Hypermiling is a term used to describe practices that save gas. Many of these techniques are inconvenient and, at times, even impossible. But some of these techniques are showing up in one of the most unusual places – the NASCAR track.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. recently won the race at the Michigan International Speedway. During the race, he used one common hypermiling technique - coasting. This was most noticeable because he drove for the last 110 miles, or 55 laps around the track, without refueling. The last time he stopped, his pit crew told him he should refuel when he had about six laps left to go. But Earnhardt was able to avoid one last fueling stop by allowing his car to coast when the caution flag was out.

As an even bigger surprise, he coasted across the finish line. Apparently, he was basically running on fumes because his car ran out of gas just a few seconds afterwards. Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t had a NASCAR victory since May 6, 2006.

But Earnhardt isn’t the only one on the circuit who is trying to drive more responsibly with regards to the environment. “Everybody’s doing it,” he said in an interview with ESPN.

If you’re driving one of the many Ford cars on the market today, you can employ hypermiling in your daily habits, too. If it’s good enough for NASCAR drivers, it’s certainly good enough for you!

Have you been getting some great tips for saving gas from the last few blogs? If not, that’s totally understandable. These hypermiling techniques are for the hardcore fuel saver and they really don’t save much unless you use all of them. But if you want more tips or just enjoy reading about the lengths people will go to, here are a few more.

1. Drafting
You probably already know about this one. If you don’t, here’s the short explanation. Drafting basically involves driving dangerously close to the rear of a semi-truck trailer. Because of the physics behind the wind resistance and other factors, the air kind of pulls your car along without your pushing on the accelerator as much. This is very dangerous, though, because your car needs to be only about 10 to 20 feet away from the bumper of the truck. That doesn’t really give you enough stopping time in case of an emergency.

2. Coasting to an auto-stop
This is generally for stick shifts, but you can use it with your manual transmission too. When you’re approaching a red light, put the car in neutral and turn the engine off. Some hypermilers use this tactic when going down steep hills too. But the reduced vehicle control when the engine is off makes this an irresponsible and even dangerous habit.

3. Shed any unwanted pounds
I don’t mean you should start going to Subway and eat only turkey sandwiches. I mean you should take anything out of your vehicle that doesn’t need to be there. The more stuff you have, the less efficient your gas mileage. Some hypermilers even remove the luggage rack because it can create air resistance as you go down the road.

4. Maintain your vehicle
Make sure to change the air filter on a regular basis and keep up with oil changes and tune-ups. Also, make sure to keep your tires properly balanced and inflated. All of these together contribute to your fuel economy.

You can use any or all of these tactics at your own risk with your certified Ford. Some of them are innocent, but others actually put you in danger. I don’t know if it’s really worth it just to save a few bucks a month on gasoline. But that decision is yours.

For new, used, or certified Ford vehicles please visit our Ford dealer in St. Louis MO or our Ford dealership in Waterloo, IL.

Yesterday, we gave you a brief education about hypermiling: when it started, what it is, etc. Today, we’re going to tell you some of the steps, both safe and unsafe, that hypermilers use to increase their gas mileage. As you read these, though, keep in mind that some of them could be dangerous and you should only use them at your own risk. In fact, the risk isn’t worth the few cents you might save on fuel.

1. Tires with too much inflation: This isn’t the safest technique, but some hypermilers use it. One hypermiler, Larry Singleton, inflates his tires about 15-20 pounds more than the recommended pressure. He considers this a safe measure because he rarely drives on the highway. At slower speeds throughout town, overinflated tires don’t pose as much of a threat. But they can still be unpredictable. Overinflation leads to less friction on the road and, as a result, uses fewer drops of fuel than tires at the proper inflation.

2. Putting a piece of cardboard over the radiator: Cooler engines aren’t as fuel-efficient as warm engines. By placing a piece of cardboard over the radiator, you reduce the amount of wind that gets to it. As a result, the radiator and engine retain heat. You can even find silver-colored cardboard at your local office supply store for more insulation. If you’re going long distances, however, this could cause your engine to overheat. Remove the cardboard if you’re driving more than 75 continuous miles.

3. Driving in the “paint”: If you’re a driver, you know about the white lines on the outer edge of the highway. But did you know the paint gives the edge a coating that causes less friction? And less friction leads to better fuel economy. During periods of rain, “riding the line” is also helpful because puddles tend to form near the center of the road, causing you to lose a few miles in fuel economy.

Tomorrow we’ll have more hypermiling techniques that you can use (if you dare) with your certified Ford.

For deals on new, used, or certified Ford vehicles please visit our Ford dealers in MO or our Ford dealers - Waterloo Illinois.

We’ve all been stuck behind a car that is moving too slowly for our approval. At first thought, you might think the driver’s an octogenarian coming home from his weekly trip to the supermarket. But then you get a closer look and find out the motorist is thirty-ish and perfectly able to go the speed limit and beyond. If this is the case, you’ve probably had an encounter with a “hypermiler.”

Hypermiling is the act of going to great lengths to save fuel. And when I say great lengths, I don’t just mean combining all of your errands into one day or any of those other basic fuel-saving techniques. Hypermilers are much more dedicated than that. By definition, these drivers try to get more gas mileage from their vehicles than the EPA’s estimated ratings.

This practice first gained prominence during World War II, when gas rationing went into effect. It gained even more popularity during the 1970 gas crisis when Reader’s Digest published a list of suggestions so drivers could become hypermilers themselves. But today, hypermiling is all the rage among drivers with fuel prices dangerously skirting four bucks a gallon.

You might think hypermilers are consumers who only drive regular cars. But that’s not true. Many hypermilers also drive hybrids. In fact, there is a competition each year in which hybrid owners compete on certain routes to see who can get the best average gas mileage. The contest is called Hybridfest MPG Challenge, and last year’s winner achieved an amazing average of 180 mpg!

Tomorrow, we’re going to take a look at some of the safe (and not-so-safe) techniques that hypermilers use to increase their gas mileage. This multi-part series might just make a hypermiler out of you, too, because you can try some of these tactics with your certified Ford and see how much longer you can make a gallon of fuel last.

For new, used, or certified Fords, please visit our Ford dealers in St. Louis or our Ford dealers in Waterloo, IL.