Is it bad to coast in neutral....

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by bentjazz

While on the highway, I coast while driving towards the off ramp when I go to the gym. it's all down hill and my Ecometer has hit as high as 329mpg. I do it to amuse myself and to save gas, but I was wondering if it's bad for the tranny to coast in neutral?
Thanks.

Well, if you coast in gear you aren't using an fuel but in neutral you are using fuel to run the engine. The difference is marginal.

You're also putting additional wear on the brakes too since you are losing any compression braking effect.

But its your car so go nuts!

[ilikerice]

OH GEZUS, NOT THIS THREAD AGAIN!

NOOOOOO

[why?]

Originally Posted by jayeh

Well, if you coast in gear you aren't using an fuel but in neutral you are using fuel to run the engine. The difference is marginal.

You're also putting additional wear on the brakes too since you are losing any compression braking effect.

But its your car so go nuts!

what you wrote is wrong. Please read more on the fe forums, the information to correct you is all there. Thank You.

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by why?

what you wrote is wrong. Please read more on the fe forums, the information to correct you is all there. Thank You.

Huh?

Even the sticky thread in the FE forum says to leave it in gear?

[Sparcoboy]

Originally Posted by jayeh

Huh?

Even the sticky thread in the FE forum says to leave it in gear?

You are correct, why? is wrong :D

[why?]

Originally Posted by Sparcoboy

You are correct, why? is wrong :D

here we go again. There are only two instances where leaving the car in gear will get you better gas mileage, if you are going down a steep enough hill that the car keeps the acceleration anyways, or if you are slowing down to a stop anyways. On a flat road leaving the car in gear will get worse mileage than putting it in neutral will, because you will have to hit the gas pedal more with the engine sucking the energy out of your forward momentum.

In reality a combination of both is the best to get the best gas mileage, depending on the situation you are in and the traffic, etc.

[nopk]

Originally Posted by why?

There are only two instances where leaving the car in gear will get you better gas mileage, if you are going down a steep enough hill that the car keeps the acceleration anyways, or if you are slowing down to a stop anyways.

this is a pretty narrow minded way to look at this, and may encourage people to look at this the wrong way

let me re-word what you're saying:

always leave the car in the most optimal gear, except for when you're just about to go below 1000PRPM in first and stop.

doing this, will ensure you will have the best MPG possible, as being in neutral never helps your MPG