Coasting in neutral vs. DFCO?

[matti]

I've been using DFCO as much as possible in my 2012 Yaris L (5-spd) as I realize it's an easy way to reduce some fuel consumption. I came across an ecomodder.com website that gives fuel-saving tips:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/EM-hypermiling-driving-tips-ecodriving.php

#44 on the list states that coasting in neutral (with engine idling) is a better option than coasting in DFCO mode. I was under the impression that DFCO was better than coasting in neutral? Any thoughts? Thanks.

[WeeYari]

It's a juggling act using both DFCO and neutral to achieve best results.

If using DFCO slows you down too quickly and you end up needing to apply gas sooner than desired, then you've lost some of the gain.

[NEexpat]

If I had a 5 speed I'd be tempted to bump that thing into neutral every chance I got. Since I have the auto I'll stick with DFCO.

My car before my Yaris was a 1988 honda Accord LXI 5 speed, and I could squeeze 36 mpg in the summer 32 mpg winter. The gas tank was 15.9 gl. Which put its range out past 550 miles in the summer.

I think that car spent more time in neutral than in gear. Of course that was an 80's car, no DFCO.

[new-yaris-owner]

if you put it in neutral with automatic transm. would it be ok to change it to Drive while moving ?

[edmscan]

if you put it in neutral with automatic transm. would it be ok to change it to Drive while moving ?

Personally .. I wouldn't be messing with an Automatic transmission much ... as in order to save yourself a few bucks in gas, you may wreck a very expensive transmission. Standard transmissions are a different animal.

If I had an automatic transmission .. I would take my foot off the gas and use DFCO as much as I could but leave the car in gear to lessen the wear on the transmission.

[tooter]

Personally .. I wouldn't be messing with an Automatic transmission much ... as in order to save yourself a few bucks in gas, you may wreck a very expensive transmission. Standard transmissions are a different animal.

If I had an automatic transmission .. I would take my foot off the gas and use DFCO as much as I could but leave the car in gear to lessen the wear on the transmission.

I'd do the same if I had an auto trans, because the fluid coupling allows the engine to slightly "freewheel" while in the highest gear. Add that to DFCO and mileage is going to go up.

I don't coast in neutral with my stick because when the engine is idling it's still using gas, whereas coasting in gear raises the engine rpms above idle and activates the DFCO. Then it doesn't matter how fast the engine is turning because it's not using any gas anyways.

Just stick it in 5th and put both feet on the floorboard. :smile:

[matti]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll just continue to use DFCO vs. putting it in neutral while coasting.

[goliath1812]

Unless I'm planning on slowing down or coming to a stop, I prefer to neutral coast. It has given me the best MPG results.