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The dropline next said that Wayne Gerdes was getting more than 50mpg in his conventional non-hybrid car. I thought, “well here is a concept I can get behind.”<\/p>\n Well it turns out that Mr. Gerdes has a website called cleanmpg.com<\/a>. I clicked on the link and was anxiously anticipating some of the secrets to get great gas mileage. Here are some of the silver bullets of knowledge I learned!!!<\/p>\n Keep a record of your gas millage.<\/p>\n -Well hell yeah I’ll keep a record! I want to know how much I’m saving by using all this hypermiling knowledge!<\/em><\/p>\n Take note of your own driving habits. By leaving ample space between yourself -Sure, that seems sound…avoid braking, I’m following you.<\/em><\/p>\n Avoid standing still with the engine running. <\/p>\n -Hmm, well I hope I don’t wear out my starter, those things go for a couple hundred. Oh well, I’m with you.<\/em><\/p>\n Accelerate gradually, over a greater distance. <\/p>\n -Ok look, obviously this guy has to speak to the unwashed masses. Not everyone knows the basics I guess. Continue please.<\/em><\/p>\n You will get better gas mileage if you turn off all electronics as well as the A\/C and drive with the windows rolled up. <\/p>\n -Wait a second, I only want to save gas, NOT DIE.<\/em><\/p>\n Over inflating your tires, which reduces the amount of rubber on the road, and thus, reduces the resistance on you car. However, because it can also lead to a loss of control, uneven tire wear, and blowouts, it is not for the hypermiling neophyte. <\/p>\n -Mmm-K, see my responses to #3 and #5, again, not wanting to DIE or spend hundreds on tires. <\/em><\/p>\n Riding the white line keeps your car out of puddles and grooves in the road made by other drivers, both of which increase drag and decrease efficiency. <\/p>\n -Ok, but I get in trouble with my passengers when I ride the white lines. And did you say avoid “puddles”? Seriously? What am I driving, a tricycle?<\/em><\/p>\n Put the car in nuetral and shut it off, coasting to upcoming stops. <\/p>\n -But, my powersteering doesn’t work if the car is OFF. And again, that starter thingy is really expensive.<\/em><\/p>\n You shouldn’t haul anything ON TOP of your car, i.e. cargo bins, or other big bulky items tied to the luggage rack. <\/p>\n -Wait a second, is this some kind of a joke…You mean I shouldn’t drive around all the time with this canoe strapped to the roof of my car? Who knew?!?!<\/em><\/p>\n Don’t tow things. <\/p>\n -Well son-of-a… NO $#!% Sherlock.<\/em><\/p>\n What’s the next suggestion, take a horse and buggy?<\/p>\n I can’t take it. I should have stopped with the original CNN article when THIS was the picture accompanying the story:<\/p>\n Wait, what?<\/p>\n Is this dude PUSHING his car everywhere? Is that Wayne Gerdes? Oh, well I could get maybe 5 mpD, that’s 5 miles per DAY.<\/p>\n They’re not kidding when they say, “It’s not news. It’s CNN.”<\/p>\n
S<\/span>o, I saw on CNN.com the other day this article that had this headline: “Behind the Scenes: ‘Hypermilers’ test limits of fuel conservation”<\/p>\n
and the car in front of you, there is enough time to coast to a stop and avoid
stepping on the brakes.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lh3.ggpht.com\/_3nWXIPEyl8w\/SMSyp-WnEAI\/AAAAAAAABmc\/wIy9wPIH6d8\/s800\/MMeM414.jpg\")
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