With gas prices climbing quickly in response to the current upheaval in the Middle East, not to mention the annual "Summer Season" price changes, the rising cost of fuel is on everyone's mind - no matter what you drive.
You've no doubt noticed the increase of hybrid Toyotas and Hondas on the road in recent months. And as more and more people search for ways to extend their fuel dollar, there's been a lot of theories on how to do this ranging from fuel additives, to crazy gizmos in the intake track, to something called Hypermiling.
I've done some research, and while the first two are dubious at best, using Hypermiling techniques actually have some real merit and measurable results.
Hypermiling is a driving style that's used to get the most fuel economy out of a vehicle. While it's typically used by owners of already fuel efficient vehicles (there are some folks that are getting 95mpg in a Prius), it can be applied to any vehicle. The main techniques include drafting other larger vehicles, turning off the motor at idle, increasing the tire pressure to (or beyond) the tire manufacturer's recommendations, coasting in neutral, driving at or below the posted speed limit, and using a very gentle touch on the gas pedal.
There's no shortage of articles and web pages dedicated to Hypermiling (a Google search turned up over 245,000 results), and even legitimate news and media outlets will cover the subject from time to time. They'll interview automotive experts (mechanics and engineers), and discuss the best way to extend your vehicle's gas mileage.
After reading yet another interview with an "engineer" who talked about Hypermiling, I thought it was time to do an experiment to see what a real-world, "Average Joe" commuter and car owner could expect.
There's an awful lot of data, and a series of tests that I performed. So rather than writing a book here, be sure to check back for more info and results in upcoming posts.
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