinder cars at 70mph. The gas mileage is actually worse if you are going that fast in a 4-banger. Keep it at 60 and you will notice a LOT better mileage, maybe 20% even.
  • shadowmoose, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2"The regional gas price records set yesterday were $3.50 on the Pennsylvania side of the Philadelphia area..." ;_; 4 bucks where I live... I actually ride my bike where ever I can rather then driving.
  • wizzroom, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3i read these tips a few months ago and tried it out. Improved the mileage I got out of one full tank by an average of 30 miles.
  • ericmoritz, on 04/25/2008, -2/+6I got a speeding ticket a few weeks ago and I've started driving the speed limit to and from work. What's really nice is since no one drives 55 I just set the cruise control and drive straight down the highway.

    Since I'm never catching up with anyone I don't have to change lanes to pass anyone, it's a straight 10 mile shot without much effort. I just pop in a popcast and 15 minutes later, I'm at work.

    Here's food for thought, everytime you change lanes you make your trip longer. Don't believe me, consult the Pythagorean theorem
    • idavidtang, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1But if you change lanes to advance ahead of a slower car then your trip will be quicker. So I guess its a give or take situation, cruise it to save gas, or gas it to save time.
      • WoollyMittens, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Why are people so eager to get to work?
        • zeroepoch, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4Because they can get up later.
        • 808kick, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1My job is more relaxing than any other aspect of my life
  • mancat, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I've thought about buying a motorcycle recently, but I'm not sure if it would work. Some days I only need to bring a backpack full of stuff to work - about 20 lbs. Do any of you ride to work carrying any weight on your back? How does that weight screw up the balance?

    I've never rode more than a dirtbike, so I honestly have no idea.
    • CSHYDRASHOK, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1doesnt affect anything however a passenger on the back does. Its 100+lbs that you dont control. They have just as much control over where the bike goes as you do.
    • Silentnite85, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Depends on the bike. If you get a crotch rocket there's less places to put stuff. If you get a car-2 wheels then lots of trunk space. Either way its really not too bad with a backpack, just watch your balance.
    • Negligence, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2You don't save money with a motorcycle because they are costly to buy, insurance, and maintain. Yes, you save money at the pumps, but it would take years to start saving because of the short riding season.

      Weight on your back / on the bike doesn't affect anything, it's the same as if you weighed an extra 20lbs.
      • Kloud, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1You're kidding right? My insurance is cheap as hell, I pay a couple hundred a year. Hell I don't even remember considering it's been 5 months since I paid it. And maintenance? You change fluids more often. You also don't even use as much of said fluids. You're getting double, even triple, of what most people get in MPG.
        BTW, ***** grow a pair and put on warm gear and ride during the winter. Seriously, I've been through 2 and I could probably ride in a Tshirt and shorts I'm so used to the cold.
      • jtown, on 04/25/2008, -0/+0Insurance is more expensive? Not in my world unless you're a teenager on a 1l+ crotch rocket. I pay $350 or so a year for full coverage (250k/500k liability, too, which is required for some group events), uninsured motorist, collision, theft, etc. on my bike that's over 1l. My old 500cc (RIPieces) cost a whopping $35/year for liability only. That's right. $35. Per year. The insurance company had a $50 minimum so, until I added the big bike, I had to pay an extra $15/year to make the minimum policy payment. And that's the kind of bike we're talking about here.

        And what motorcycle is costly to buy? Last time I looked, you could get a nice BMW motorcycle for $15k. The kind of bike we're talking about for economy purposes (500-650cc range) runs half that. New. You could get a decent used 500-650cc standard bike for half that again without even trying. Less. Two grand should buy you a heck of a good 500cc non-rocket.

        The only consumables that cost significantly more on a motorcycle are the tires since they wear out a lot faster and are more expensive. But that's it. Labor rates at the shop are similar. True, you can't go to JiffyLube and get the $10 oil change service but fluids cost the same (and you generally need less). So you pay 20 minutes of shop time for the oil change. Take it out of the big pile of cash you saved by buying a bike instead of a car. Or the cheaper insurance. Or the money you didn't spend on gas that week.

        As for the weight on your back, of course it makes a difference. Any time you add weight that high on the bike, it's going to lift the center of gravity. It's also likely to fark up your spine if you land on it. Get some saddle bags if you're going to carry stuff.
  • davidjunit, on 04/25/2008, -0/+8Optimal cruising speed is going to depend on your gearing. Driving less than 65MPH in 5th or 6th gear might be the slowest you'd want to go before you started bogging the motor and hurting efficiency.
    • eyepower, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1finally the voice of sanity. Not all cars are geared the same.
  • PussInBoots, on 04/25/2008, -7/+1"You gotta pay for fun ride" said I to myself when I paid over $45 to fill up my Mazda3 s Sport 2.3L (just 11 gallons tank)... every other ***** week... oh well at least there is pussy magnet in there
    • darkciti2, on 04/25/2008, -0/+9Dude, if you think your car will get your pussy, you must like some dirty pussy.
      • Silentnite85, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1My car get's a lot of pussy for me. Damn cats are everywhere around here.
    • Kloud, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Do you drive slow through trailer parks?
  • WoollyMittens, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3There's a difference between having right of way and getting right of way. On a bike this difference is more pronounced.
  • statmobile, on 04/25/2008, -0/+7Don't buy a V8 SUV when you don't need one soccer mom!!! Sorry, seems like simple economics to me. I'm filling my Corolla, because I need no more than that. So, F*** You if you think the government should care that you buy a car that gets the same mileage we got 20+ years ago. Money talks, and by buying your vehicle you tell me that you don't give a crap about the price of gas. I'm not defending the crooked practices of the gas companies, I'm just saying that you made your bed. SLEEP IN IT!
    • falkonv7l, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Yes, I know so many people that go and get an SUV as soon as they are going to have their first kid. It's only one kid, that is what the back seat of a CAR is for.
    • mobislink, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1It seems that the soccer moms in the SUVs are the most aggressive drivers on the road. I wonder what they are thinking?
      "F$%^, I have to make it to the PTA meeting before I miss the bake sale presentation."
      I would think that they are going around with kids most of the time that they would be more careful.
  • adrames, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2My little Civic gets 40mpg, so I'm good. I would like to get a motorcycle for commute, but right now I couldn't afford it, and I'd be afraid to drive it around my town with all the DUIs and such.
  • zadadka, on 04/25/2008, -0/+8Be grateful.
    In the UK, it costs me $100-$120 to fill my E300 with deisel.
    • falkonv7l, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I wish we had public transportation as good as the UK, or much of Europe for that matter. I live in the Southwest part of the US everything is very suburban and the major cities are so far apart.
  • willamette, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4The best part about the article is the exhortation to buy a $200ish MPG computer. From an economic perspective, if your "hypermiling" saves the average driver (who wants to obey the law (e.g. can't turn off the FRIGGIN ENGINE WHILE DRIVING!) and drive the speed limit) maybe 15% off normal MPG, and say it costs them $50 to fill up, they save $7.50 a fill up. More correctly, they will just have to fill up less often. Assuming one fill-up per week, it would take over 6 months to make back the cost of that $200 computer. Skip the computer, just do the tips.
  • zmigliozzi, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1Let me guess without even reading, oil change, air/oil/fuel filters, wash your car, properly inflated tires. Done.
    • wipis, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4I'm not sure how washing your car would increase mileage. Unless your car has 50 lbs of dirt on it. But no. Driving conservatively is what they suggest. But keeping up on your cars maintenance is a big one. Don't forget coolant. Engines like to be hot but not too hot.
    • PhatFingers, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Now, try reading it and see how much you got right. Better yet, do so before discussing so you don't look quite so ignorant.
    • PurpleSfinx, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Oh, it's nowhere near that complicated.
    • FecalHurler, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2I cannot see any situation where washing your car will increase gas mileage...
  • Shaman760, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Move to 92107. Take the "J out of "Job"...you have OB...(aka Ocean Beach)
  • theholyraptor, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Everyone seems to equate the whole "coasting to lights, not starting and stopping as much, and smooth acceleration/deceleration" with driving slow. I drive quite a bit on the freeway, usually late at night/early in the morning as I can go significantly faster without traffic and other annoyances. I speed, most definitely. I can't claim I get the best gas mileage for speeding but it isn't significantly lower, in fact I think I do about the same as if I were going 60. The optimal drag vs speed for my car is prob in the 70s or 80s. I try and drive at night cause theres less people to randomly decide to change lanes or the oh so common two people going the same speed on a two lane highway pacing each other preventing others from passing. I do most everything listed here just to be a better driver and while I may be doing 85 in a straight patch of road with no traffic, I'll approach a car going slower but passing a truck and I'll time it so that I take my foot off the gas, and end up 40ft behind them at their speed by the time I get to them and then ease back on the gas after I've gotten past them. My point being you don't have to drive 15 miles below the speed limit to do a lot of the things suggested, though depending on the car the slower speed my help with fuel efficiency.
  • paulmer2003, on 04/25/2008, -6/+3Wow, never heard this ***** before. What a ***** break through. Summary: Want better gas mileage? Don't give it so much throttle. Thanks. Not. Buried.
  • lolwtfhaha, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3What's wrong with the bus? Everyone is touting bicycle/motorcycle/small car-- without regard to mortality. Hell, I ride a 20+-ton vehicle to work and I don't spend a dime on gas. It takes me an extra 40 mins each way, most of which I spend either reading or walking or dozing. Many employers provide discount bus passes, or-- if you go to ASU you get a free 13 month pass just for taking one class. It literally pays for the class since passes are like $50/mo.
    • PurpleSfinx, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Buses are great in theory. Not only do they get more people around on not that much more petrol, but some of the ones around me use 100% ethanol. Great. IN THEORY. Unforunately in my city, (Melbourne) the companies publish conflicting timetables, and then don't stick even close to them anyway. IF your bus comes, which isn't even close to certain, it's MOST LIKELY, from personal experience, to be at least 10 minutes late. When they only come once per hour that's just too much for some people.
    • rlvis, on 04/25/2008, -0/+0Where I live and work (Edmonton), taking the bus would take more than an hour each way while driving takes 20 minutes. I don't have time in my life to ride the bus.
  • wipis, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5In addition to saving you gas driving a little slower, timing your stops and coasting when possible reduces wear on your car. Your tires will last longer as will your brakes and engine. Overall the cost of maintenance for your car will go down if you take good care of it.

    To go along with one of those gas mileage gauges consider a GPS. Not only are they useful for finding your way but they can help find the shortest of fastest path. Some even avoid traffic so you don't spend so much time idleing. Perhaps the best part is they can tell you your estimated time of arrival (ETA). You will learn that doing 70 rather then 65 or 60 only gives you a few minuets on your ETA, even over long trips. So unless your a fireman there really is no reason to press the gas harder. Just keep saying you'll get there when you get there. Plan your trips better or leave earlier if time really is a factor.
    • saikyan, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1>So unless your a fireman there really is no reason to press the gas harder

      Nissan 350Z. A reason to press the gas harder.
  • MLisa, on 04/25/2008, -2/+5IMHO This article is incomplete. They did not even mention the air conditioner. When you drive with the air on you use a lot more gas. Also, if you roll down the windows you will use more gas. This is because of the aerodynamic design that modern cars have. Better to use the minimum amount of air conditioning. To say that you can improve mileage by 30% is absurd. Proper tire inflation gains you 1-2%. The main gas eater is 'lead foot' - jackrabbit starts. From what I have read and learned over the years; better driving habits can gain you about a 5% increase in mpg. I hope you understand that I am 500 years old and have a vast knowledge on all subjects.
    • yomamaphat, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2%30 is absurd true.
      However, a study a while ago on Digg actually claimed there was no difference from windows or air conditioner use in modern cars.
      I still roll my windows down though... maybe my car isn't modern enough.
    • lordno, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Air conditioners work on belt drives. They are either on or not. Same gas mileage when it is on, no matter how frugal you use it.
  • jdavscru, on 04/25/2008, -6/+5these are the ppl in my f'ing way! If you drive like this please make sure you're in the right lane. I know I need to change my driving habits but dammit, it feels good to go fast...
    • SilasTomorrow, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3You speak to my soul, brother. I usually try to drive slow, but when I need to get there in a hurry, please stay out of the passing lane!!!
    • tehHardcorez, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I'm going to cruise down the passing lane at a cool 60mph this afternoon - the ENTIRE way home. I'm going to turn up my stereo and flip up my rear-view mirror to ignore high beams. I can't wait.
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