Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
No idling, no warming up, take weight out. I personally wouldn't p&g an a/t; I'd learn what the best accel rate is, and where to momentarily lift the throttle to induce an upshift, and what is the slowest speed it'll cruise at in top gear.
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Very good advice IMHO, (unlike some of the argumentation that followed).
Try to time your trips such that either: the engine is never really cold OR if it is really cold you have many deliveries to make such that it does not cool down enough to matter.
If it's below freezing, consider doing a full radiator block. Cold weather operation is a fuel robber.
If you are not sure about the transmission design, don't throw it into neutral unless you can coast to a full stop and then put it back into drive after a standstill. Rebuilding an A/T costs well over 1000 bucks. Ruining your A/T is not worth saving a few $$ in gas.
If you are driving in warm or hot weather, put it in neutral at long stoplights or shut it off. It will take a load off the transmission (reduce heat wear), save a small bit of fuel and can do no harm other than the wear on the starter in restarting the engine.
Accelerate moderately but ASAP into high gear if possible (like if the speed limit is 40 or so); don't take forever in ultra slow acceleration through the lower gears, because they deliver poorer fuel economy.
Don't remove your spare tire - unless you want to be hitchhiking the day you get a flat tire.
