Quote:
Originally Posted by Widetracker
In a carburated car it makes sense but with EFI it actually uses more to idle than engine braking since the injectors are not squirting fuel.
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The difference is that the car in gear won't travel as far as the car in N does, even if the car in N is using fuel. In certain situations, such as steep downhills, N would result in the car going too fast, so coasting in gear is a win-win since there's N will result in excessive gas use and excessive brake use, or excessive gas use and the dangers associated with breaking the speed limit. It depends on average fuel consumption of some distance at some speed/load compared to peak load as well as idle fuel consumption.
This should help out with what's happening.