Fuelly Forums - WAHOO! 50.0 mpg, 10 tank average in 28y/o Honda Civic...

...done with hypermiling driving techniques and pumped up tires. No special aerodynamic modes.

My daily work commute is 72 miles roundtrip.

I EOC on my 2 minute drive to the freeway, because a cold engine uses a lotta fuel.

Because I leave before the crush of the morning commute traffic, I'm able to maintain a constant 53mph speed in the slow lane.

I exit the freeway 3 miles short of my destination, so I can take advantage of EOCing in such early morning hours on empty city streets.

Unfortunately, with the return leg home there's no way to avoid the commute traffic.

Being a competitive sailor, I have observational skills of watching water current as to make the quickest passage over the race course. As I would observe the flow of a river, I observe freeway traffic the same. I have learned to the shift lanes to best avoid areas of more congestion, such as merging traffic from another freeway. In bumper-to-bumper, slow traffic, I leave enough space between me and the car ahead so I VERY rarely step on my brakes.

Why 53mph? The faster you go above 55mph degrades your MPG exponentially. 53mph is close enough to 55mph, whereas other drivers will believe I am actually driving 55mph and that either their speedometer, mine, or both are off just a tiny bit. There's less chance of road rage towards me, if other drivers believe I am doing 55mph.

53mph takes me 5 minutes longer to drive to work.

This 50.0 was accomplished with a stock, 1989 Honda Civic hatchback; no special aerodynamic treatments. Tires pumped to their maximum pressure, though. Anyone can do it. Just be observant and patient.