Quote:
Originally Posted by TimV
when i need to slow down, i start early to let it in biggest gear until it is at 1300rpm, then i downshift 1 gear and so on...
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Why do you downshift at 1300rpm? DFCO should continue until you reach idle. By keeping it in the highest gear/ lowest RPM, you minimize engine braking and maximize your distance traveled in DFCO .
I will often cruise in 5th at say 1300RPM, and if the light ahead changes, I'll shift up to 6th (~1000RPM), there's so little engine brake that it feels almost like neutral, but unlike neutral I'm using zero fuel. Once I feel/ see the fuel cut back in (800RPM) I just flick the lever into neutral and use the brakes to stop (traveling pretty slow at this stage). Sometimes I might go from 6th to 3rd during a stop to get a bit more DFCO and save the brakes, but I feel the extra wear & tear from the downshift isn't really worth the fuel saving.
Normally, the only time I downshift during DFCO is if the light changes and if I think I'll need say 3rd I'll downshift ASAP so I maximize DFCO and save brake wear, and of course I'm in the right gear when it's time to accelerate again.