Coasting down the road to save fuel?
07-12-2008, 02:42 PM
#1
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Coasting down the road to save fuel?
Is coasting in neutral going to save me fuel in places where I am going down a hill for a long period of time?Is this bad for the car?
07-12-2008, 03:14 PM
#2
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I don't think it is bad for the car but I avoid it as a safety and control issue. Technically you could also turn off the engine and save even more gas!
When I'm anywhere but the last few feet to a stop light I like to be able to accelerate without a shift delay. Also if the grade is steep you'll be working your brakes excessively without engine braking.
When I'm anywhere but the last few feet to a stop light I like to be able to accelerate without a shift delay. Also if the grade is steep you'll be working your brakes excessively without engine braking.
07-12-2008, 03:36 PM
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Coasting in neutral will use more gas than leaving it in gear with no throttle input. When you're engine braking the ecu doesnt pulse any fuel into the engine at all. When you're coasting neutral it's using fuel to keep the engine at idle speed.
07-12-2008, 04:06 PM
#4
Originally Posted by Mrfixit687,Jul 12 2008, 03:36 PM
Coasting in neutral will use more gas than leaving it in gear with no throttle input. When you're engine braking the ecu doesnt pulse any fuel into the engine at all. When you're coasting neutral it's using fuel to keep the engine at idle speed.
Basically you would want to leave it in a tall gear to keep the engine breaking to a minimum since you are trying to coast. You will still have some engine breaking and will slow down faster than if you were in neutral, but like the guy above said, the engine uses no fuel during decel.
07-12-2008, 04:54 PM
#5
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Originally Posted by Mrfixit687,Jul 12 2008, 07:36 PM
Coasting in neutral will use more gas than leaving it in gear with no throttle input. When you're engine braking the ecu doesnt pulse any fuel into the engine at all. When you're coasting neutral it's using fuel to keep the engine at idle speed.
Engine is just an air pump as long as you use the speed of the car to drive the engine.
07-12-2008, 07:59 PM
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Correct me if i'm wrong but, when the engine is running and you are in a tall gear say running 55 around 3000 rpms the engine is still firing and running at 3000 rpms and using fuel. Because you aren't gaining or losing speed doesn't mean the engine shuts off or shuts off fuel. Running 1000 rpms takes less fuel than running 3000. Unless you cut the car off you are still using fuel.
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07-12-2008, 08:08 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by 21337R,Jul 12 2008, 04:06 PM
Basically you would want to leave it in a tall gear to keep the engine breaking to a minimum since you are trying to coast. You will still have some engine breaking and will slow down faster than if you were in neutral, but like the guy above said, the engine uses no fuel during decel.
07-12-2008, 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Mrfixit687,Jul 12 2008, 06:36 PM
Coasting in neutral will use more gas than leaving it in gear with no throttle input. When you're engine braking the ecu doesnt pulse any fuel into the engine at all. When you're coasting neutral it's using fuel to keep the engine at idle speed.
Didn't know that before
Learn something new everyday !
