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Podcast Goodness: Earthquakes and Hypermiling
July 2, 2009
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Greetings, earthlings. Dr. Clark and I hope that everyone has had a great week so far and that our American brothers and sisters are looking forward to a great holiday weekend. As for the rest of the world — enjoy working tomorrow, suckers!
This week on a lil’ program we like call Stuff You Should Know, compasshead and I discussed earthquakes and something called hypermiling. Earthquakes is a pretty cool topic, but there’s a lot to it. Neither one of our strong suits is geology, so I hope we got most of it right. We’ve had a couple of corrections trickle in so far from some experts, which we love. Fact of the day — there’s an earthquake every 11 seconds, we just don’t feel many of them. Groovy.
Hypermiling is a driving technique that allows you to get better gas mileage than you could ever imagine. Thing is, it’s not great if you’re ever in a hurry. Some things you can do as a driver are:
- No jack rabbit starts
- No hard breaking
- Coast down hills
- Cut your engine if you’re going to idle for more than seven seconds
Just these few tips alone can help you get more bang for your petroleum buck. We also talked about how gas mileage is calculated and why the advertised number is rarely what you see in real world driving. Prettyyyyyy cool.
Have a great weekend and if you’re celebrating our country’s independence, please do so safely. Throw some ribs on the grill, kick back with a frosty beverage and enjoy some time with the ones you love.
Thanks to Dr. Kodachrome for this week’s image, which happens to be Josh’s favorite thus far. What’s more American than Willie Nelson, me in diapers and Josh wearing a five-gallon cowboy hat?
Read — I command you:
What is hypermiling?
How accurate are gas mileage monitors?
How to Survive an Earthquake
Comments
23 Responses to “Podcast Goodness: Earthquakes and Hypermiling”
Rich says: I listened to your podcast on earthquakes. I lived in Alaska for nearly 27 years and felt lots of earthquakes. Some were the rolling type while others were like a rubber band snapping. I was told by people that were there during the 1964 earthquake that it lasted over 3 minutes. I never felt one anywhere near that long. Sometimes the radio stations would have contests called “name that quake” to see if people could guess the force on the Richter Scale. I remember one that was like 7.2 that caused sunami warnings along the coast for people to go to higher ground. I understand that where was one sunami in Southeast Alaska that caused a wave to climb up 1,000 feet in a fjord. Pictures of large ships in Downtown Valdez after the sunami in 1964 tells that they are a force to watch out for.
I hypermile and I have a bumper sticker that reads “I am not going slow, I’m saving you gas” Stop lights, waiting for trains, etc. I cut the engine. I NEVER exceed the speed limit and I prefer the fast lane. Why, because it is the smoother lane and there is less to impede rolling resistance? Your bragging about not maximizing your fuel efficiency sticks in my crawl. It is that kind of driving that increases fuel consumption therefore prices. So it gives me a real sense of power when someone with your attitude pulls up behind me. Because their as stress levels increase I feel very accomplished that I am doing my part in shortening their life span.
I am getting this urge to take a drive to Atlanta.
Oh it is die NOHM eter
JOHN says: I was listening to your hypermiling show while at work today and I couldn’t stop laughing every time you mentioned driving around with a sensor stuck in your tailpipe. I’m sure I’m not the only one who kept thinking of the anatomical feature sometimes referred to as a tailpipe. Also, guys, you disappoint with the pronunciation of dynamometer. Just call it a “dyno” for short if you have trouble. Thanks for the laughs.
di-nam-o
i have a correction about your hypermiling podcast, when you said about NASCAR drivers drafting to save fuel, you were mistaken, NASCAR drivers draft to go faster-this is how it works.
Normally two drivers(normally teammates) will drive on infront of the other drafting, the front car hits the air and the second car puts the end of his hood into the rear bumber of the front car making the back car get absolutely no wind resistance, with no resistance it can gain great speeds and with the hood against the bumper, it can literally push the car in front of it to greater speeds.
Jeffery Thomas says: Dynamometer is pronounced Dy-na-mom-et-er like Spee-dom-et-er. Just trying to help.
Charles says: Preston – drafting can serve two purposes. Yes, you can get together and get a “push” from another driver to go faster, but it’s also a technique used to save fuel because you’re essentially driving in a vacuum — meaning you can lay off the gas pedal and maintain the same speed.
Danny McKeever breaks it down for you… http://www.videojug.com/expertanswer/nascar-driving-styles-2/how-can-a-nascar-driver-save-fuel
I worked as a delivery driver for a sub shop, and I got pretty good at the coasting thing. But my dad said something about how you have to at least tap the breaks to get it to lower the RPMs and cut off the fuel when you plan to coast (while at the same time not riding your breaks and wearing them down). I’m not sure how that stuff works though… It became second nature to me to take certain roads I knew I could coast through. The town is pretty small though, and without that job I don’t need to drive more than a couple times a month to the grocery store. It took me three months to go through a quarter of a tank this last spring. (OH! It should be a crime to stiff a delivery driver! Their gas is not paid for by their store, and if the customer is too lazy to go get the food, they owe the driver a tip!!!)
But for all the money I saved hypermiling went out the window when a giant SUV backed into my 2 door Cavalier and totaled it. If the SUV owners don’t get ya with increased demand for gas, they can still total your efficient little car just backing out of a parking spot…
It helps to hang behind trucks for gas millage, but that is really really dangerous. I passed one semi and looked behind me just in time to see his tire exploding and all the vehicles behind him swerving to dodge the flying debris. Especially during the summer when the increased heat stresses the tires, it may be more cost efficient to avoid the dangers of semis. I don’t think truck drivers would be too happy with everyone deciding to tail them for gas efficiency.
p.s. I don’t care how much the left lane can save you on gas, if you aren’t driving faster you shouldn’t be in that lane. That is what the traffic signs say, and that’s what they ask you on the drivers test. It is dangerous for people to have to pass on the right side, and when slower drivers hang out in the left lane they necessitate that. Also, what if some dad is driving his wife to go give birth? It could be someone like Josh, or it could be someone with a genuine emergency. You just can’t know, and it isn’t safe anyway… I appreciate the bumper sticker about saving gas, but that doesn’t excuse one from adhering to traffic laws.
Ask me if I care. I am in the fast lane doing the speed limit, the speed LIMIT. If some one wants to pass me then they are exceeding the speed LIMIT and also breaking the law. Emergency vehicles or vehicles with their emergency flashers are clearly in need of free passage, that I will give. But any lead foot will get a lesson in patience.
AlexR says: Man… miss “lesson in patience” sounds like a barrel o’ monkeys. Anyway– love your podcast, guys. I’ve listened to every single one and, about half of the last 4 episodes. Has anyone had this same problem: if I try rewinding or fast forwarding the podcast(on my ipod), it jumps to the woman saying “for more on this and thousands of other topics, visit howstuffworks.com”… regardless of where the podcast really is… and it’ll just keep going to that spot. It’s driving me crazy. Any ideas? Also, please don’t sell my email address. Thanks guys!
In my state they have made it illegal to not allow a person coming in the leftmost lane to pass you. YOU have to move and let them pass on the left or you break the law even just doing the limit. No matter how fast they are going or how fast you are going. You could be going 120 and you have to let them by if they want to go 125. When could you ever get cited for this I am not exactly sure… guess if you got hit by someone trying to pass you they’d give you the ticket.
I can definitely say that I am proud to be in America, the land where the impatient and ignorant rule and get to decide the rights of everyone else… even when they FAIL to serve the obvious greater good of society. Obvious greater goods such as equal rights for citizens of any gender to be recognized with legal benefits of civil union, all the way to the idea of reducing the collective fuel usage costs in society by promoting a calm and smooth highway environment. But no, instead we pass rules to strip the rights of human beings to be recognized legally as a union and strip the rights of every user of the public roadways to be ensured a fair, safe, and efficient environment in which to travel.
Strongly considering some of the methods at least such as slower movement to attempt to get all greens. I can actually take a route to and from work that is all freeway so the only lights (at on/off ramps) would be very easy to coast to. The problem is my cruise control is broken.
Mark (Houston) says: Using MPG as a measurement for saving money or reducing your carbon output seems like a flawed approach, it’s like trying to save food and money at the grocery store by measuring pounds of food per dollar. If MPGs are used as the only measurement one might drive more spending more money and releasing more carbon into the atmosphere, giving someone a false sense of accomplishment. It seems to me measuring how much money we send on gas or how many gallons we use would be better measurements.
Max says: Hypermiling is a big thing with Toyota Prius owners. The car already automatically shuts off the engine during any idle (even coasting), and braking is regenerative so you naturally want to brake slower when possible.
That being said, it’s also possible to engage a sort of “free” mode by applying the gas to accelerate to an optimal speed, then releasing it just slightly. When timed right, you can disengage both the electric motor, the combustion engine, and also disable the regeneration that usually runs when normally coasting. This coasting only works for a few seconds to a couple minutes (or until you stop), but you’re taking advantage of the Prius’ superb aerodynamics by coasting as if you had just turned everything off.
People can get 50-60 mpg following this method, but the down side is that it doesn’t really work over 60mph, and it drives passengers crazy when you keep speeding up and slowing down.
Eric says: Didn’t high speed stuff already do a podcast on hypermiling?
And now, high speed stuff is doing a podcast on how EPA calculates the MPG.
Charles says: Good stuff, folks. And Alex – you’re cracking me up. It takes all types, I suppose!
Eric – yes, there’s some overlap here and there. Thanks for supporting both shows!
I am not surprised that each new Stuff You Should Know podcast both informs and delights, but there was a line in the earthquake episode that has made me laugh multiple times throughout the day:
“Would you trust a guy named ‘Hippie Rob’ to earthquake-proof your prison?”
Though I’ve yet to come across an episode that didn’t make me laugh, that was particularly funny. Good job, guys!
I would like to know what was the significance of the Honey Bear in the earthquake podcast. Inside joke?
Diane K. says: Hey guys, love your podcast!
To me (ex truck driver), the best thing you mentioned was the importance of looking beyond the nose of your car. Most drivers rush to the stoplight, or change lanes simply because there’s an opening — except the didn’t notice the city bus stopped in that lane up ahead. Extending your vision actually creates patience, which is cool.
As for drafting, I believe you have to get pretty close to a truck to benefit from the vacuum. At a safer distance you’d actually catch turbulence which probably has a negative impact on mpg. Truck drivers hate being tailgated because they can’t see you in their side mirrors. It’s another example of short-sighted driving, which is less safe and subtly nerve-wracking.
And man… getting out of the way of a faster car is a courtesy, not a humiliating concession (unless you like feeling angry and self-righteous). You never know why that driver is going so fast.
At the same time, you never know why someone in the fast lane isn’t going faster. The speed on many big trucks is governed and they simply can’t go any faster. Not everyone is just trying to piss you off.
Trying to teach somebody a lesson in a situation where they can’t hear you, see your expression or your body language (unless you stick a finger out the window) is an exercise in futility and unbelievably arrogant. I can just see that driver stuck behind you thinking, “Hmm, this gentleman up ahead is teaching me a very important lesson about obeying traffic laws. I think I’d better pay attention and slow down.”
I imagine every speeder is rushing to rescue somebody. I imagine every slow driver has a five-tier wedding cake on the passenger side floor. I don’t care how fast or slow other people want to drive. I just focus on the road ahead (way ahead, beside me, behind me), how other drivers are behaving and adjust accordingly. Without judgment. Life’s too short.
Anyway, rock on Josh & Chuck. You are a blast to listen to.
Hey guys,
I live in my car and love the podcast! Was shocked to find out you hipsters were UGA grads, which is not actually that far fetched. You’ve been really on a green kick as of late and I’m enjoying the coverage. To go back a few weeks, though, I really like the episode on lobotomies! It takes a lot for me to feel ill, but when you described the double-handed eye poke, I about lost it. Nice work fellas.
Keep up the good work!
Eric
Ralph says: I couldn’t help but notice that you mentioned that the test is flawed and made it seem as if it is “always” flawed meaning that you won’t reach the projected MPG. I just bought a brand new Honda Fit and before that I had a 97 honda Civic. In my Civic I got at least 35MPG without what I thought was hypermiling. Then I went to get the Fit and it said that “in city” it would get 27MPG, “highway” would get 33MPG. I have had it for a little over two months and have averaged about 37MPG. That would be flawed in my favor. Then after listening to your tips on “hypermiling” I have now made it up to 45MPG on my 2009 Honda Fit. Very impressive for a non hybrid car and still flawed in my favor. So I guess I wish that the podcast was more geared to show that it is generally flawed, not flawed in their favor (big company). I obviously haven’t tested every car out there, but I guess I can speak on Hondas and they are all around great cars to own. I am all about exposing big company on fraud and the projections they throw out there to get us to buy, but only when it is a cold hard fact that it is always in their favor. I don’t know, I guess I just love my Hondas!!! I have now owned 4 of them and they have always saved me money at the pump and I have always exceeded their projected MPG. Also you should mention on whether this test is done on a manual or an automatic transmission. I have only driven manuals, so that might also make a huge difference… just some thoughts….
ciao
Ralph
Tim says: Whats up with the podcast not being able to fast forward on an Ipod??? Whenever I try to skip ahead it just closes me out and takes me back to the podcast menu. Note: This only happens while using my ipod.
PLEASE FIX!!!!!!! Its super annoying.
p.s. Love the podcast
David Hartgrove says: Hi,
Better late than never. I just heard the pod cast on earthquakes. In 1968, when I was in Navy Class “A” School, in Port Hueneme, CA, I experienced an earthquake. It was the strangest experience. It was a Saturday afternoon and for some reason, I was standing in formation with 40 or so other guys. I suddenly had the sensation of being lifted for a second and then settling back down, as if the ground had been pushed up beneath me. I looked across the open field we were standing in and there was a “wave” moving away from us. I don’t quite know how to describe it except to say that it looked like a wrinkle in the surface of the earth that was moving away at a good clip. There was no sound and I saw no sign of disturbance to the nearby barracks; no broken glass; no cracked walls. We all looked at each other and asked, “Did you feel that!?” As earthquakes go, it was harmless, certainly interesting and I hope it’s the strongest one I ever see.
hey josh and chuck
is there going to be a podcast on super storms. or a series on natural disaters?
love the podcast keep up the good work.