Is this a good idea? I've experimented with this method and in my local driving I can probably save about 20% of gas...haven't measured though yet. But was wondering if this will harm the tranny...what are your thoughts? Is anyone already doing this?
2005 Forest River MB Cruiser Front Kitchen
2005 Jayco 29GS
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I believe most diesels will cut fuel when decelerating, I suspect your actually using more fuel to keep the engine idling. I do not shift to neutral and I have a manual transmission.
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amacrae wrote: Not to mention the fact that coasting is illegal in many states.
Less than a minute's googling shows that coasting's illegal in at least Texas, Tenn, and Florida, if internet postings on other forums are to be believed. Hard to prove perhaps, but illegal, nonetheless.
Jim, "Mo' coffee!"
'06 Tiger CX 'C Minus' on a Silverado 2500HD 4x4, 8.1 & Allison ('Loafer's Glory'); '07 Forester 2.5 ( the 'HANDBSKT'); '95 Toyota SR5 V-6 4x4 pickup, ARB locker, Bilsteins, Warn hubs & M8000, etc;
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If I had a motorhome that already got 22mpg, I'd think twice about doing anything that might be illegal, or worse yet damaging to any part of my vehicle. If 22mpg isn't enough, maybe buying a Prius and staying at Motel 6's would be a better option!!.............
It's a dangerous practice because you increase your braking distance by quite a bit. You lose the benefit of the engine/transmission serving as a partial brake. And, just the time to shift back into gear will increase your response time and braking distance if you have to apply the brakes quickly. Think of the weight you have to control.....is it really worth taking a risk?
I urge you to give up this "gas saving" idea.
2001 Dodge 3500 DRW V10 Magnum
2002 Sunline T280SR
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I shift into neutral at stop lights in all my automatic vehicles. There is nothing illegal about that nor will it hurt the vehicle. It simply unloads the drive train. It's no different than putting a manual transmission in neutral at a light.
Coasting isn't simply using neutral, some people shut off the engine. That is illegal and dangerous. Most cars today have a number of things that happen when you turn off the key, steering wheel can lock, power brakes, power steering stop working. Those are the things that make it dangerous.
Every automatic transmission has neutral next to drive with no detent in between(meaning, you can simply push the lever back & forth), it's been that way for years. In ice & snow, it allows you to quickly remove driving power from the wheels and makes it easier to control skids. In hot weather, it lets the engine run a little higher rpm and stops generating extra heat in the transmission. This allows the engine, a/c, transmission to all run cooler.
Don't misunderstand what I'm saying, I use neutral while stopped, not coasting downhill on the interstate.
scbwr wrote: It's a dangerous practice because you increase your braking distance by quite a bit. You lose the benefit of the engine/transmission serving as a partial brake. And, just the time to shift back into gear will increase your response time and braking distance if you have to apply the brakes quickly. Think of the weight you have to control.....is it really worth taking a risk?
I urge you to give up this "gas saving" idea.
The $$ you save in fuel you may end up spending for brakes...
Steve & Bev
2005 Roadtrek 210
Carly the Sheltie
Zippy the Cat
topless wrote: I shift into neutral at stop lights in all my automatic vehicles. There is nothing illegal about that nor will it hurt the vehicle. ......
Unless of course, someone forgets it's in neutral when stopped on a hill, and rolls back into the next car, as the engine revs freely and futilely....
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