Extreme Hypermilers - Dangerous Hypermiling Techniques to Avoid

Hypermiling can be an good way to achieve better gas mileage. However, some hypermilers recommend, and unfortunately employ, many driving techniques that are incredibly dangerous, and sometimes even illegal.

The following information is intended as a warning. We strongly advise you not to implement these extreme hypermiling techniques. We felt it necessary to post this here in order to warn those of you who have been advised to try some of the techniques used by extreme hypermilers below.

Please, take these warnings seriously. Ignoring your personal safety, and the safety of others, isn't worth better gas mileage.

When driving, do NOT attempt the following hypermiling techniques:

1. Over-Inflation of Tires

   If you've heard any hypermilers suggest that you should over-inflate your tires for better gas mileage, you should ignore them as if your life depended on it. Why? Because it does.

   Over-inflating your tires is dangerous because it increases the likelihood that your tires will burst. Can you imagine going 55 mph on the highway and having one of your tires blow?

   Even if your tires don't blow out and put you into an epic car wreck, the tread on your tires will wear down much faster, which means you buy new tires more often than most drivers.

   That's not very cost-effective, and is incredibly counter productive.

2. Using the Wrong Oil

   No doubt you read in my Car Maintenance Tips that you should use the lowest weight oil recommended for your car.

   Unfortunately, many people miss that last part and go for the lowest weight oil they can find.

   If you don't use the correct oil for your car, you're causing serious damage to your engine. So, don't do this!

3. Forced Auto Stop (FAS), AKA Engine-off Coasting (EOC)

   This hypermiling technique is one of the most dangerous driving habits I've ever heard of.

   The idea is to simulate hybrid technology. Hybrid cars have an engine off feature that shuts off the engine to conserve fuel and energy.

   One situation where this is employed is when the driver releases the accelerator and begins to coast.

   Hypermilers use this strategy in non-hybrid vehicles by turning their engine off when they are coasting.

   The reason you should never use FAS/EOC in a non-hybrid vehicle is because, when your engine is off, you lose control of your vehicle.

   Power braking and steering are gone, which means if you suddenly have to stop your car because someone cuts you off, or you need to suddenly steer your vehicle away from a large pothole or other road obstruction, you won't be able to do it.

   This puts you and everyone else on the road around you in grave danger.

4. Drafting

   This one is nothing new, and I'm surprised it's called a hypermiling technique, as it's a relatively new term. However, we'll list it here because it's dangerous no matter who came up with it.

   The idea is most likely borrowed from race car drivers who follow the vehicle in front of them to reduce drag on their car. When you reduce the drag caused by wind, your MPG goes way up.

   Many drivers will draft closely behind semi-trucks as they block the wind the best.

   This is dangerous because if the truck driver starts to brake, you will crash. Also, semi-truck drivers won't be able to see you.

   Drafting is also a ridiculous word for this.

   It's called Tailgating, and it's illegal.

   Do not follow any vehicle too closely.

   If you don't know what too close is, check an online drivers manual. Your distance from the car in front of you is reliant upon how fast you're both going.

   Please, keep a safe distance.

5. Driving Too Fast

   It doesn't make much sense, but some hypermilers will pulse and glide. Sometimes, the pulse is much higher than the required speed limit. This is both dangerous and illegal.

   Pulse and glide is a fruitless effort, as it's much more fuel efficient to maintain a slower speed / RPMs.

6. Rolling Stop

   Most drivers already employ the Rolling Stop.

   Admit it. You approach a stop sign, and you know it's your turn next, so instead of coming to a complete stop, you roll slowly until you can accelerate.

   You never come to a complete stop.

   Maybe you don't do it at stop signs, but I'd be willing to bet you do it at a red light when you're making a right turn...

   Well? It's true, right? In fact, I've done it myself.

   Most of us don't do it for better gas mileage, but to save time. Why come to a complete stop if I don't have to?

   Why wait?

   Because it's the law and it's the safest thing to do. Come to a full and complete stop, and avoid tickets and potential accidents.

Avoid the above techniques used by extreme hypermilers and you'll save yourself from getting pulled over, or worse, an accident.

Instead of using dangerous hypermiling techniques learn how to use this technique properly. You'll save more money - up to a third of your gas bill - and be a lot safer.

For a complete guide to using hypermiling to save gas Click Here!

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