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Black Gold
Topic Started: Jul 12 2008, 09:04 AM (815 Views)
stormbreaker
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lumpy
Jul 14 2008, 01:58 PM
Quote:
 
I've decided to start hypermiling.


Yeah, so about me, a driver. I've started hypermiling, a fancy cool-person word for "driving in a way that stretches a gallon of gasoline farther". I drive lightly, don't use the A/C, etc. So far I've been pretty successful. I get 30 miles per gallon out of my 22 mile per gallon car. Storm, I'll have to teach you the tricks of the trade. That means using your semi-auto transmission to your advantage.

I'm gonna be doing some experimenting... e.g. My driver's ed textbook said it's more fuel efficent to use the AC instead of rolling down the windows, due to the friction caused by having the windows down. Now, a number of factors go into this, the level of AC, the speed of the car, the number of windows down, the sunroof, etc. So intend on experimenting with that to fine the best possible outcome.

Another thing I do is use cruise control a lot, I have to drive down Highway 100 everyday to get anywhere, that's where I use it most, but on the windy hilly road to my house, I lose a lot of that FE that I get from cruising highway speeds.

Another thing I'm gonna do is leave BEFORE I'm supposed to be somewhere so I can drive slower. I'm talking like SPEED LIMIT slower, or even less than that. You're right, lightening up on the pedal will help and that really comes into play with all the huge hills I have to go up... Those and coasting to stop lights or signs... Or getting off the highway.

However, I've read that since it's only quasi-manual, the difference in FE between the two is negligible. If there is much more of a difference, however, I could use that aspect of my car to get better mileage on the twisty road to my house.

Another thing I can do is coast in neutral for a large portion of said road. Going down that hill while in Drive USES gas to slow me down, when I have perfectly good brake pads to slow me down anyway. Although I probably wouldn't be in neutral for long, this raises the issue of my brake pads getting to hot, etc. I intend to experiment with this, too.

Basically, I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I'm looking forward to seeing how good I can get my MPG.

The official site for the FE rating of your vehicle is http://fueleconomy.org.

Here's my Hyundai Tiburon... It's that red color, 6 cyl, 4 speed automatic with an option for driving manually.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2008car1tablef.jsp?id=19478
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Mr. Awesome
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How much money per week do you think is reasonable for gas?

I won't be driving for about another half a year, but its soon enough to start thinking about it.
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giggleguy
 
That's a pretty stupid thing to say.
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lumpy
Citizen B
That depends on what kind of car you'll be driving, how often, how far, etc. It's impossible to say.

Quote:
 
I'm gonna be doing some experimenting... e.g. My driver's ed textbook said it's more fuel efficent to use the AC instead of rolling down the windows, due to the friction caused by having the windows down. Now, a number of factors go into this, the level of AC, the speed of the car, the number of windows down, the sunroof, etc. So intend on experimenting with that to fine the best possible outcome.


I don't use my AC at all, partly because it doesn't work, but also because having my windows open only an inch or two on the highway is the equivalent in cooling power. For me at least.

I hate to tell you this, but you shouldn't open your sunroof if you're going anywhere above 30 MPH. The way it opens (the back lifts up and out) causes abysmal drag.

Quote:
 
Another thing I do is use cruise control a lot, I have to drive down Highway 100 everyday to get anywhere, that's where I use it most, but on the windy hilly road to my house, I lose a lot of that FE that I get from cruising highway speeds.


Don't use CC anywhere but flat highways. For maximum efficiency you actually want to let your speed drop a little bit as you're going up a hill, then accelerate once it's flat/downhill. Unless there's a stop sign/light, or you're going unreasonably slow, never accelerate uphill.

Quote:
 
Another thing I'm gonna do is leave BEFORE I'm supposed to be somewhere so I can drive slower. I'm talking like SPEED LIMIT slower, or even less than that. You're right, lightening up on the pedal will help and that really comes into play with all the huge hills I have to go up... Those and coasting to stop lights or signs... Or getting off the highway.


Yeah, coast whenever possible. Your rolling momentum will keep you going, you don't need the engine to help.

Quote:
 
However, I've read that since it's only quasi-manual, the difference in FE between the two is negligible. If there is much more of a difference, however, I could use that aspect of my car to get better mileage on the twisty road to my house.


There is a major difference when you can control your transmission. Not only on the road to your house, but anywhere. You can upshift to a higher gear when the automatic normally wouldn't, so you can keep your engine from revving higher than it needs to when you're going uphill. The same thing goes for cruising; you can go into your highest gear at lower-than-highway speeds and get a big mileage boost.

Quote:
 
Another thing I can do is coast in neutral for a large portion of said road. Going down that hill while in Drive USES gas to slow me down, when I have perfectly good brake pads to slow me down anyway. Although I probably wouldn't be in neutral for long, this raises the issue of my brake pads getting to hot, etc. I intend to experiment with this, too.


No, it doesn't use gas to slow you down. When you take your foot off the gas, it's closing the throttle valve (the air valve). The fuel injection is only giving the engine enough gas to match that amount of air. The engine may still be spinning at 2000 RPM, but it's only using the amount of gas it takes to idle (600 RPM). It slows you down because the wheels are trying to make the engine spin instead of the other way around. But with the fuel and air choked off, the engine won't send the power the wheels need to maintain their speed. So don't throw it in neutral; as a matter of fact never do so, because it will wear your transmission out early. You'll also probably warp your brakes if they're all on their own without the engine's help.
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Mars
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Igor Bonanimals
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Nice work on being eco-friendly, fellas. And fuck you for driving legally years before I can.
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Ethan_odd
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I heard some fucking retarded stories about how people drive without socks or shoes.


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giggleguy
Demigod
I know a couple of people who feel more comfortable driving without shoes, please elaborate on these "Fucking retarded stories"
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Ethan_odd
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Sorry for not explaining well,

Well its been debunked as a myth so its not illegal to drive without shoes, but alot of people are pulled over because they are either going too slow, or they are going exactly perfect, which is suspicious to cops. Well here at least.

But I do believe it is retarded to put a barefoot on the pedal to make sure it has equal balance and shit.

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lumpy
Citizen B
Some hardcore hypermilers drive barefoot to fine-tune their pressure on the pedal. I don't and wouldn't because it's really uncomfortable for my feet for very disputable gain.
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giggleguy
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Wait, what's suspicious about going at the right speed limit?
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Mr. Panda
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Quote:
 
My driver's ed textbook said it's more fuel efficent to use the AC instead of rolling down the windows, due to the friction caused by having the windows down.


Shouldn't be a problem. I have the uncanny ability to set my windows to the perfect heights to minimize any negative effects.

Quote:
 

I hate to tell you this, but you shouldn't open your sunroof if you're going anywhere above 30 MPH. The way it opens (the back lifts up and out) causes abysmal drag.


This is perfectly okay if you want to take corners tight at the expense of going down straightaways slowly.
I don't like printers.
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Mars
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Igor Bonanimals
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lumpy
Jul 22 2008, 04:13 AM
Some hardcore hypermilers drive barefoot to fine-tune their pressure on the pedal. I don't and wouldn't because it's really uncomfortable for my feet for very disputable gain.

Some people like to shave their balls and drive pantsless, allowing the sensitive scrotal nerves to show how far the driver is leaning against his centre of gravity. We in the ballmiler community like to call this "ballmiling."
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Mr. Awesome
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Mars
Jul 21 2008, 01:13 PM
Nice work on being eco-friendly, fellas. And fuck you for driving legally years before I can.

I have to agree with you here. Fuck you guys.
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giggleguy
 
That's a pretty stupid thing to say.
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stormbreaker
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Mars
Jul 20 2008, 09:13 PM
Nice work on being eco-friendly, fellas. And fuck you for driving legally years before I can.

Wait, Mars. When can you drive?
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Mars
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Igor Bonanimals
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These are the laws in Victoria but they don't vary much nation-wide. You can apply for a learner's permit at the age of sixteen. As a learner you can only drive with a full licence holder in the car. (So, useless.) After that you have to do 120 hours of driving practise (well, you have to record 120 hours in a log book, I guess that's easily ignored). Then when you turn eighteen you can apply for a "P" license. If you pass the test, you can drive. But there are all sorts of bullshit restrictions like late night limitations on how many people you can carry and other crap that last for a year or two. I haven't taken the learner's test yet because I'm lazy.

In conclusion, fuck you.

(:))
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stormbreaker
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Mars
Jul 27 2008, 07:06 PM
These are the laws in Victoria but they don't vary much nation-wide. You can apply for a learner's permit at the age of sixteen. As a learner you can only drive with a full licence holder in the car. (So, useless.) After that you have to do 120 hours of driving practise (well, you have to record 120 hours in a log book, I guess that's easily ignored). Then when you turn eighteen you can apply for a "P" license. If you pass the test, you can drive. But there are all sorts of bullshit restrictions like late night limitations on how many people you can carry and other crap that last for a year or two. I haven't taken the learner's test yet because I'm lazy.

In conclusion, fuck you.

(:))

Sounds like they're actually trying to limit the number of accidents caused by new drivers... They recently LOWERED the number of hours you need to get your license from 40 to 20 hours, I believe. Stupid shit like that gets people killed.

But that sucks that you can't drive yet... It's kinda fun. ;)
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