Hypermiling - Week # 2 - Reactions

I haven't had much driving to do this week, so not much for comments. I should need to fuel up again next week as I have some out-of-town travel coming up. I'll post my MPG results then. I'm excited to see my progress!

I do want to comment on a few techniques, some I have seen elsewhere and others I have started doing on my own.

• Park where you can drive forward instead of backing out. While this seems to make sense, I have yet to see an opportunity to include this. Instead, it seems in most parking lots I am in it would waste more gas driving around to find this spot than it saves in not backing out. I would say start far out from the door and if you find one right away pull on through to it. If not, take the first available spot rather than drive around looking for a "good spot" (by whatever definition--close to the door, drive-through ability, whatever).
• Avoid high-traffic situations as much as possible. We did NOT do this on the 4th of July when we went to see the local fireworks display. It took us fully half an hour to get out of the parking lot and about two blocks away to finally get out of the congestion. (Meanwhile, thinking of all the gas we were wasting!) Next time, we will park further away (say, 3-4 blocks) for huge events like this and walk there so our car is outside the congested area when it is time to leave.
  
• Make starting your car the last thing you do before driving away. Put on your seatbelt, adjust your radio station, make sure your kids are buckled in, whatever it is that you will do before you pull away. Do it first. Then start your car and pull right away.
• Turn off your car before doing anything else when you stop. The converse of the previous point. Make sure your car is off before you put the car in park, unbuckle, find your purse or wallet, etc.
• Turn off the engine and coast. While I do not attempt this generally for safety reasons, we do live on a quiet street with virtually no traffic and on a hill. I try to come in the top way when I can instead of the bottom and coast almost a block without the engine off and glide into a parking spot next to the curb. (After turning the engine off, I turn the key back into the 'on' position to still have lights and other power. I also seem to have brakes and full steering capabilities through this entire short distance, if I needed to stop or swerve suddenly.)
  
• Park in the shade and crack the windows a bit. If your car doesn't get as hot inside, you won't be as tempted to use the air conditioner, which will save on the gas you use. (But, again, don't waste gas looking for this place.)

Just my two cents for now. I'll post my first results next week. Stay tuned!