If improving the fuel economy of your truck or SUV is of importance to you, then you need to continue reading on. Hypermiling or "fuel efficient driving" is a term that was created by drivers who use certain driving techniques to greatly improve their gas mileage. Inside, I have composed a list of fifteen hypermiling techniques that will hopefully ease your pain at the pump. Check them out below.

1. Using Different Grade Engine Motor Oils
Utilizing a greater engine oil, commonly the 10W-30 and 10W-40 grades, may not particularly mean improved lubrication within the engine. The thicker oil can stick to other surfaces and may not penetrate the smaller areas of your engine itself. Try using 5W-30 grade oil or less.

2. Place Your Truck On A Diet
For every 100 pounds of added weight to your truck, your fuel efficiency drops one to two percent. The extra pounds in your cab and bed means there's more weight to haul around and over time, that adds up.

3. Engine Idling Burns More Gas Than Starting
Starting your truck up early in the morning before you leave or waiting on others at the job site wastes gas too. You actually burn more fuel while at idle than during the engine start up. Turn the truck off if you will be stopped for a while.

4. Trucks Are Bulky, Smooth Them Out
The natural design of our pickup trucks and SUVs are bulky, large, and in charge. Taking off exterior accessories such as roof racks, storage racks, cab steps, etc can help improve your truck aerodynamics. Adding a tonneau cover to the bed also helps, but depending on whether or not you get a hard or soft tonneau, the added weight could hurt your efficiency. Taking off any large accessory can improve your mileage by five percent.

5. Braking Less Saves Over Time
If you constantly slam on your brakes and then re-accelerate, you are hurting your fuel efficiency the most. Not only is leaving some distance between the vehicle in-front of you safer, you will drastically improve your mileage with less need to apply the brakes and accelerate again.

6. No Need For Higher Octane
$4.50 per gallon for regular octane is bad enough and $4.75 for premium octane while traveling the same distance is a waste of money. Skip the need for higher octane levels while saving money at the pump. Remember, every little bit counts.

7. DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT
This one is the hardest to conquer. Driving at 70 miles per hour rather than 50 miles per hour can lower your fuel efficiency as much as 17 percent, and even greater at higher speeds. Additionally, you really do not arrive at your destination any faster than at the speed limit. Yes, driving at 60 miles per hour sucks and I admit personally, it kills me to do so. Slow down and save some gas, don't haul ass.

8. Higher Gears Mean Higher Mileage
Cruising in higher gears helps keep your engine from working harder. Rather than red-lining it every time you accelerate, shift sooner if you have a manual transmission or adjust your engine settings with a aftermarket tuner to shift sooner.

9. Cruise'n Without A Bruise'n
Utilize your trucks cruise control whenever possible to help maintain your overall speed. Using the build in acceleration will also help keep your foot out of the pedal, raising your fuel efficiency. Combining this step with step 7 will create the best combination.

10. Skip Rush Hour Traffic
Stop and go traffic absolutely destroys your trucks gas mileage, even for diesel trucks. Leaving work earlier, staying later, or even doing an activity after work will save you from standing still on the pavement (note tip 3). Use websites like www.sigalert.com for California and Arizona residents to watch traffic congestion reports. Avoid the hot mess wherever you can!

11. Inflate Your Tires
Keeping your tires inflated can add three percent to your fuel mileage. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires.

12. Turn The AC Off, Enjoy Fresh Air
Open your truck windows while cruising at slow speeds and only use the air conditioning while on highways. Leaving your windows rolled up will improve the trucks aerodyamics.

13. Use GPS Devices Or Map Your Routes
Using global positioning devices or mapping out your routes before you leave can help save you from driving randomly in search for your destination. Plan ahead and plot the shortest route without having to back track.

14. Clean Your Filters
Keeping your air and fuel filters clean is vital to the efficiency of your engine. A dirty air filter restricts flow into the engine which lowers your fuel economy and performance. You can also consider purchasing an aftermarket intake to help increase air flow but remember to stay off the gas pedal to see any fuel mileage increases.

15. Back Off The Bling
Larger diameter tires create more rolling distance, friction, and decrease your fuel economy drastically, especially for lifted trucks. If you happen to have upgraded your wheels and tires, keep your stock set. Yes, the stock 16 inch wheels are ugly in comparison to your 24 inch chrome ones. But who's laughing more at the gas pump? You, or uncle Fred with the stock doughnuts? The same goes for lifted trucks with huge off-road tires. Not only are they large and heavy, the increased lift kit makes your truck work harder and kills your gas mileage. If you find yourself driving a lot, swap your suspension back to the stock configuration. The tires are also cheaper too.



Source: Wikipedia