Hypermiling tips

[wyatt89]

Fuel is insanely expensive right now and some of us are poor Can we get a sticky'd guide to hypermiling (in a safe way)? I keep hearing about people getting over 40mpg in their vibes and It would be nice to get near that range. Hypermilers, post your tips and tricks here!Thanks

[Daox]

Here is a good start.100+ hypermiling tips

[WaveAction]

thats alot of tips..some of them are hard to avoid..im gonna have to print that site and see what i can improve on to get better gas milage, thanks for the link Daox

[joatmon]

If you turn the engine off to coast, turn the ignition back on so the gauge gets power. It won't help you get farther on a gallon of gas, but if you turn it to ACC, the gauge won't register the distance you coast, so the effect, although real, won't be visible when you calculate actual miles per gallon.

[WD0AFQ]

It was very surprizing to me at the distance the Vibe will coast. This will drastically improve town driving if you can do it. I live in a small town so the traffic is not heavy. I often coast for 3/8 of a mile without hurting traffic speed behind me. When no traffic I coast much further. I also short shift the gt and skip gears using the scanguage as a guide. There are things to be done so improved mileage can be had. I have begun taking the 2 lane roads so that I can slow my driving speeds safely. In doing this I get to see much more of our beautiful country. We do a lot of trips in our Vibe. Just got back from the Detroit area using 2 lanes everywhere I could. Southern Michigan is very pretty this time of year.Dan

[wyatt89]

Sweet tips page, I'll finish reading it soon.

[Burns1210]

Let's keep it simple...Don't accelerate hardDon't drive over 65Don't fluctuate speedsGet off the gas when approaching a red light as soon as you can so you won't have to accelerate as much in case traffic starts moving.It will be a cold day in H E Double Hockey Sticks when I start cutting the ignition when coasting down hill to save a buck.

[KNINE]

Quote, originally posted by Burns1210 »It will be a cold day in H E Double Hockey Sticks when I start cutting the ignition when coasting down hill to save a buck. Doesn't seem very safe to me.

[moongdss]

yeah, I do most of the hypermiling techniques with the exception of cutting engine on highways... I just can't convince myself that losing my power steering and engine assisted brakes is a safe way to drive.That said, i love drafting! Although I just read an article on Wired where they say to cut the engine once you're behind a truck and it'll suck you along. EEEK! Combining TWO dangerous techniques seems suicidal to me!I have been noticing lately that more and more people are slowing down on highways. it's a growing trend

[Daox]

Cutting the engine isn't a necessity when doing pulse and glide. I don't cut the engine (emanage doesn't like it) in my Matrix and I'm sure I can get 45 mpg out of it (max I've gotten is 43, but in bad conditions). I just coast in neutral. However, I do cut my engine on my Paseo (last tank was 56.5 mpg). Power steering does cut out, but you can't even tell as long as your moving more than 10-15 mph. Under that it becomes hard to steer. Power brakes don't go out until you give them a good three pumps. This is plenty if your already driving for fuel economy (which minimizes brake use).I'd have to say proper hypermiling actually makes you a safer driver. You increase following distance to minimize brake use so you have tons more time to react. You travel slower so you have more time to react. You are also just more aware of your driving environment. In fact, a bunch of hypermiling techniques are also taught in defensive driving courses.However, I do not recommend drafting. You can't see squat when you're behind a semi, and for their size and weight they can stop pretty quick.

[wyatt89]

Drafting is probably one of the reasons why we have chips and chunks taken out of our hoods and bumpers...That being said, I like doing it on long trips if I can find someone going my speed.

[rated_w]

the biggest tip I can give you guys is to be extremely smooth on the gas pedal. Sofar, on this tank. I'm at 3/4 tank and I've already travelled 300 km's LOL

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by Burns1210 »It will be a cold day in H E Double Hockey Sticks when I start cutting the ignition when coasting down hill to save a buck. I wouldn't routinely do it either, but it is a hypermiling technique, so I was just saying that if you are going to do everything you can to get the most mpg's, then you at least want to see what you are getting. Cutting the ignition can be done safely, but it's just being aware of when it can be done safely. Most of the time I wouldn't bother. I will unshift into neutral and coast from time to time. wyatt89 started this thread, he has a GT. One hypermiling tip for GT owners is "NO LIFT" One good afterburner run in lift can undo a hundred miles of being extra gentle. A big hypermiling tip is to leave early. If I'm running late, I often ignore mpgs and drive like I know I shouldn't. Leaving early makes for a much more leisurely trip, allows time to drive sensibly, gently. Takes the pressure off. Can actually drive the speed limit. I actually let someone pull in front of me the other day. What is the world coming to?

[Burns1210]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »Doesn't seem very safe to me.Yea, that really takes the cake. How 'bout packing a lunch for work a few more times a month? That will save you more money than coasting with the ignition off.

[Daox]

I think its funny how fast ideas get shot down. No offense, I thought the same thing too. Then, I went to a local hybrid car meet and someone taught me how to do it correctly and safely. After that I saw an instant 10 mpg increase on my next tank of gas. I guess the point is it can be done very safely. Try it in an empty parking lot sometime, you might be amazed...

[wyatt89]

So I tried the pulse and glide today for the first time (not the hardcore way where you turn off the car, just putting it into neutral) and I never realized how long the car could coast before losing 10mph. I was amazed...Does anyone know if this will deteriorate your clutch from shifting from neutral into 5/6th?

[Daox]

There will be some very minor wear on the clutch. I've been doing this a while and have yet to see someone actually replace a clutch early from doing it though (even with engine off and bump starting). When you go to put it back in gear try to rev match the engine to save some wear (and neck pain ).

[WD0AFQ]

The Vibe will coast a long ways. I also use the elevation readout on my gps to help me along with the scangauge tps function. I can see the slightest elevation change and adjust my right foot appropriatly. I am running 40 lbs of air in my new tires. 10 mpg is not unheard of improvement. Especially from a guy like me, hotrodder. Our 03 gt is doing great on mileage. I do not cut the ignition either. Drafting is a bit scary. I have done it but I'd rather not. I find that taking the backroads instead of interstate gives me much more opportunity to save fuel. Long coasts to stops has got to be one of the best tecniques. That was one of the hardest for me to make myself do but I am pretty good at it now. Fixing to swap a 5 speed in place of the 4 speed in my Mustang. That will greatly improve hiway driving mileage.Dan

[ab2cmiller]

Please do not try engine off coasting in an Automatic. Even if you shift into neutral, you run a great risk of screwing up your transmission.This is the quote from the 101 mileage tips from the link posted earlier in the thread."Also, most vehicles with automatic transmissions are not designed to travel with the engine shut off; the transmission may be damaged)."

[Burns1210]

Quote, originally posted by ab2cmiller »Please do not try engine off coasting in an Automatic. Even if you shift into neutral, you run a great risk of screwing up your transmission.This is the quote from the 101 mileage tips from the link posted earlier in the thread."Also, most vehicles with automatic transmissions are not designed to travel with the engine shut off; the transmission may be damaged)."If the owner's manual says the car can be towed flat, then what's the harm? I don't know what the Vibe says though, haven't checked.

[NibCrom]

If you're really concerned about gas mileage, buy a skateboard and grab onto other people's cars, Back to the Future style.

[ab2cmiller]

Quote, originally posted by Burns1210 »If the owner's manual says the car can be towed flat, then what's the harm? I don't know what the Vibe says though, haven't checked.You are correct. If the manual says it can be towed flat, then it should be ok.My 2007 Vibe Auto cannot be towed flat. I'm assuming that this is true for all Vibe or Matrix with Automatics.

[joatmon]

I couldn't find anything in the 2003-2008 owners manuals that specifically says to not tow the automatic Vibes flat, or as they call it "dinghy towing". It does say that if your car has a manual, you can tow it flat, but if it specifically says not to for automatics, I couldn't find it. The 2009 owners manual does specifically says automatic tranny vibes should not be towed flat.

[WD0AFQ]

Been towing the gt for over 3 years. Auto will not tow flat.dan

[ou.grizzly]

Anyone "hypermiling" in their 09+ Vibes?

[Scooter Dave]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »Doesn't seem very safe to me.Not only unsafe, but I think the Vibe (and many other new cars) stop injecting fuel into the cylinders when coasting AND in gear. Slipping it in neutral will open the injectors and flow fuel - at an idle rate.

[star_deceiver]

#4, #8, #17, #57, #68, #73, #83 and #10 good old Vacuum gauge!!

Attached files

[safooma]

I hypermile my 09. Check my sig for results. Nothing crazy but I do employ some tactics:FASDWLMomentum driving(stayin off the brakes)running high PSI.Not speeding or flooring it.Super smooth on accel/decellShut it down at traffics lights where i know i am gonna have to wait for more than 10 seconds.Plan your route with not stopping in mind. Traffic lights/stop signs are the enemy.I find it odd that so many here are against FAS(at least with a M/T). It's perfectly safe if you know what you are doing and pay attention. And you don't leave your ignition off. I put it in neutral and let the RPMS come down for a sec, then turn the key to kill the engine, then put it back in run a second later. These cars have electric power steering, so no issue there. Brakes are an issue, but as long as you PAY ATTENTION, its fine too. You have about 4 - 5 good brake pedal applications before you lose your power assist. When u get to the third one, stick it in gear and drop the clutch. Then shut it down again. At that point you are P&Ging anyway...I FAS about 6 miles a day on my 60 mile daily commute. You can't tell me that traveling 10% of my daily distance while using NO fuel isn't helping my fuel economy. One time coming off the mountain had a uninterrupted 11 mile FAS.

[Scooter Dave]

Quote, originally posted by safooma » You can't tell me that traveling 10% of my daily distance while using NO fuel isn't helping my fuel economy. One time coming off the mountain had a uninterrupted 11 mile FAS. Doesn't everyone use NO fuel when coasting in gear?

[safooma]

If the car has DFCO, then yes. However, being in gear will scrub speed off faster than coasting with the motor off. To be honest, I'm not sure of the vibe/matrix/corolla has DFCO. I think it does but i'm not sure

[star_deceiver]

It does, but for me it seems to come on only after coasting abobe 3500rpm. I feel it kick-in in 5th gear when I let off the gas at a high rate of speed (130km/h+). You feel a sudden jolt of deceleration. I can't tell at lower speeds or in other gears...

[ab2cmiller]

I would like to echo everything that safooma said.I would have to say that I was a little reluctant to try FAS at first. But once you try it a few times, you obtain a comfort level knowing how your car will react. For those of you who have a stick and are curious enough to try a FAS, go to an empty parking lot and do several FAS's with nobody around so you can see how the steering will react and how many pumps of the brakes it takes before you lose power brakes.Like safooma said, performing a FAS with the 09 and 10 models is even easier since they have electric power steering. Even if you have an earlier model that doesn't have electric power steering, a FAS can be performed safely once you are comfortable with knowing how your car will react (both steering and brakes).I would say that most hypermilers would encourage you to master some of the more basic hypermiling tips first before moving on to more advanced techniques such as FAS. However, I will say that most people would see some of their largest MPG gains by using FAS. I believe that the vehicles that I have used FAS, I've typically achieved an additional 15% MPG gain on top of all other gains from other hypermiling methods.