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Treehugger and Planet Green both spend a lot of time informing readers about how to boost fuel efficiency through various hypermilling techniques. But as the winter season officially takes hold, it may be time to ease off a few of these practices which unfortunately cause safety problems. Let's take a look at three such popular tips:
Aerodynamic Panels, Wheel Skirts, etc.
While not as large a safety issue as the others on this list, aerodynamic body panels can often impair your vehicle in a number of ways in snow, ice, and sleet. Vehicles that have been manufactured with these aerodynamic features, such as the Honda Insight, do not fall under this category, as they were specifically designed to be functional in the winter. I am referring more to the retrofitted body panels that do-it-yourself-ers install.
During the snow-falling winter months, front spoilers can become basically an unwanted snow plow. Your neighbors might think it is great that you are helping to clear off the road for them, but you are actually only impairing your vehicles aerodynamic efficiency worse as it drags over any area of deep snow fall. Wheel skirts can also become an issue when snow and ice buildup within the wheel wells and begin to rub on the tires (also obviously reducing roll efficiency).
For winter, these items that may pose a problem for bad weather driving should be removed and saved to be reinstalled next Spring. One issue that you will want to keep in mind as you remove these items, is if you have drilling holes in your body to install them, you will want to make sure that they are well sealed or else rust may form. Primer coating, silicone sealant, and rubber plugs will be your easiest and best option for this task.
Drafting behind a Truck
Drafting behind a truck to improve your vehicles aerodynamic efficiency works great in good weather (a 20 percent improvement in gas mileage according to some test results). In the winter months however, this can be a very dangerous tip. All it takes is one mishap on the part of either the trucker or you and you could end up bumper first in the back of that truck.
Many people are killed every year this way, but there are ways to prevent this, such as providing enough space in between you and the other vehicles on the road. Even when the roads appear to be clear, all it takes is a little water run off to freeze and suddenly you have practically an ice skating rink made for your tires.
Winter driving requires the addition of several car lengths between every vehicle to ensure you will have enough space to stop in an emergency. Don't be caught without this minimum safe distance. Most people believe this distance is somewhere between 5 to 6 car lengths, but we prefer to go with the recommendations from Transport Canada, who claim at 60 mph, a vehicle should have no less than about 10 car lengths for wintertime driving.
Over-inflation of tires
This can be a dangerous habit no matter what time of year, but generally in good weather, as long as you do not inflate your tires beyond the recommended capacity (labeled on the tire), you can get away with this. The wintertime is a whole other story however. Any tire that has been filled with too much air, and this includes winter and studded tires, will become tight and inflexible, which will also lead to a reduced amount of tread in contact with the pavement.
The end result will be a loss of traction and stability in the vehicle, which is compounded when you are dealing with snow and ice. The best way to roll (pun intended) in the winter is with your tires filled to the recommended air pressure (provided on the label in place on the inside portion of the drivers-side door jamb). This will make the best compromise between efficiency and traction, of which you can be sure was extensively studied by your manufacturer.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to discourage hypermilling, but rather make you aware of some of the dangers these promote in winter weather conditions. Stay safe so that you can live to hypermill another day!
More winter transportation tips:
Ride Your Bike All Winter: Part 1
Ride Your Bike All Winter: Part 2
5 Tips to Green Your Ski Trip
Minimize Fuel Consumption in Wintry Weather
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