Fuel Consumption Saving Tips

[Hypermiler]

 

It is fact and it's understandable that Safe Hypermiling in Singapore does not appeal to every driver/rider.

 

However, it is highly suitable for:

 

1) Those who really want to save money and bring down their high monthly fuel expenditure/consumption.

2) Those wanting to practice smooth and safe driving habits.

3) Those seeking to reduce wear and tear on parts.

4) Those conscious on reducing pollutants in the air.

5) Those who simply do it as a challenge/sport/interest.

6) Those who do it for research.

7) Those who find it worthwhile.

8) Those who want all the above.

 

I hope that answers some of the negative curiosities that appears in this thread once in a while.

[Zyrofillica]

You have't got the hang of it yet.

It takes time for adjustment.

 

I felt exactly the same way when i first started. Wanted to just quit.

 

Then came the tsunami increase in fuel price. So i pressed on.

 

It's a habit to me now. Consciousness and alertness on the road has become automatic. No longer stressful. I treat it like a daily hobby.

 

I follow the flow of the traffic. So i do not irritate and annoy anyone. They drive fast i drive fast. They drive slow i drive slow.

 

I just keep to several car lengths away to give myself time to smoothen the acceleration and deceleration without having to drive in a jerky start stop manner. Just master the use of throttling. In fact constant brake and stop driving irritates drivers more.

 

Once you get the hang, you can drive with all the load and air-con and still return with very good mileage.

 

Patience is keyword.

 

i admit i lack patience. Anyway 12km/l is reasonable for me. If petrol prices go even further north, then its time to downgrade or get a hybrid.

[Yuan]

So what exactly do you do to hypermill?

 

It's mentioned in the earlier posts. Go back a few pages and you will see many contributions.

 

Thanks for pointing that one.

 

I was quite confused initially too.

[Mayganay]

My take is simple.

If you want to practice hypermilling to prove a point, go for it.

If you do it because you can't afford fuel anymore or want to save money, drive less and take public transport more.

For most part hypermilling techniques (esp the advanced stuff) are both dangerous and very inconsiderate.

Your take is not simple.

It is simplistic and snottily patronising.

 

Some drivers hypermile for environmental reasons.

Some hypermile for political reasons (cut dependancy on MidEast).

Rational local motorists feel they have been milked enough thru ARF, COE and wish to cut down on fuel tax.

 

Nobody I know do it to prove a point.

Edited August 7, 2010 by Mayganay

[5936]

What is Coasting? Is it the same as Hypermilling?

 

A bit confused.

 

 

[Elfenstar]

Your take is not simple.

It is simplistic and snottily patronising.

 

Some drivers hypermile for environmental reasons.

Some hypermile for political reasons (cut dependancy on MidEast).

Rational local motorists feel they have been milked enough thru ARF, COE and wish to cut down on fuel tax.

 

Nobody I know do it to prove a point.

 

I admit, I am snotty. However I do stand by what I said. If you can't take the financial hit from the pitfalls of owning a car, you obviously can't afford it, and shouldn't drive. As for proving a point, aren't all three of your examples to prove a point?

 

[Darthrevan]

I do a little..though not extreme hypermilling..more for the challenge to see the FC becomes better..from 11-12km/L to nearly 14km/L..quite difficult to do it in peak hours though..but still do-able..just that if u meet taxi drivers who tailgates..they'll horn and hi-beam u to "death"

[Mayganay]

I admit, I am snotty.

Ah, so.

Intelligent forummers will lend the appropriate weight to what you have to say then...

[DonNuTs]

i'm driving a toyota mr-s and have been trying different guels over the past month. so far, the best mileage i get is from a combi of v-power and shell 98. i've been doing 570km for 40 litres which gives 14.25km/l. driving styles are economical most of the way, but with some very spirited driving added in once in awhile. stuff i do to maximise mileage:

 

upshifting lower, typically below 2000rpm, driving at 5th gear through estates. note however that my final 6th gear ratio is rather low so i cruise on highway about 26-2700rpm at 90kmh.

 

keep to speed limit. anything about 90 on highway seems to burn petrol excessively. besides, if you drive at 110 compared to 90, you're only going to get to your destination maybe a minute or so earlier.

 

drafting. while i'm hugely against tailgating, i believe keeping a reasonable distance behind the car in front does reduce fc. however i'm not sure if its psychological or not for manual cars cause say travelling at 90kmh behind someone who's taking the wind pull vs driving in open road at 90kmh, the engine still runs at the same rpm. to be investigated further.

 

plan your routes properly, nothing more frustrating than to spend time in a traffic jam or burn fuel going somewhere unnecessary.

 

also helps that you lighten your car. i removed the spare tire cause i know i probably won't be using/ won't be able to put it on anyway. car is roughly 950kilos for a 1.8L engine.

 

 

What petrol u using ?

btw to remove ur front tire may nt be the best idea as it is there mainly for protection. crash energy absorption.

[Elfenstar]

So what exactly do you do to hypermill?

 

It's mentioned in the earlier posts. Go back a few pages and you will see many contributions.

 

Sorry. Missed it. Read it, looks like you don't really do the extreme stuff.

 

[Elfenstar]

Ah, so.

Intelligent forummers will lend the appropriate weight to what you have to say then...

 

 

On my opinons of using hypermilling only to prove a point? I hope so.

 

As for hypermilling being unsafe and inconsiderate, for the former it depends on how far the person takes it. Hypermiller's style isn't. Inconsiderate, well lets put it this way, every hypermilling technique for driving involves being inconsiderate. In starting from the lights, it prevents traffic from reaching optimal speeds quickly. In highway situations it often disrupts traffic flow esp if it involves switching to a faster lane then accelerating. I'm pretty sure there are those who do practice consideration for others first and hypermilling second, but those seem to be (like everything else) a minority here (in sg).

[Atonchia]

The indirect advantage I can see from hypermilling or other fuel saving, environmentally friendly methods of driving is

better road courtesy.

 

I use to drive quite impatiently and get irated with drivers cutting into my path.

But if the mentality is to maintain an evenly paced journey that stick to the road speed and cruise with little accleration trying to maintain a constant speed, it's less stressful for every road users.

 

Of course I do not hog other users as it will cause irrational drivers to pull stunt that is bad for them, myself and other road users.

 

I think the main benefit for me is a less stressful journey and the added advantage is better fuel economy, longer engine and brake lifespan, create better driving culture and this work well particular in heavy traffic. Filtering in and out of traffic, overtaking does not really have much benefits in heavy traffic, only waste fuel, increase emission, increase heart rate and blood pressure and still slow down traffic at both lanes.

 

Everyone should drive patiently and give way to those in a hurry .

 

 

[Yuan]

The indirect advantage I can see from hypermilling or other fuel saving, environmentally friendly methods of driving is

better road courtesy.

 

I use to drive quite impatiently and get irated with drivers cutting into my path.

But if the mentality is to maintain an evenly paced journey that stick to the road speed and cruise with little accleration trying to maintain a constant speed, it's less stressful for every road users.

 

Of course I do not hog other users as it will cause irrational drivers to pull stunt that is bad for them, myself and other road users.

 

I think the main benefit for me is a less stressful journey and the added advantage is better fuel economy, longer engine and brake lifespan, create better driving culture and this work well particular in heavy traffic. Filtering in and out of traffic, overtaking does not really have much benefits in heavy traffic, only waste fuel, increase emission, increase heart rate and blood pressure and still slow down traffic at both lanes.

 

Everyone should drive patiently and give way to those in a hurry .

 

This serves as a good reminder.

[Hypermiler]

i admit i lack patience. Anyway 12km/l is reasonable for me. If petrol prices go even further north, then its time to downgrade or get a hybrid.

 

 

Before you head off to buy a hybrid. Read the small prints regarding good FC driving methods.

 

It requires you to put in a very conscious effort to achieve 25km/L on a Toyota Prius. That means you still have to be patient and excercise throttle control. Otherwise FC is like a normal 1.6L car.

 

A Lexus hybrid will only give 14 to 16km/L IF only you practice throttle control. Otherwise it could return 10 or maybe less km/L. So it's worst than your current FC.

 

A Honda will give you 23 km/L as stated. And again, it really depends on whether you want to follow the on-board recommendations of the computer. Still back to throttle control.

 

Many who have unknowingly jumped into hybrid have complained after getting very poor results not realizing that the output depended very much on themselves.

 

I drive a 659 cc car. That does not mean i get 20 to 23 km/L automatically. There is no magic.

 

There are others who drive the same model as i but are only getting 12 km/L. I do put in alot of effort at first bcos it involves overhauling and relearning the way i have to drive.

 

But now it has already become instinctive and a natural habit. No sweat no stress. I enjoy my ride every moment very much while being safe and considerate at the same time.

 

To lower consumption to a worthwhile level, one still has to exercise throttle control. No two ways about it. Every little effort counts.

 

[Hypermiler]

 

 

"....to maintain an evenly paced journey that stick to the road speed and cruise with little accleration trying to maintain a constant speed,..."

 

A very good and accurate statement to describe one aspect of Hypermiling.

 

".... increase heart rate and blood pressure and still slow down traffic at both lanes."

 

Another good point which i failed to mention. Yes. Once you develop hypermile habits, you will notice you become less irritated on the roads. In short, you feel so much more calm.

 

Thanks to Atonchia.

 

[Hypermiler]

What is Coasting? Is it the same as Hypermilling?

 

A bit confused.

 

Coasting, riding free, crusising.... all these are part of Hypermiling practice.

Yes, they are the main techniques employed in hypermiling.

 

Other aspects are very technical in nature. Lubrication, wheel alignment, tyre pressure, battery status, aero dyanamics and drag coeficient.... so on and so forth.

 

Hypermiling is one huge umbrella terminology.

 

**By the way coasting means to release throttle and allow the car roll on its own accumulated momentum.

 

[Hypermiler]

I do a little..though not extreme hypermilling..more for the challenge to see the FC becomes better..from 11-12km/L to nearly 14km/L..quite difficult to do it in peak hours though..but still do-able..just that if u meet taxi drivers who tailgates..they'll horn and hi-beam u to "death"

 

 

One safe way to avoid all the honking celebration and christmas light-up is to keep in pace with the vehicle in front without tailgating. That applies to high traffic areas too.

 

That means.... as a guideline.... below 60km/h keep about 2 to 3 car lengths. above 60km/h keep about 3 to 5 car lengths depending on how much faster the flow.

 

Why so? It "buys" you time to slow down but not come to a sudden stop. It gives you lee way to pick up speed from a slight momentum instead of a stand still. That little bit will help you move off from 2nd gear instead of 1st.

 

So your pick-up compared to others is not any slower but you are still saving fuel and moving along with the flow. Imagine how much more fuel you'll use if you always have to start off on stand still with 1st gear together with high rev.

 

With regards to speed. Believe me, you can even hypermile at 90km/h depending on what make of car you have. Some cars perform very efficiently between 90 to 100km/L.

 

But usually, i would just follow the flow of traffic in the centre lane, and leave the right lane strictly for over-taking purposes.

 

[Hypermiler]

On my opinons of using hypermilling only to prove a point? I hope so.

 

As for hypermilling being unsafe and inconsiderate, for the former it depends on how far the person takes it. Hypermiller's style isn't. Inconsiderate, well lets put it this way, every hypermilling technique for driving involves being inconsiderate. In starting from the lights, it prevents traffic from reaching optimal speeds quickly. In highway situations it often disrupts traffic flow esp if it involves switching to a faster lane then accelerating. I'm pretty sure there are those who do practice consideration for others first and hypermilling second, but those seem to be (like everything else) a minority here (in sg).

 

 

You assumption is completely the opposite of Hypermiling. That act is called Road Hogging.

 

Hypermiling requres a person to be highly alert of the traffic conditions around. It requres a conscious effort to keep up with the flow and at the same time comply with the laws of traffic.

 

Hypermiling does not disrupt traffic flow but instead if everybody practises hypermiling, 60%... I repeat again...60% of tailgating collisions can be avoided... Tailgating collisions are inconsiderate, and it contributes to disruption of traffic flow.

 

Hypermiling promotes a smoother traffic flow.

 

A computer simulated traffic flow was done (in US) with regards to start stop traffic.

This sort of driving created very bad jams for long periods of time. Usually associated with over-exuberant driving. Driving that involves quick starts, persistant overtaking, and closing-up the gap(tailgating).

 

However, when the computer simulated everyone leaving spaces of a few car lenghts ahead... and everyone following the flow of the general traffic. The speed although a little slower... moved along very very smoothly. There were very few jams.

 

So you decide. Is Safe Hypermiling in Singapore a considerate act or a inconsiderate one.