MildlyExcitedMiling

The purpose of this blog is to track my positive eating habits and record all of the tasty recipes along the way. As this is to benefit my health, it's only fair that I incorporate other health related topics here. Bicycling contributes to my health, and the eventual goal is the ability to bike the 12 miles to work each way every day. So, while I'm working up to it, I'm stuck driving, so that makes it a valid topic.

When I last filled my gas tank, I dropped a whopping $50 in my little 12 gallon tank. I decided then that I would attempt hypermiling. While I didn't go to the extreme, I made small changes in the way I drive: no jackrabbit starts, cruise control on the highway and no faster than 60mph.

I filled up my tank with 12 gallons on 5/22. I just filled my tank up again this evening. A typical tank gets me between 290 and 310 miles. With the incorporated changes, I hit 380(!!) miles! That's a difference of 24mpg before and 31mpg after. The second best part? I'm so much more relaxed. Let everyone else break their heads and wallets over jockeying to be first. I'll be here in lane #2, just above the speed limit.

There's other steps I can take as well: refilling before hitting empty, popping into neutral on hills and getting my oil changed. I'm not ready/willing to go the the extremes of turning off my car at the peak of every hill, but it would be great if I can pull a few more miles out of a tank. At this rate, I'll be saving a nice chunk of money every month.