Hey any Hypermilage Devotees here?

[corpsecorps]

Has anybody tried the tips to improve MPG?

[cansecokid]

I have become a devoted hypermiler since purchasing my Versa early this year, and I can tell you that it's been great.

As for my techniques, I am not as dangerously crazy as the strict hypermilers (turning the engine off on hills, drifting behind big rigs), but I have completely altered my driving habits.

I coast to lights until I almost come to a complete stop, and I very slowly accelerate after stopping.

I use cruise control as much as possible, and will rarely throw the Versa above 60mph.

I keep my car clean and don't leave anything in the trunk unless necessary.

All of these things have dramatically improved my gas mileage, my mood, and my Versa - all for the better.

As for people who drive behind me...Well, they often get annoyed at my slow speeds and habits, but they'll have to deal with it...I won't change.

On a recent trip (95% highway), I got 46 mpg using cruise control at 55-60mph the entire trip. 150 miles r/t using a little over 3 gallons of gas.

Hypermiling definitely pays off...Oh, and buy a ScanGauge...it helps A LOT

[Knightro2]

You mentioned that you aren't dangerously crazy. If you're going 55mph on a highway where the rest of the traffic is cruising anywhere from 70 - 80 then you are slightly dangerous and might get an unexpected passenger in your rear seat...meaning the car that slammed into you.

I'm all for saving gas, lord knows I could use the money. But there are boundaries.

[Best_Shot]

2 weekends ago when we took a 150 mile round trip, we noticed in the freeway that people are starting to drive slowly. I myself started to drive conservatively, like not going more than 60 mph while cruising in the freeway (though I have only noticed a 4mpg improvement - from 29mpg to 33mpg combined). I was not the only one driving 60mph, and there were times that some were slower than I was. I also noticed, too that even though some people were passing us, it was not as if they were driving 80mph, more likely around 70mph... I think people are starting to feel the need to save gas as much as possible...For what I am doing to increase mpg:1) no more than 60mph in the freeway2) when exiting from freeway, I put my CVT to neutral (there are instances here in Michigan that I can do this for more than half a mile while in neutral)3) when accelerating, I keep the RPM below 2K4) use the brake as little as possible (when approaching red light, CVT in neutral, and coast)5) keep the tires in correct pressure...

[Best_Shot]

oh, just for reference - when I drive the V, I always have me, my pregnant wife, and our baby boy - a total human weight of ~350lbs.

[jmaclean]

. . . If you're going 55mph on a highway where the rest of the traffic is cruising anywhere from 70 - 80 then you are slightly dangerous and might get an unexpected passenger in your rear seat...meaning the car that slammed into you.

I'm all for saving gas, lord knows I could use the money. But there are boundaries.

In most cases where people are going over 70 mph, they are usually breaking the law. The only place where I know the speeds to be at 70 are on the northeast turnpikes. Do you have freeways in FLA that are 70 mph? The highest speed that most freeways in metropolitan areas post are 55, then 60 and 65 as you go into the outlying metro areas.

Hypermilers tend to drive in the right-hand lane and look in their rear view mirror more than other drivers, in order to see who's coming up behind them and not impede traffic. I might speed up a little for a tailgater, but at some point you've got to stay at a reasonable speed to let him know to go around!

I also notice that in general, people in the Twin Cities are slowing down, staying off the brakes, and coasting to lights. The more we ALL do it, the more gas we'll ALL save.

[XterraVersa]

In most cases where people are going over 70 mph, they are usually breaking the law. The only place where I know the speeds to be at 70 are on the northeast turnpikes. Do you have freeways in FLA that are 70 mph? The highest speed that most freeways in metropolitan areas post are 55, then 60 and 65 as you go into the outlying metro areas.

Hypermilers tend to drive in the right-hand lane and look in their rear view mirror more than other drivers, in order to see who's coming up behind them and not impede traffic. I might speed up a little for a tailgater, but at some point you've got to stay at a reasonable speed to let him know to go around!

I also notice that in general, people in the Twin Cities are slowing down, staying off the brakes, and coasting to lights. The more we ALL do it, the more gas we'll ALL save.

We just raised the speed limits in Denver to 65 MPH on the interstate. Outside the city it is 75mph.

I try the hypermileage a bit. Keep the rpms below 3000, shift to 6th asap, coast to stops and have been getting 34-42 mpg mixed driving since day one. I even tried different routes to minimize stopping. If I have a persistant tailgater on the 5 lane interstate, I ignore her. There are 4 more lanes to choose from buddy.

I tried the turning the engine off once coasting in an empty parking lot. You better hope you don't need brakes. They fade fast.

I have also noticed more drivers going slower.

[matttail]

Actually, most of the west has speeds this high. I lived in Wyoming for a while and speed limits there were 75 on highways. Also had a fun trip through southern New Mexico and Arizona - there were some 80mph limits there, and everybody was doing closer to 90 (I was in a 88 Honda Civic then). Montana has done the "Safe and Sane" speed limit thing on and off for a while.

Personally I make 290 mile trips ever month or so out to my parents place. The trip takes me 4.5 to 5 hours. I've got an hour worth of traffic to get out of Chicago, then all but the last 30 miles are high way speed where the speep limit is 65. I would go crazy turning that into an 7.5 to 8 hour trip. But I sure hated paying $40 to fill up my tank the last time I did it. But I average 32mpg on the highway at those speed. No cruise, but I've got a really steady foot.