Hypermiling is a skill which can be learned. It's the narrow balance between driving in a way which is (a)not noticed, (b)noticed or (c)a road hog. Just as one can't achieve to be the next Richard Petty at the professional race track without training, one can't expect to get great results hypermiling right away.

I started my own quest in Jan 2004, and came to a peak in Aug 2006 where I logged 1,003 miles on a single tank for almost 75MPG in my Civic CVT.

I began breaking 50, gradually made my way up to 60MPG and beyond driving off- rush hour light traffic. I did lots of kookey things along the way. I used an ice water bucket and cloth instead of AC, some slightly unsafe techniques and drove an alternate, fuel saving route. I commuted home @ 3AM and had been stopped by the cops twice for "odd driving behavior" where they thought I may have been drinking.

My work hours have changed, and so have my driving. I've been traveling 50 miles to work in some of the worst traffic imaginable, sometimes stop and go for 25-35 miles. I spend 18-24hrs a week in traffic- no time to be doodling along squeezing every bit of energy out of vapor.

Although I've shed most of my extreme techniques, I'm still getting 55-60MPG this winter. Keep in mind we have no snow here in GA. Morning trip is often around freezing and 40's afternoon. Last summer I used the AC intelligently and remained around 60-65MPG commuting by myself.
I don't draft trucks, I don't use P&G (Pulse and glide). That is too laborious for me. I just want to drive my car in a reasonable, more "normal" manner.

Here are some tips for a beginner. Please don't take on more than you can handle. If you say "I could never do that" or uncomfortable then don't.
(The tips not believed to apply to Altima hybrid are in brown print)

1. Maintenance
a. Keep scheduled oil changes.
b. Have your front end aligned and tires rotated according to schedule.
c. Increase tire pressure. Mine is at least sidewall maximum pressure while cold. However this may cause traction problems, especially on snow.

2. Winter specific tips:
a. Consider using a radiator block.
b. Install a tank or block heater and plug it in while parked.
c. Your engine is a comparable fuel hog when cold, especially with a load demand. A real pig. Keep cabin temperature to cold for the first 10-15 minutes. Let the tiny engine heat itself first before you.
d. Don't let it idle while parked to "Warm up". Start it up, wait a few seconds then begin your trip.
e. Keep a very light engine load while it's warming up. Be very, very easy on the accelerator until the engine is fully warmed.

3. Summer specific tips:
a. Practice "e" above in the Winter tips, but not as extreme.
b. Use the AC intelligently, don't just set it - and forget it. Turn off the compressor while accelerating or climbing a hill. Turn it on while cruising, coasting, going down hill or stopping. If your fighting a hill, for heaven sake turn the compressor off.
Use your defroster to defog the windows, but set the fan to "off" when cleared to shut the compressor back off.
c. (Altima and other electric AC equipped cars) Use AC to the minimum. If you are in a rolling ice box, you pay for it.

4. Other tips:
a. Slow down. Almost everyone in Joe Public doesn't realize the savings which can be had.
* Leave the house a few minutes earlier.
* A slower moving truck on a two lane freeway can be a real blessing. You can follow at a good, safe distance and the public won't notice you.
* Think twice before passing that slower car. Is it necessary? Why not follow at a safe, courteous distance and save some fuel?
* Travel sub-speed limit, even on a two lane freeway if there isn't anyone else around. Speeders often travel in "packs" and you can gradually come close to matching their speed as these packs of cars pass by.
* Use the Right lane(s) of a multiple lane freeway and travel sub-speed limit.

b. Keep a good traffic buffer
Leave enough space to the car ahead of you so if (when) they briefly slow or stop, you use your buffer to keep momentum. Some folks will use your buffer and jump into your lane. So what? Make a new one. Always watch traffic as far as your eye can see and make adjustments if necessary.

c. Don't accelerate on hills, but rather decelerate.
* Look as far up the road as possible, make a judgement so you won't have to gas it up the hill as the pack of speeders behind you catch up. Decide on a minimum target speed at the top, gradually slowing down on your way up to your target.
* Accelerate while going down hill, and gravity will assist you.

d. Don't idle, don't creep
* Start your engine, wait a second before putting it in gear, then get on your way. Don't ever let it idle while stopped/parked.
* If your Altima auto-stops and the car ahead creeps ahead, don't follow. If it doesn't auto-stop, set your brake and shut it off.

e. Time stop lights
* Time it so the car ahead of you triggers the light green for you.
* You can often tell the status of a light ahead, even if out of sight by the traffic pattern on the other side of the road. (Ex: No traffic=Red, Traffic=Green)

f. Put the shifter to "N" while coasting.
Excellent fuel savings are here, but use extreme caution as can lead to a crash. Don't use this tip if at all doubtful.

g. Efficient driving is accumulative.
True that slower speed and keeping momentum have greater results above most other techniques, but it's the collective effort of every choice you make along your trip.
For example, you've had some great efficiency following that truck, and decide to pass. (OOPS) you had to accelerate hard on a hill to do so for the traffic behind, that you didn't notice was there. That bungle cost you 20 miles of savings behind that truck.

Driving distance effects efficiency
The further you get away from the engine warm-up period, the better your savings will be.
So, If you commute/drive 5 miles your savings will be minimal. If you travel +50 miles it can be maximum.
After you park you car, if at all possible, don't let your engine cool off too much before starting it again. For example I might get home, only to find that I have to run another errand. I don't wait, so I can take advantage of my already hot engine.

Stick with it Marianne and you will see some good results. (No matter what you drive)
You'll be noticed time by time from other drivers, and the goal is not to be noticed (so much).
Anyone can be a road hog, and that's where personal training to correctly adjust for the endless conditions comes in. Above all, be courteous, be safe.

I'd be glad to pound out some more tips if you'd like, but I think the rest are pretty general and covered by others.

-Steve

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT