Simply Dumb

There’s a new trend in town, one that’s borne of desperation and high gas prices. Well, okay, so it’s been around awhile. But it is gaining in popularity. It’s called ‘hypermiling‘ and it can (allegedly) double gas mileage.

So what does it mean? It includes pumping your tires to the max rating on your sidewalls – even if it exceeds the car manufacturer’s recommendations. Using low-viscosity engine oil. And – the thing that really ticks off truck drivers – drafting. Don’t know what drafting is? Liars. It’s the practice of driving quite closely behind another vehicle to reduce your drag and let the auto in front of you do the hard work.

As people look for ways to pay for $4 per gallon gasoline, they are desperately trying to improve their car’s mileage above the EPA’s official ratings. One man claims he gets 40-70 mpg out of his Ford Ranger. And another claims 71 mpg from his hybrid.

But don’t do anything to save gas mileage that could put you in harm’s way. Make sure you don’t over-inflate your tires past their recommended rating. Don’t draft – it’s actually dangerous. And don’t do what was quoted in our source article: ‘pulse and glide’ (accelerating and then coasting with the engine off)- it’s not only unsafe, it could be illegal where you live.

Image: Newscom

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