Expert Tips on Fuel Efficiency

March 5, 2007 at 12:54 pm · Filed under Cars

This is the first Money Hacks entry to be dual-posted at Get Rich Slowly. This is my transitional measure until I decide exactly what I’m going to do.

I don’t usually think of Boing Boing as a source for money hacks, but they just posted a blurb about Wayne Gerdes, who “may be the most fuel-efficient driver in the world”.

Through tricky coasting, careful acceleration, and driving without breaking, the “king of the hypermilers” can apparently squeeze 59 MPG out of a non-hybrid Honda Accord and more than 100 MPG from a Toyota Prius.

I read the original article about Gerdes and listened to the interview with him. Here are some of Gerdes’ recommendations for achieving fuel economy:

  • Don’t speed.
  • Go easy on the brakes.
  • Inflate your tires to maximum pressure.
  • Never idle. (His rule of thumb is: “If you’re going to be stopped more than seven seconds, turn off the engine.”)
  • Know your route so you can time the traffic signals.
  • Keep your vehicle as empty as possible. Added weight reduces fuel economy.
  • Remove racks and other objects on the outside of your vehicle.
  • If you’re comfortable with it (because it is illegal), use a rolling stop.
  • In parking lots, don’t use reverse. Pull into a spot so that you’re facing out.

[Boing Boing: Mileage hacker Wayne Gerdis]


10 Comments »

  1. samerwriter said,

    March 5, 2007 @ 3:36 pm

    I wonder if he factors in the “gentle” nudges he gets from road-ragers behind him to his mileage calculations?

  2. Brian (dad to 3) said,

    March 5, 2007 @ 3:47 pm

    Be careful, google really doesn’t like duplicate content.

  3. Reality Bytes said,

    March 6, 2007 @ 1:26 am

    That was a really interesting article in Mother Jones, however, I take issue with some of the practices of the “hypermilers”. Some actually endanger other drivers and pedestrians. Although, I am all for the spirit of the effort.

  4. Elissa said,

    March 6, 2007 @ 11:55 am

    These tactics are nice and all, but pretty much impossible (aside from the first three) if you DON’T live in suburbia. And ACTUALLY impossible if you live in the city with never-ending traffic.

  5. Phil said,

    March 6, 2007 @ 4:46 pm

    see link about how good driving habits and tyre care improve fuel efficiency, save money and help the environment:

    http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/cons/3619e.pdf

  6. E.F. said,

    March 24, 2007 @ 10:46 am

    Hmmm,

    The parking lot tip is also illegal in Canada. Of course, only fanatic cops will enforce such rule. I admire the king of millers.

  7. tsd said,

    June 5, 2007 @ 10:29 pm

    It’s pathetic …. No “real” person would be able to squeese so much out of a gallon. And these drivers are a real pain in the *** to have driving arround, say you are on your way to something important and you are behind on of these fools, it will take him 2 hours to accelerate his car to the current speed limits, and he will be the cause of many hazardous bypasses.

    My advice:

    Don’t buy a car if you can’t affort the fuel needed to drive it. Stop this rediculous crap.

  8. Fonix said,

    November 17, 2007 @ 11:20 am

    You may want to be careful on point 4, as ignition is a stressful activity for an engine. The pistons momentarily scrape their chambers before the oil can flow in between the metal surfaces. If you dramatically increase the number of starts and stops your engine endures, your maintenance costs will also increase.

    A couple of extra ideas:

    1.) Endure heat when possible. If needed, roll down your windows at low speed (sub 40 mph) and use AC at high speed.

    2.) Buy a manual transmission car. Automatic transmissions are very inefficient at transferring power.

  9. Michael said,

    February 29, 2008 @ 9:17 am

    This is one of the craziest posts I’ve ever seen hit the Internet.

    Turn off my engine if I’m stopped for more than 7 seconds?

    Don’t use reverse?

    Time traffic signals? Is this a bank robbery?

    I’m just going to be comfortable not driving like a maniac and using a fuel efficient car. =)

  10. Ethel said,

    May 13, 2008 @ 1:59 pm

    I know I’m a year late, but he missed an obvious one for the average driver: Use cruise control.

    Maybe he can drive more efficiently than his cruise control, but we’re pretty efficient drivers - and we get about .7 mpg more (from 19.3 to 20.0 mpg) from our minivan using cruise control. We also removed the back seat, and that was almost 1 mpg (18.4 to 19.3 mpg).

    I won’t ever be as extreme as this dude, but getting more mpg is a bit of a game for us.

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