Drafting – The bane of big rig drivers, drafting involves pulling up behind a larger vehicle to improve your Fuel Efficiency but puts you in a dangerous position.

Coasting – Turning off your engine, or switching to neutral, while going down the highway.

Rolling stops – Hypermilers may be tempted to slow down vs. stop at signs and lights, putting them at risk for tickets as well as accidents.

Unsafe Speeds – Less is more as far as fuel efficiency is concerned, that goes for speed as well as the demand placed on your engine. Hypermilers may pay more attention to maintaining the pressure they put on the gas pedal than the flow of traffic.

Overinflation of tires – There are people who swear by this technique for boosting MPG, but the Rubber Manufacturers Association says it damages tires and puts drivers at risk.

Using the Wrong Oil for Your Car – Using a lighter weight oil than is needed can damage your engine.

So many ways exist to boost fuel efficiency without putting yourself, others on the road, or your car in danger. Obviously, an insurance company is going to err on the side of caution when it comes to modified driving techniques or maintenance, but it doesn’t hurt to check them out. How do you feel about hypermiling safety?

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

Need another way to stay safe on the road? Enter to win an environmentally friendly atlas before July 4th!

Post from: EveryJoe

AAA Identifies Dangerous Hypermiling Techniques

If you feel like you haven’t been getting the best gas mileage since winter rolled in, you’re not crazy. You’re probably not sucking it all up using your heater either (though defrost might be another story). When cold weather rolls in, it automatically takes a chunk from your gas mileage, but a hidden culprit might be a sudden reduction in your tire pressure.

Using air valve caps that alert you when your tire pressure is low is a good way to keep tabs without having to check the pressure yourself all the time. And really, who wants to be in their knees, wrangling with tiny plastic parts like valve caps out in the snow? Once reset, you shouldn’t have to worry too often, though. It’s a good idea to recheck your pressure whenever there’s been a big chill.

Post from: EveryJoe

Tire Pressure Goes Down in Cold Weather

Best Minivans of 2007 & 2008

Even though we rarely use our minivan, after seeing the commercials for the new Dodge Caravan, I have to admit I was excited. Don’t be haters. I love cars – all shapes, all colors. I had to get a look for myself.

What I found upon looking inside the Grand Caravan, and it’s sister the Town & Country, was that … it’s not all its cracked up to be. The materials do not look very sturdy. I don’t feel it would hold up very well to my kids and their friends.

Check out this video on the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country here.

For 2008, more minivans have been converted to FlexFuel despite lowered fuel economy when using E85. I can only speak for my area, but E85 isn’t priced low enough at this time to make up the difference. I don’t think it’s an option people are going to be very happy about.

2007 models

Dodge Caravan 2WD*
4 cylinder, 2.4 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
17 mpg city/ 24 mpg hwy

Dodge Caravan 2WD*
6 cylinder, 3.3 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
17 mpg city/ 24 mpg hwy

Chrysler Voyager/Town and Country*
6 cylinder, 3.3 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
17 mpg city/ 24 mpg hwy

Honda Odyssey 2WD*
6 cylinder, 3.5 L engine, Automatic 5-speed
17 mpg city/ 24 mpg hwy

Toyota Sienna 2WD*
6 cylinder, 3.5 L engine, Automatic 5-speed
17 mpg city/ 24 mpg hwy

2008 models

Chrysler Town & Country*
6 cylinder, 3.3 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
17 mpg city/ 24 mpg hwy

Dodge Caravan 2WD*
6 cylinder, 3.3 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
17 mpg city/ 24 mpg hwy

Toyota Sienna 2WD
6 cylinder, 3.5 L engine, Automatic 5-speed
17 mpg city/ 23 mpg hwy

* These models have the same gas mileage. Stats from FuelEconomy.gov

Post from: EveryJoe

Best Minivans of 2007 & 2008

Prius in Spectra Blue Mica -
with a redesigned Prius hitting markets next year, consumers may save a bundle by waiting to purchase 2008s until then.

Top Five Family Sedans for 2007 & 2008

There’s a little more variation between 2007 and 2008 family sedans. We see the addition of a new hybrid (the Malibu, now in limited availability) and better mileage by the Kia Spectra.

2007 Models

Toyota Prius
4 cylinder, 1.5 L engine, Automatic
48 mpg city/ 45 mpg hwy

Nissan Altima Hybrid
4 cylinder, 2.5 L engine, Automatic
35 mpg city/ 33 mpg hwy

Toyota Camry Hybrid
4 cylinder, 2.4 L engine, Automatic
33 mpg city/ 34 mpg hwy

Hyundai Elantra
4 cylinder, 2 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
25 mpg city/ 33 mpg hwy

Honda Accord Hybrid**
6 cylinder, 3 L engine, Automatic 5-speed
24 mpg city/ 32 mpg hwy

Saturn Aura Hybrid**
4 cylinder, 2.4 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
24 mpg city/ 32 mpg hwy

2008 Models

Toyota Prius
4 cylinder, 1.5 L engine, Automatic
48 mpg city/ 45 mpg hwy

Nissan Altima Hybrid
4 cylinder, 2.5 L engine, Automatic
35 mpg city/ 33 mpg hwy

Toyota Camry Hybrid
4 cylinder, 2.4 L engine, Automatic
33 mpg city/ 34 mpg hwy

Hyundai Elantra
4 cylinder, 2 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
25 mpg city/ 33 mpg hwy

Chevy Malibu Hybrid**
4 cylinder, 2 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
24 mpg city/ 32 mpg hwy

Kia Spectra**
4 cylinder, 2 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
24 mpg city/ 32 mpg hwy

Saturn Aura Hybrid**
4 cylinder, 2.4 L engine, Automatic 4-speed
24 mpg city/ 32 mpg hwy

* All figures taken from FuelEconomy.gov and focus on models with automatic transmissions, although sometimes, manuals can get better gas mileage

** Share gas mileage statistics

Post from: EveryJoe

Best Family Sedans for 2007 & 2008: Prius, Altima & Camry hybrids, Elantra

Cathy Wilson, writing for Athens, Ohio’s, The Post, cautioned readers this week about erroneous environmental advertising that can trip up the green-minded consumer. Among her warnings was an alert on “phony fuel-additive pills that were advertised as ways people could add miles to their fuel tank.”

I’d never seen these kinds of pills (and I assumed they didn’t work) but I wondered if anyone had really tried them out? Had they talked to mechanics about what they will do to cars? It’s one thing to say they don’t work because that’s what your gut is saying, but there will always be someone who thinks it might be worth the money. Taking the “no harm – no foul” approach, they’ll waste a few pennies … not paying any mind to what might happen to their car because of these products. Or what will happen to them.

At least one state took a stand on them. From Consumers Affairs:

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has won a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against Texas-based BioPerformance Inc.

Go Greg Abbott!

Scientists who tested the product at the University of Texas at Austin and at a Florida university concluded that the pills are mainly naphthalene, the chemical found in mothballs. The Attorney General’s laboratory expert actually concluded BioPerformance’s product could decrease engine performance.

Abbott’s scientific expert also found that the chemical compound used in these pills can be harmful to humans. Short-term exposure to naphthalene by humans via inhalation, ingestion or skin contact can result in anemia and neurological or liver damage.

So, folks, please do not use these kinds of products unless you know absolutely, without doubt that they are a) okay for YOU and b) okay for your car. And please, if you were duped into getting involved with this pyramid scheme, get these toxic chemicals out of your house!

Post from: EveryJoe

Phony Fuel Additives Harmful to Cars & Drivers

I’m not technical enough to really do any experiments of my own, but by asking around, I’ve gathered the opinion that sunroofs also work to cool the air of the car – both by sucking out the heat (because heat rises) and by allowing cooler air to enter the auto.

You could also just pretend to have a sunroof  and just feel cooler socially-speaking. And it won’t compromise the integrity of your vehicle. :p

Post from: EveryJoe

The AC vs. Windows vs. Sunroof debate

Does Running the Heater Affect Fuel Efficiency?

Realistically speaking, no. Most heaters work off of “waste” heat or heat coming off the engine. There is a small amount of electricity used for a blower but nothing that would place a significant drain on the auto.

Does Running Defrost Affect Fuel Efficiency?

Surprisingly (at least, for me) YES. The defrost setting, even when set to heat, uses the AC compressor which can have a noticeable impact on your fuel efficiency.

What if your windows are always fogging up? Make sure your heater is set to intake vs. recycle the air in your auto. If that doesn’t help, check the heater core to make sure there are no leaks, or anything blocking fluid from draining.

Post from: EveryJoe

Does running the heat affect fuel efficiency?

The East Japan Railway Company has put the world’s first diesel-electric on tracks. Though twice as expensive as a traditional train, the hybrid offers 20% higher fuel efficiency and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 60%.

Hybrid Train

Post from: EveryJoe

Hybrid Train