Looking for ways to preserve fuel and get 'hyper miles' out of your vehicle? Well, that's what hypermiling's all about.
It can be defined as the method (some would even call it an art) of getting the best fuel economy. Those who use such techniques on a regular basis are often referred to as 'hypermilers'.
At a time when we've seen fuel prices rise and fall exponentially, we think it's fair to say that there's never been a better time to learn about it.
Unfortunately, hypermiling can also be taken to extremes, with some practices that might be deemed dangerous and controversial to say the least. At the end of the day, following the law and being a safe driver is more important than saving a few quid on fuel, right?
That's why we'll be telling you how to hypermile safely and with constraint, getting the most out of your lease vehicle's fuel tank without presenting a danger to yourself AND other drivers. You'll benefit not only your vehicle's health and longevity, but your wallet as well.
Sit tight amigos!
The History of Hypermiling
Although we've all tried saving fuel at one time or another, hypermiling as a serious endeavour really kicked off in early 2000s America when fuel prices went through the roof. People turned to driving hybrids, and pretty soon they were coming up with all sorts of other ways to cut down on fuel. Hence, hypermiling was born.
Today, it's safe to say that it's grown enormously in popularity, even to the point where it attracts something of a cult following, with marathon events and keen hypermilers sharing their fuel-saving feats on social media. In 2008, 'hypermiling' was even added to the Oxford English dictionary, dubbing it their "word of the year". Beat that . . .
And if we want to stretch the cult analogy further, you could also say that hypermiling even has its own 'spiritual founding father': Wayne Gerdes.
Now, let's tell you some of the best ways to save fuel!
Anticipate the Road Ahead
Might as well start with the simplest.
When driving, maintain a steady speed and avoid braking or accelerating harshly. Constantly stopping and starting in slow-moving traffic consumes more fuel. It's all about maintaining momentum, folks.
Because stopping and starting usually means that more fuel is consumed, you should aim to drive as smoothly as possible without harsh acceleration or braking. If you spot a junction, red traffic light or a build-up of traffic ahead, slow down in plenty of time. Apply a gentle brake only if really necessary. There's a chance that the hazard up ahead will have cleared by the time you reach it, meaning you won't have to stop at all.
Coast as Much as Possible
A dedicated hypermiler (a.k.a 'you') will get their car up to speed, then coast as much as possible in order to inject less fuel into the engine.
You might already know, but 'coasting' is when you build up some speed and then maintain a good distance behind the car ahead (or any other hazard) by using your brakes as little as possible. The idea behind it is that you won't have to brake as much to slow the car down or apply as much throttle to speed up, which will use less fuel in the long run. And it's absolutely true.
Drive Slower on Motorways
This again is one of the more simple fuel-saving habits. Instead of going in all guns blazing on the motorway, consider driving at 60mph instead of 50mph. If your car has cruise control, use it.
Obviously you'll need to be in the left-hand lane, and it's probably not going to upset many other drivers.
Best not to drop down to as slow as 50mph though. That's when you might start getting a few funny looks.
Parking
You can use location and geography to your advantage when parking. In cold weather, try parking your car in the direction of the sun so that it can melt your frozen windscreen in the morning, instead of having to wait for the car heating to defrost it (whilst idling your engine at the same time).
It's also beneficial to find a parking space that you can drive forwards out of (the 'face out' technique), which saves you fuel by avoiding complex reversing manoeuvres.
Where possible, some hypermilers will try to park on downward slopes so that they can 'coast' away using as little fuel as possible, although we wouldn't necessarily recommend that. Coasting is generally okay, but it can be dangerous on a hill when the momentum of the vehicle picks up and gravity does its work.
Plan Your Route
It may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes the longer route to your destination may be the more economical one since you won't be doing as much stop/start driving. This is because engines are less efficient at low speed, so a five-mile journey in rush hour traffic is likely going to be less economical than a seven-mile trip where you're on the move at a consistent speed and revs are limited.
Also, try driving at times when traffic is less busy. And for errands, instead of making a series of smaller individual trips, consider completing them all in one long round-trip.
Limit Idling
By 'idling', we are of course referring to when you leave your engine on whilst parked in a stationary position for an extended period of time. This could be on a frosty morning when you need to de-ice your windows, or when waiting for a friend outside a shop.
Thing is, it not only wastes fuel, but also runs the risk of overheating your engine as well.
In addition, when waiting in a lengthy queue of traffic, switch off your engine as soon as possible.
Don't Misuse Climate Control
If you're the same as us, then you probably don't like a hot, stuffy car. However, keep the air-conditioning off as much as you can, as doing so can decrease your fuel consumption by up to 10 percent in some cases. If need be, open the windows.
Air-conditioning is recommended though at speeds of over 40mph, because opening the windows at that pace will add to the drag of the car.
If you do still want to use the air-conditioning a lot, consider making use of the recirculation option, as that's going to 'recycle' the air already in the car rather than expending energy on bringing fresh air in.
Check Your Tyre Pressure
Ensure your tyre pressure is correct, as driving with underinflated tyres is only going to make the car work harder and use up more fuel. Low tyre pressure causes more drag and therefore less miles per gallon.
On the flip side of the coin, we wouldn't advise overinflating your tyres either. That can cause premature wear and possible blow-outs.
Remove Excess Weight
In an ideal world, the only items you should be carrying in your car are a spare tyre and a first-aid kit for emergencies. The less weight, the less fuel you're going to consume.
We know that in most cases that might not be practical or even desirable, but the least you can do is get rid of any 'really unnecessary' weight. The proverbial golf club comes to mind.
Above all, be sure to remove any unused roof or bike racks. These take up the most fuel and only add drag to the car.
Make Use of Hypermiling Gadgets
By 'gadgets', we of course mean electronic devices which are designed specifically to assist you in your mileage-saving needs. What these devices do is plug into the diagnostics port of your car and access readings from sensors and the ECU (Electronic Control Unit).
Manufacturers have also pushed to help you make the most of your fuel usage with the introduction of systems like Honda's Eco Assist feature on its flagship Insight hybrid model.
Get Your Fuel for the Best Price
Yep, in case you didn't know, fuel prices differ from location to location. It's very much a free market, so don't be shy to shop around and get the best rates. Just make sure you aren't travelling too far out of your way to do so, as the extra travel would probably counteract the fuel money you'll be saving.
On that note, we'd very much recommend heading over to PetrolPrices.com to compare fuel prices in your local area. There can be as much as a 10p difference per litre between fill-up locations, which can equate to hundreds of pounds worth of savings each year (slightly more for petrol than diesel, but bear in mind that petrol does tend to run out faster).
Also, keep an eye out for fuel vouchers and discounts from supermarkets. Many offer discounts of up to 5p per litre when you spend a certain amount in store. That amounts to around £2.50 off for an average 50-litre fill up.
Another thing to consider when trying to save on fuel costs is the type of car you drive. Electric cars have come a long way in recent years, and they now offer a cheaper price per mile than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. In some areas, there are even free charging stations available, making the overall cost of owning an electric car significantly cheaper than its ICE counterpart.
Keep Your Vehicle Well-Maintained
It almost goes without saying that a well-maintained car is a happy car, and one that uses much less fuel as well. A poorly-maintained vehicle is a less efficient vehicle.
Keep your car well-maintained with regular servicing, as well as regular oiling etc. Some drivers opt for a thinner oil when trying to optimise their miler per gallon. Thinner oil means less energy is required to turn the engine.
Hypermiling Controversy
There is a certain fuel-saving technique known as Forced Auto Stop, whereby hypermilers will turn their car off completely on downhill sections of road in order to save fuel.
We don't recommend this form of hypermiling. Turning the engine off can cut power to the servos that assist with braking and steering, and in some cases there's the risk of engaging the steering lock too.
Drafting
'Drafting' is another controversial hypermiling practice. It simply means entering into the slipstream of the vehicle in front and following it closely in order to maintain speed without as much gas, therefore benefiting fuel efficiency.
It has its roots on the tracks of NASCAR racing, where racers would try and gain the edge over opposing drivers by going bumper-to-bumper with them, entering the other vehicle's slipstream and making themselves go faster by reducing wind resistance. The car behind requires less effort to maintain the same speed as the one in front.
Thing is . . . it's one thing attempting it on a NASCAR racetrack, and quite another thing to attempt it on the A77. We probably wouldn't recommend this form of hypermiling, because it almost goes without saying that you could risk annoying the driver in front and potentially cause an accident. And it's no surprise that drafting is the technique which has given the hypermiling community some bad press.
Drafting is best avoided, but if you want to try it, you do so at your own risk. At the very least, make sure that you're not violating Honestly though, we don't think saving a few quid is worth the risk of a potential bumper-to-bumper crash.
Is Drafting Illegal?
Sort of . . .
Although there's no specific law forbidding you from drafting behind another vehicle in the first place, you will be the one deemed responsible if it ends up causing an accident. Then comes the inevitable fine and points on your license, or even a possible criminal conviction. So there can be terrible consequences for you if the manoeuvre ends badly.
Reaction times and braking distance are severely reduced with the close distances involved in drafting, making a collision more likely should the car in front suddenly slow. Sudden braking was responsible for five percent of UK traffic collisions in 2022.
Is Hypermiling Bad for your Car?
Unless you try out some of the more dangerous methods which we've been discussing (like drafting) and end up crashing, then no, you don't have too much to worry about.
If anything, hypermiling is likely to be better for your car's engine since you won't be putting it through as much stress than if you were driving erratically or even normally.
Winter Hypermiling Tips
Believe it or not, cold weather causes higher fuel consumption. That's because snow, rain, ice and grit all make a car work harder to keep moving, so don't be surprised if you find yourself visiting the fuel station less in the summer months.
More specifically:
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Cold reduces the air pressure in tyres, leading to more fuel being wasted.
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Cold air is denser than warm air, which is why cold draughts spill down from a draughty window. It adds aerodynamic drag on a vehicle, meaning that it has to push harder, especially at high speed.
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In low temperatures, engine and transmission oil is thicker, meaning it takes more energy to turn the engine.
To help reduce the effects of the fuel-consuming winter months, we suggest:
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Taking the snow off your car: it might look pretty, but snow only adds to the weight and increases drag.
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Reduce idling: to avoid having to put on the heating and wait for your car to defrost, leave it in your garage overnight (if you have one), or cover up the windscreen overnight to ensure an ice-free morning.
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Park into the sun: if you don’t have either of the above, let the sun de-ice your windscreen instead. Just park towards it or in a spot that's going to receive sunlight.
Summing Up
Well amigos, that about covers it from us on hypermiling.
Remember, there's a tonne of great ways to save fuel in a time of rising prices like ours. Just don't take it to extremes by drafting behind another car or turning off your engine when going down a hill! Always err on the side of caution rather than risking a crash just for the sake of saving a few quid.
And for the latest hypermiling news and advice, you can always head on over to hypermiler.co.uk!
Happy leasing.
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