# Mythbusters - hypermiling episode. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942 "2013-06-13T23:47:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/41 "2013-06-15T05:07:09Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Discussing the TV episode aspect rather than the hypermiling episode, I think Mythbusters has been pretty good the past few episodes. No pointless explosions, and how awesome was the riding-a-motorbike-on-a-lake thing? I agree. The Indy car special was very well-done, and I also thought the earthquake episode was pretty cool. The difference between the effects on the frame construction and the load-bearing masonry construction was pretty dramatic. The airborne rocket car was still kind of a dud, and this was their 3rd try. But, yeah, overall I’m really enjoying this season. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/42 "2013-06-15T13:29:01Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > 2010 Toyota Rav 4 here. It’s terrible in this car with the rear windows down, and actually painful and temporarily deafening if you let it go on for a few minutes. It sucks because I like to give airflow to my dogs when they’re riding in the back, and it takes some fiddling to make it non-buffetting. Try this. Put one rear window most of the way down. Put the front window on the same side down about 1". If the aerodynamics on your car are like my car you will get a large volume air in the back window and out the front and it will be quiet. Play with the window setting to find the optimum for you car. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/43 "2013-06-15T14:04:24Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Was there some major technique they didn’t test? Is there some reason to think that there’s some other circumstance where your mileage would double when theirs wasn’t close to double? I really enjoy those times when they compete with each other to engineer the best solution. If they had, I bet they could come up with some techniques that could increase mileage beyond 2x… probably to 10x. It’s even possible to get to 100x or more, but only for a scenario with mostly highway driving. Although it might piss off fellow drivers, I don’t think it’s technically illegal. I’m going to spoiler my solution, in case you want to think of it on your own. You sure you’re ready for my answer?Okay, I was thinking Grant would come up with the best answer. Last chance to look away…Build a small remote-controlled car that attaches to the bottom of your vehicle. It’s tethered by a length of rope on a spring coil… so the rope can play out when pulled, but retracts back on its own when there’s no tension. Design the remote-control car to detach, drive under the bumper of the car ahead of you and hook onto its bumper. Once hooked, ease off your accelerator and enjoy the free tow. If the car ahead turns away, use your controls to unhook the small rc car and reset. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/44 "2013-06-15T14:42:38Z")
I’m almost certain that would be illegal for multiple reasons. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/45 "2013-06-15T14:49:20Z")
There’s lots of things that seem illegal, but have no specific law prohibiting. I’m assuming we don’t expand vague laws like reckless driving to cover these unusual things… in which case several of those hypermiling techniques from the episode could also fall in that category, depending on usage. Judicious usage could avoid that. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/46 "2013-06-15T15:34:04Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Everybody else is stepping on the accelerator and you have to take longer because you’re starting your car and then trying to accelerate. That might increase your chances of getting rear-ended. Also, a lot of lights just aren’t that long. On my short (1.5 mile) drive home from the transit station, I have two left turn lights. Both will allow about 4 cars through assuming you start moving the moment it turns green. Only 4 fucking cars at a time out of a transit station that is letting 1-3 buses off at a time during peak hours. I have enough trouble with people not paying attention. Someone turning their car off while waiting? No no no no no. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/47 "2013-06-15T17:06:20Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I agree. The Indy car special was very well-done, and I also thought the earthquake episode was pretty cool. The difference between the effects on the frame construction and the load-bearing masonry construction was pretty dramatic. Watching them put their earthquake simulator was pretty cool, too. And I admit the bathroom stall thing sold me on using water AND soap. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942/48 "2013-06-16T08:30:28Z")
> [@Unpronounceable](#): > > So you’ve never driven a manual? They’re probably the easiest way to get better-than-advertised mileage. There’s no need to tap the gas when starting a manual (not unless it’s 20 years old or something). To start my manual I turn the key and it starts, I can reach in and do it while standing outside if I want. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mythbusters-hypermiling-episode/660942.md?page=2)