Hello from 2000 Alero
 

Hi, my name is Rob and I drive a 2000 Olds Alero automatic with a V6.
I have been lurking here for about 1 month and bought a scangauge II last week.
I have been trying to increase my mpg by starting slow, anticipating stops, and shifting into neutral going down hill or coming to a stop.
I drive mostly in the city.

A couple of quick questions:
Am I doing any harm to my car by shifting it into neutral (it's an automatic) as I am going down hill, slowing down or coming to a stop?
Also, before I got my scangauge II, I was accelerating off the line as slowly and gently as possible, but the scangauge is showing that is just keeping me a low mpg (below 10mpg) for a long time. Is it better to accelerate a little more aggressively and get the higher mpgs going a little more quickly?
Thanks.
Rob

Welcome. Watch the SGII for verification, but getting the auto trans into a high gear more quickly is usually better. Not a tire burning kind of start, just a bit more aggressive. And let up on the gas every time you get to the rpm shift point so the trans can unload and shift.

Welcome to the site.

bikin' Ed knows his stuff. A slightly more agressive start will be better, just try to avoid real high rpms. I'd also bump up your tire pressure to max sidewall, and even think about using engine off at stoplights if you know your going to be sitting for a while.

Welcome to the site. As far as coasting goes, I would ask your dealer if the car is able to be towed behind an RV. This will give you the answer you need.

Towed without a dolly. that will tell you if the trans will have problems with the AT pump moving fluid.

Thanks for all of the responses and welcome.
The owner's manual says it can be towed flat up to 65pmh so I guess I should be ok if I stay below that speed while in neutral?
I'm still a little wary of doing as quite a few people say it's a bad idea (on other places on the net) but I am not sure if they know what they are talking about.
I don't want to mess up my transmission but loving seeing my scangauge at 100mpg. I only wish I had a manual transmission so I could really see big numbers.

Thanks again.
Rob

Keeping the engine in neutral and coasting is fine for an automatic tranny. It will cause a little added wear since you are shifting more, but not that much. Just think how often you shift in city driving. Dropping into neutral here and there is not going to cause a ton more shifting.

The only concern with the flat tow issue is engine off coasting because auto trannies usually use pumps powered by the engine to keep them lubricated. Your doesn't have this reliance, so you should be fine (up to 65 mph).

Those are nice cars :)

My driver's ed car was a mid-2000s Alero Sedan.

Welcome, 2000Alero

Those cars have one heck of a motor, I have heard. They are capable of relatively high RPM if I remember correctly.

Welcome to the site.

I have a similar powertrain, and noticed the same things as you. Nearly every stop or change in direction on my way to work is up a hill afterwards. Before the mpguino I used to crawl up the hills when nobody was behind me, then after the mpguino I realized how much more mpg I was losing overall in the 25 mile trip. I was getting similar numbers as you as well. Same goes for coming from even a level stop. Learn your shift points. Push a little harder to get it in high gear quicker then let off like biker ED said and youll be better off. Even when starting out cold, you wont have a TCC till it reaches operating temp, but at least get it into OD and thatll help too. Assuming the speed limit in your area will let you do that of course.