Avoid idling for more than 30 seconds

Experts agree that allowing your vehicle to idle for more than 30 seconds uses more gas than stopping and restarting the engine.  Allowing vehicles to idle for long periods of time while stuck in traffic, waiting for someone or even warming your car up in the morning is a common practice among drivers

The bottom line is that if you're looking to save money on fuel, you're better off turning the engine off than letting it idle.  Turning your vehicle off rather than letting it idle for long periods of time is also more environmentally friendly.

Drive the speed limit

Driving the speed limit can increase your overall miles per gallon by 12 - 14%.  Some experts recommend not exceeding 60 miles per hour, as gas usage significantly increases at speeds beyond that.  I personally don't recommend driving at speeds below the speed limit, as it significantly increases your chance of getting in an accident.  Saving a few bucks certainly isn't worth risking your life.

Minimize the items you carry in your vehicle

The more weight you add to your vehicle, the lower your miles per gallon will be.  Avoid carrying unnecessary items in your vehicle, and keep it as light as possible.  Go through your vehicle and remove anything not needed or necessary for getting where you need to go.

Also avoid after-market addons.  While these can often improve the overall looks of your vehicle, they hurt your gas mileage through increased weight and often negative impacts on your vehicles aero-dynamics.

Avoid in city driving

The reduced speeds and constant starting and stopping of city driving has negative effects on your vehicles gas mileage.  Try to find alternate routes for reaching your destination that minimize starting and stopping.

When you can't find alternate routes, drive conservatively and avoid aggressive take offs and stops which use more fuel and reduce your gas mileage even further.

Minimize Air Conditioning (AC) usage

Air conditioning places significant strain on you vehicles engine, resulting in higher fuel usage and reduced miles per gallon.  Rolling down your windows and turning off your AC can result in higher miles per gallon, especially at lower speeds.  This may not be the case at higher speeds and will depend on your vehicle.  At higher speeds, air rushing into the vehicle can actually cause your vehicle to use more gas than the AC would, due to wind resistance.

Keep your vehicle maintained

Practicing good vehicle maintenance habits will result in higher miles per gallon from your vehicle.  You should:

• Keep your oil changed based on manufacturer recommended practices
• Keep your air filter changed, which requires a visual inspection
• Keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer recommended rating and don't drive on old worn out tires.
• Repair external vehicle damage.  Body damage to your vehicle can make your vehicle less aero-dynamic and result in much higher gas usage.

Actively use an MPG Meter

Using an MPG Meter can significantly decrease your overall miles per gallon.  MPG Meters offer immediate and real-time feedback on your driving habits.  There are a number of MPG Meters available from manufacturers with different feature sets and at various cost levels.  Do your research and determine the best MPG Meter for yours needs before buying.  MPG Meters are a proven and effective strategy for saving gas and are used by hypermilers worldwide.

Photo credit: radworld

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As gas prices are rising, so are the number of reported thefts of gas.  Yes, you read that correctly - people are stealing gas for their cars.  Armed with siphon hoses, drills and even weapons, gas thieves are roaming neighborhoods and parking lots looking for easy to steal gasoline.  One big step you can take to prevent this theft is to purchase and install a locking gas cap.

MSNBC reported a story that discussed a tanker driver named Bobby Lee Julien whose gas tanker was stolen at gun point.  The tanker was finally recovered, but authorities believe the gas in the tanker was destined for the black market.

Here are just a few of the more common ways gas is stolen:

Drive offs

The most common way to steal gas is drive offs from local convenience stores.  The average convenience store will lose more than $1000.00 dollars to drive offs each year and the number is growing.  Given the low gasoline profit margins for store owners, gas sellers would need to sell 3,000 gallons of gas to offset a single $60.00 drive-off!  Hard to believe, but true.  Stores and gas stations located in high traffic areas often get several drive offs per day.

To avoid these losses, gas stores are implementing policies that require you to pay before you pump.  Stores that don’t implement this policy can expect to lose more than $2000.00 in drive offs this year according to authorities.

Stealing gas right from your car

Thieves have been stealing gas from vehicles for years, but in the past gas theft has been a rare occurrence. Equipped with a gas can and a siphon hose, stealing gas isn’t difficult...unless you have a locking gas cap or locking gas cover.

As gas prices have gone up so have the number of occurrences of gas theft.  People get in their cars to head off somewhere and find their cars won't start or their gas tanks gas tanks are nearly empty!

This is hard to believe, but gas thieves are even cutting into gas lines when reachable to steal gas. Police reports have shown thieves cutting the gas lines from the tank to the engine and taking the gas that way as well. This is very dangerous strategy, but one that is growing in popularity.

Stealing gas from the pump

Baltimore Maryland, a convenience store owner found his pumps had been equipped with with special keys. The store owner noticed that he had long lines at particular pumps, but nobody was pumping gas. Inspecting the pumps thinking he had a leak, only to find out that it had been modified to use a master key.  The key enabled gas thieves to turn the pump on and off at will to steal gas. Police have said this type of theft is rare, and more than likely a group of professional thieves.  Amazing though the lengths that people will go to to steal gas.

What can you do to keep your gas from being stolen?

Police suggest taking the following precautions to keep your gas from being stolen:

• Avoid parking your car where it would be obscured by heavy landscaping, isolated corners or high walls.
• Park your car in an attended lot, locked garage or in well lit areas
• Purchase a locking gas cap such as  the one's listed below.

Purchase a locking gas cap to prevent your gas from being stolen

STANT G762 LOCKING GAS CAP 1971 TO 1975 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 410 SUPER BEETLE GHIA
	$27.85 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $27.85

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 FORD CAR LOCKING GAS CAP SCRIPT
	$39.00 Time Remaining: 42m Buy It Now for only: $39.00

OEM 2000 Volvo S40 Fuel Filler Cap Gas without lock
	$9.99 Time Remaining: 55m Buy It Now for only: $9.99

OEM 2001 Saab 9 5 Fuel Filler Cap Gas without lock
	$9.99 Time Remaining: 59m Buy It Now for only: $9.99

Gates 31782 Locking Fuel Cap
	$17.63 Time Remaining: 1h Buy It Now for only: $17.63

OEM 1998 Cadillac Seville Fuel Filler Cap Gas without lock
	$9.99 Time Remaining: 1h 2m Buy It Now for only: $9.99

NOS MOPAR 1976 80 ASPEN VOLARE ACCESSORY LOCKING GAS CAP R T ROAD RUNNER SUPER C
	$65.00 Time Remaining: 1h 7m Buy It Now for only: $65.00

05 06 Honda CBR 600RR 600 RR Ignition Set Ignition Gas Cap Seat Lock 1 Key K
	$159.00 Time Remaining: 1h 12m Buy It Now for only: $159.00

Universal Locking Tractor Fuel Gas Cap w 2 Keys Ford NHFarmallMassey Ferguson
	$19.99 Time Remaining: 1h 18m Buy It Now for only: $19.99

LIFAN V TWIN 250 CC EAGLE LF 2007 07 OEM GAS TANK FUEL CAP ONE KEY ONE LOCK
	$126.00 Time Remaining: 1h 20m Buy It Now for only: $126.00

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Very little change in driving habits to improve gas mileage

Watching these speeding vehicles pass me by, I thought to myself: Given the amount of complaining I hear about the ever rising cost of gas, I see very little evidence that people are changing their driving habits to improve their gas mileage and save money.  I think many of these people need an MPG Meter, which would at least let them see the impact of their poor driving habits and improve gas mileage.

Driving the speed limit improves gas mileage and saves money

Edmunds.com ran some tests that showed reducing your speed and driving the speed limit provides a 12-14% savings on gas alone.  Using a $50.00 tank of gas, that’s $6 – $7 in savings per tank.  Factor in less wear and tear on your vehicle and tires, this could really add up to some significant cost savings over time.  Oh, and don't forget the cost associated with getting a speeding ticket.

Additionally, a poll conducted by The NDP Group surveyed 43,000 people and learned that 12% of the people surveyed indicated they’ve canceled their vacations for the summer. An additional 12% said they are choosing to use public transportation rather than drive their own cars.

While driving around, the fact that people aren't changing their driving habits to improve gas mileage is very clear. People are still exceeding the speed limit, and even tail gate those of us that try to stay within the posted speed limit.  I also see numerous people excellerating very quickly, which really burns fuel.

Do people really care to improve gas mileage?

I'm not convinced they really do.  They love to complain, but I'm just not seeing any big changes.  Perhaps people just aren’t aware of the significant savings?  I sure hope they just aren’t aware. If you chose to speed, fine, just next time you run up on that person doing the speed limit, be nice.  Consider the fact that maybe they're just trying to save money and maybe even let it remind you that perhaps you should be too.

Photo by: MyMrMa

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The MPG Meter

The first thing you must do to begin hypermiling is to track your gas mileage. The most cost effective way to do that is to manually calculate your gas mileage. The problem with the manual method is you can't see the real-time impact of how you are driving on your gas mileage. That's where the MPG meter comes in. Seems most true hypermilers have an MPG Meter.

Hypermiling basics

As I mentioned already, hypermiling is about adjusting the way you drive. While some of the techniques used only apply to hybrid vehicles, most apply to any vehicle, including those gas guzzling SUVs. Here are just a few of the techniques employed by hypermiling experts:

Go the speed limit

While each vehicle has an optimum speed for maximum gas mileage, in general for every 5mph above 55mph you drive, you lose up to 10% of your cars fuel economy. At 10%, slowing down can save you a great deal of money. Driving the speed limit is much safer too!

Drive without brakes

Before you decide I've gone crazy, let me explain. Driving without brakes (or DWB in hypermiling lingo) is all about minimizing the use of your car's brakes, but doing so with common sense. The basic principle is to avoid using the brake to take off speed that was achieved through he use of gas. The trick is to anticipate what's coming down the road. Watch for upcoming lights, stop signs and curves. When you see them, begin to coast as early as possible to avoid using the brakes. In a hybrid, lots of coasting recharges the batteries too, which provides another added advantage.

If you can avoid stopping all together, that's the best situation to be in as starting your car off from a dead stop consumes a great deal of energy.

Face out parking

When you park, make an effort to face out. I don't mean backing into the parking place, but park a little further out and pull through the spaces so your car is facing out. This avoids the wasted gas of having to back out when you leave. Better yet, hypermilers will tell you park on a hill or incline so the car is facing down and you can coast out.

Be careful with this one though, as I've almost been hit head on a few times pulling through parking places when someone else was pulling in.

Turn off your car and coast

With a hybrid, the car automatically turns off the engine when it's not needed. This of course isn't the gas with a standard vehicle. You can however simulate a hybrid by placing your car in neutral, turning off the engine and coasting. Turns out the gas needed to restart the vehicle when you need to is minimal.

Now, this is one of the more risky hypermiling techniques as with the engine off and your car in neutral you have less control of your car and you can't be as responsive without the engine.

Keep your car maintained

Two important tips here: Keep your oil changed and keep your tires properly inflated. As oil gets older it thickens putting more drain on the engine. Proper tire pressure is important too as it takes a great deal of energy to push around under inflated tires.

Some hypermilers recommend over inflating the tires. I don't recommend this. You'll wear your tires our faster and it could be dangerous as your tires won't have the proper ground contact.

Pick the best route

When picking the route you'll take, the shortest isn't always the best. Hypermilers will tell you to pick routes with less stops and lots of downhill grades. You want to avoid stop and go traffic and routes that have large hills to climb.

Avoid idling

Some hypermilers will tell you that if you are sitting in one place for more than 10 seconds, turn your car off. This will save on mileage overtime. Again, restarting consumes very little energy.

These are just a few of the many tricks and techniques hypermilers use. You can find lots more by visiting a site called Green Hybrid.

Photo by: tom.arthur

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