Mileage-boosting tips

Found this in my local paper.....I think you need a subscription to access their site so am putting the entire article up.

The basics

• Pump up your tires. Underinflated tires can sap mileage. At a minimum, tires should be inflated to the range suggested inside the car door. Hypermilers take it a step further by inflating tires to the highest level suggested on the tire itself, a move discouraged by safety experts.

• Drive the speed limit or below. High speeds lead to low mileage, so hypermilers almost never exceed the speed limit. The only possible safety hazard associated with this practice would be if the flow of traffic is interrupted, increasing the chance of collisions.

• Get a mileage gauge. Some models, such as the Toyota Prius, have a built-in mileage gauge, which users say is the most important tool for understanding what leads to good mileage. Drivers of other models can buy a gauge, which costs about $150. The device, which mounts on the dashboard and has a small digital readout, plugs into the data port below the dash.

Beyond the basics

• Limit use of brakes. Hypermilers try to be super-aware of their surroundings so they can maintain a steady speed and reduce the use of brakes. This involves paying attention to other cars, traffic signals, road signs and other factors that may create the need to brake.

• Turn off the car rather than idling. Hypermilers say just a few seconds of idling burns more gas than a restart. They use examples like lines at drive-up windows. Auto experts question whether the savings is enough to make up for the hassle of constantly restarting.

• Slow down on hills. Engines strain to go uphill, especially when cruise control is being used. Hypermilers will slow down while going uphill and speed up while going downhill to take advantage of the terrain.

• Switch to a lower oil viscosity. Auto manufacturers list a range of oil types that are acceptable for particular models. Some hypermilers select the lowest viscosity, or weight. For example, some models can run on 5W-20 oil, even though they are most likely using 10W-30. Auto experts say the difference in mileage is minimal and suggest following manufacturer's specifications.