Out of gear coasting safety

[99metro]

I'm a bit safer. I coast with the clutch in and engine on - that way I'm just a foot movement away from being in gear. Same with pulse and glide - all 5th gear and gliding with the clutch in. The only time I'm "neutral" coasting is when I am approaching a stoplight or stop sign and I am preparing to brake soon.

I'll never have the "best" fuel mileage with a Metro, but I'll be up there with room for improvement - when I get the gumption!

Later

[Stealth TDI]

Tas,

You may or may not know our cars do not inject fuel when coasting in gear (it's almost all returned to the tank). Most TDIClubbers consider coasting in gear to be more efficient than coasting in neutral. I tend to believe it's more sensible than coasting with the engine off since the steering, brakes, and even AC (yes, I cave in 100* heat) will function normally.

Oh, check out this photo taken while coasting several miles down to 1000 feet from 5400 feet:


Looking at IAT and EGT, you might conclude there is no combustion taking place since EGTs are only about 40* above ambient temp. I've never seen my EGT so low unless the car has sat overnight.

Take Care,

Scott

[jim-frank]

I leave my Sentra in 5th with the clutch in most of the time I'm coasting. The steering and brakes are very unweildy with the engine off.

I don't attempt to avoid being rear-ended at a stoplight by even thinking about running the red to get out of the way. If you miss seeing someone crossing your path, and you collide, then *you* are at fault. If you get rear ended, the person who hits you from behind is at fault.

Not much consolation if you're totalled or injured, but the risk of running the light is greater than the risk of being rear ended, IMO.

[Clev]

Originally Posted by jim-frank

I leave my Sentra in 5th with the clutch in most of the time I'm coasting. The steering and brakes are very unweildy with the engine off.

I don't attempt to avoid being rear-ended at a stoplight by even thinking about running the red to get out of the way. If you miss seeing someone crossing your path, and you collide, then *you* are at fault. If you get rear ended, the person who hits you from behind is at fault.

Not much consolation if you're totalled or injured, but the risk of running the light is greater than the risk of being rear ended, IMO.

Agreed. The guy behind you probably still won't be able to stop in time, and then you're T-boned AND rear-ended. My car is from 1990, before side-impact beams were standard. I'd rather have the rear-seat/trunk crumple zone behind me than a three-inch crumple zone on my left.

As far as the coasting laws, we were taught in Driver's Ed that these rules were in place because carbureted vehicles could die without notice while in neutral, making the next corner/stop a LOT more difficult than the last three. Plus, engine braking was vital when you were heading downhill with drums on all 4 wheels. Fuel-injected vehicles with front discs generally don't have these problems.

[instarx]

A few months ago I was slowly driving down the lane in a parking lot when some guy started backing out of his spot just as I was passing behind his car! A quick jab on the accelerator barely got me out of his way. Had I been coasting in neutral he would have hit me. In all my 40 years of driving I think that is the only time a quick application of power kept me out of an accident.

With parking lots being the only exception, I think keeping your car in gear on the off-chance that you might need emergency power is worthless.

OF course that doesn't apply on slick roads where you could very easily need power to control the car if you lose traction.

[MetroMPG]

Out of curiousity, did you also beep your horn?

[RacerX]

This is a sensitve subject and will be till the end of time.

A seasoned, experienced, defensive driver who REALLY KNOWS his car, Will know when it is safe to EOC.

[RacerX]

Hence, Some cars are easier to EOC than others, A Metro, a smaller, lighter car, manual steering etc. Is easier to EOC. Now my Riv that is a luxury car that's loaded with all the extra's....weighs 4000 lbs is much harder to handle when you EOC. So do I EOC the Riv... Rarely only when no one else is on the road....Conditions permitting. Now the Metro...All the time, I can't get enough

[instarx]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Out of curiousity, did you also beep your horn?

do I detect sarcasm, metroMPG? The take-away from the post wasn't the description of the trivial event - but that the trivial event happened once in 40 years.

So, if someone wants to alter their driving style because every 39 years, 364 days they, like me, may need instant acceleration to avoid a parking lot crunch, then they are free to do so. I don't think it's worth it.

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Also, at a stop light if the guy behind you loses his brakes or is out to lunch, or is scolding the children in the back of her suv and doesn't see the light. I stare in my rear-view when I'm at a stop. Never know... that's why I'd rather idle at a stop light if there is any traffic. Saving gas should never trump saving your @ss

Steering is definately a major concern. My car is TOUGH to steer without power assist.

This doesn't really help while in traffic. sure, my car is running, but there are 10 cars in front of me, and someone wants to slam in to me, there isn't much I can do. Lets just hope HE hasn't been coasting for the last 3/4s of a mile, and has no pumps left in his vacuum pump. My responsibility is my front bumper.