Posted on 07/28/2013 11:23:11 AM PDT by AtlasStalled
Wouldn't that be even better than neutral?
“I have not tried turning off the key but I frequently shift into neutral when rolling down long grades (not supposed to do it because you have less control over the car but it saves gas).”
Remind us all where you drive so we avoid your environs. It’s amazing to me what some will do to save pennies at the expense of their own personal safety. Also, if your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it won’t be happy with your “coasting.”
Then, there are all the rest of the automatic transmission cars and trucks, that will be mechanically damaged by coasting in neutral. The transmission will be ruined in fairly short order from attempting to coast with it in neutral.
I raced for many years and know how to control a car. But the part about the transmission not liking it is a good point.
Okay, okay, I won’t coast down hill anymore. You all sound like my wife on a nagging Sunday afternoon...and she was right too.
This video (by Consumer Reports) does a very good job of describing and demonstrating the very real problem that Toyota had:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZZNR9O3xZM
Cars with computer engine management system actually shut off the gas going to the engine while coasting. If you coast in neutral, gas is required to keep the engine running, so along with the other factors you mentioned, you save more on gas by leaving the car in gear.
Mrs. POF is taking a nap, so I needed SOMEBODY to nag!
Grin...
Wrong. The first click that turns off the engine does NOT lock the wheel...Stevie666
Okay, I thought Texas. But, thanks for the great job that you folks put into it. ;>)
Coincidentally, mine has taken some time off from nagging to also take a nap.
“What about throwing the car into reverse?
Wouldn’t that be even better than neutral?”
NO.
You would run the risk of causing the back wheels (or front wheels on a front wheel drive car) to lock up, rendering the car uncontrollable.
Hyundai are great cars but still can’t shake the stigma of being the poor man’s Honda.
Go to YouTube and watch crash tests. Amazing how the new cars hold up to the old ones. They have a comparison between a 60’s car and a new car (a smaller model new car). The driver in the 60’s car was surely dead while the new car driver would have walked away like you did.
Go to YouTube and watch crash tests. Amazing how the new cars hold up to the old ones. They have a comparison between a 60’s car and a new car (a smaller model new car). The driver in the 60’s car was surely dead while the new car driver would have walked away like you did.
>> “Cars with computer engine management system actually shut off the gas going to the engine while coasting” <<
.
I have five vehicles with ‘computer’ engine management systems, and none of them do that.
>> “Of course, if you do turn off the ignition, your steering wheel locks in whatever direction it happens to be pointing at that moment.” <<
.
You can do better than that.
It takes two clicks and placing the shift in park to lock the steering.
>> “What about throwing the car into reverse?”
“Wouldn’t that be even better than neutral?””
.
“NO.
You would run the risk of causing the back wheels (or front wheels on a front wheel drive car) to lock up, rendering the car uncontrollable.” <<
.
Nonsense!
There is no car on the road today that will actually go into reverse before the output governor pressure falls to zero.
Older cars, like the one I can afford, didn’t have all the interlocks that the cars you rich bastichies think everyone who isn’t scum drive, did indeed lock up the steering wheel when the ignition was turned off.
Several accidents were reported when the gas prices first spiked as drivers tried to save gas by turning off the engine to coast down hill.
There aren’t that many perfectly straight down-hill runs...
Heck I can even remember when you could move a car whose engine wouldn’t start, by putting it in gear, taking your foot off the clutch, and bumping the starter.
Handy to know should you ever stall out on railroad tracks...
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