Neutral Coasting

[IsaacCarlson]

How is bump starting any different than taking off from a stop? You can't even feel it when I "bump" start my truck...doesn't matter how fast or slow I am going. I don't just dump the clutch. It is a quick, controlled slip. I let it out till it slips just enough to get the engine turning and then push it back in. Once the engine is running, I let it back out and continue on my way....sort of like double clutching. There is no shock. I might make a vid of it just to prove it. Might be good for those who are doing it wrong? The whole process takes less than a second.

[PaleMelanesian]

Ditto. I've had passengers not even realize I was bump-starting it, that's how smooth it can be. If there's any shock or jolt, you're doing it wrong.

[endurance]

I think most people assume it's not a two part process; kicking the engine over and then re-engaging the engine. I'm not even sure where or when I learned that technique, but I've been doing it for decades and I've only replaced one clutch in my life and that was preventative at 128k miles (had to pull the tranny anyway due to some other bad habits of my youth (blew the second gear syncros, but that was all speed shifting damage)).

I've also been driving in the mountains of Colorado all my life. I recognize there are significant hazards with operating a vehicle out of gear with the engine off if you're on unfamiliar roads, but I'm assuming we're all adults here with adult judgment. There's a time and a place for every driving technique. There are things I do everyday that I'd never do on an unfamiliar road. Heck, it took me three months of commuting from the new house before I ever disengaged the gears on the drive down the canyon, now I go roughly 9.5 miles every morning with only about four seconds in gear. Just be sensible about it and there's not significant added risk.

[wdb]

Surprised that nobody has mentioned keeping your foot OFF the clutch pedal while coasting in neutral. Driving around with the clutch pedal held to the floor, or even resting your foot on the pedal, will wear clutch components more quickly.

As to bump starting - that's child's play. Real men shift without using the clutch! :kidding:

[comptiger5000]

As WDB said, with a manual tranny, pop it in neutral, and release the clutch, and it won't hurt anything.

However, there are a few manual trannies (not many) that require the engine to be spinning to stay lubed, so EOC (or neutral with clutch pressed) is a no-no for those. 95% of manuals are fine for EOC, however (most are lubed from the output shaft).

[IsaacCarlson]

Some of my passengers look shocked when they hear the engine start in the middle of a trip. They had no idea the truck was off for the last mile and a half!

[04_Sentra]

Ok I guess I understand why you wouldn't want to shift an auto D->N->D while moving but what about a CVT?

[hyperme]

Originally Posted by 04_Sentra

Ok I guess I understand why you wouldn't want to shift an auto D->N->D while moving but what about a CVT?

I spend more than half my time in neutral in my HS250h with it's eCVT transmission. I'm constantly doing the D>N>D thing. Never any issues, shifting is smooth as silk and it seems to be the best way to spike the MPGs.