HYPERMILING HYPE

OK, we are all concerned about the incredibly high price of gas, the Frugal Yankee is not interested in ascribing blame, other than to say short sighted politicians and short sighted car manufacturers and short sighted consumers only have themselves to blame.

Now, everyone is scrambling around trying to figure out what to do next. Should we drill offshore? Should we fast track nuclear power plants? Perhaps throw up wind turbines everywhere. None of these solutions will help the average person. The short term solutions is found in the media. How many articles or web pages are full of tips on how to get better mileage, where to buy gas sipping cars or finding alternatives to gasoline? There is even a new cult called hypermiling and it is getting a lot of hype.

Hypermiling is where drivers figure out the best ways to get absolute best gas mileage. Some folks are claiming 100 mpg in their hybrids. Sounds improbable to me, but there is some good advice mixed in with this craziness, but be careful. Some of the ideas stressed by hypermilers is over the top and dangeroous.

Howver, many of the best tips are just rehashed Frugal Yankee tips of yesterday - don't jack rabbit, remove weight, inflate ties properly, drive efficiently, don't speed, etc. But there are a few others that deserve mentioning.

• Be as Robert Frost, take the road less traveled.
If you travel and know the normal route will be jam packed with beepers and creepers, don't go that way. Find another route where an mpg friendly speed can be maintained.

• As Simon and Garfunkel once said, "Slow down you move too fast."
When the Frugal Yankee is tooling down the road at 60 mph, and an SUV passes us by so fast we think we've stalled, you have to wonder, what kind of idiot is driving that beast? Obviously, they have lots of money and are compensating for some childhood trauma, rather than being a smart savvy driver who looks to be efficient with their machine. Modern cars are efficient at 60 mph, older vehicles at 55 mpg. Find your efficient speed and drive accordingly. (see the next point)

• Drive leisurely.
If you take more time to travel or leave earlier than normal, you won't have to rush. The need to not be late is eliminated. You can then drive leisurely and enjoy yourself. You'll save gas and life will be less stressful, that’s a double incentive. So plan your day out a little better.  Your car and your heart will like you.

• Don't Go Postal, Go Coasta!
There is a big push among hypermilers to 'go coastal'. This is dangerous and should not be tired but by the most experienced drivers. Simply, it is putting the car in neutral and coasting down hills, letting gravity do what it does best. If you decide to go coastal, don't turn off the engine. Most vehicles have power brakes and power steering. If you turn the engine off, braking is difficult and driving is requires very good arm strength. Secondly, the Frugal Yankee experimented with coasting in his pickup truck. Was there an improvement in the gas mileage? Yes, but less 1%. When I computed out the savings over the course of a year and how much I would save. It came out to $40. This is not a savings warranting anything approaching dangerous or reckless. As I said above, this is for only an experienced driver.

• Rethinking of the American car culture.
We've become so used to the car and all of its advantages, we forget it can be counter-productive.  With that in mind, avoiding drive-thrus will save gas and pollution. Walk, ride a bike, go shopping with a friend, plan trips efficiently all will help lower your monthly gas bill.

• Remain focused.
Driving smartly is driving with your attention focused with the task at hand. Cell pones, drinking coffee, having a domestic quarrel, and blasting your iPod will take away from concentrating. You won't be looking down the road for potential dangers. You wont be surprised by an upcoming sharp curve.  By focusing, you will be anticipating the conditions ahead. So no matter if it is a stop sign or slowing traffic on the throughways, minimizing braking saves gas.

• The AC or the Window
There has been a fair amount of confusion about whether you can save gas on hot days with the windows open or turning the AC on. People fall into both camps, but here is the smart way to look at it. If you're driving in slow traffic, like in the city, keep the windows down. If you're traveling on good roads, at a good pace, close the windows and turn the AC on. Don't take the frugal Yankee's word for it, he read it in Consumers Reports.

Finally, here are a few more good gas saving tips

• TIP: If your engine is idling for 30 seconds or more, turn it off.

• TIP: Avoid peak traffic, bad weather and bad roads.

• TIP: If you have a standard, down shifting and braking is better than just braking.

As the Frugal Yankee said, we've seen lists with 100 or more tips on hypermiling. Some of them are excessive. Some make sense. What we have described here are simple, and effective. They are designed to get the most value for dollar. That’s what a Frugal Yankee does.

Do you know any good gas saving tips?  Care to share? And if you like a little humor, our evil twin, the Crankee Yankee has some tips for you as well, but only if you’re not serious.

From traditional tips to savvy perspectives, the Frugal Yankee knows how to enjoy life and spend less. Find out more by going to FrugalYankee.com. Be sure to check out Hollywood Breakdown in Gather's Movie Essential for some smart takes on the film business.