tips for fuel economy

[Ragdude]

Just a note; not all left foot brakers are idiots, I mean I’m sure lots of them probably are, with the number of idiots in the world in general lol, but I know from my work operating equipment you OFTEN need to use both feet (one on each pedal, the machines are made for this) for better and smoother control, and I can see how some people might end up making that a habit in their personal vehicle. I personally don’t do this unless the situation calls for it (like rocking the vehicle back and forth to get unstuck, things like that) and then only in vehicles with two pedals (naturally your left is busy with the clutch in cars with manual trans).

Ok my apologies to the .001% who fall into that catagory

 

[AndyBees]

AHU works the same. Using TDeanI's example:

he loses 1/4 mile of coasting by leaving it in gear. Coasting in neutral during that extra 1/4mile costs him about 0.12gal/hour * 0.0042hour, or 0.0005gal. Coasting in 5th saves him 0.0005gal, but costs him much more than that to regain his original speed.

We all have a regular routine with our drives, including basically the same routes to work, grocery, hardware store, etc. I learned that there are places along those routes where it is best to coast in gear vs in neutral. I live out in the county 17 miles from town. On the route into town there is a section of highway with a 2.5 mile up hill grade and just over 4 miles down hill on the other side. It is not safe in either direction to coast in neutral due to the curves. I drove that section of highway for over 33 years in my career commuting to work. Then, a major road rebuild and alignment resulted in a nice long stretch on both sides that can be negotiated in neutral in both directions. But, I prefer just coasting in gear and practice that method as a way to slow the vehicle before a stop sign, traffic light, a need to merge in some circumstances, negotiating curves, etc.

 

[TDeanI]

I can tell you that my coasting technique is worth 5 mpg for my car on my daily commute. I do not coast below the speed limit. I coast down to the speed limit or just under it. With my taller gear it makes it harder to accelerate at 50 mph in 5th and I waste fuel building boost or shifting to 4th. There are plenty of hills where I can maintain speed in neutral or accelerate. I put it back into gear or let out the clutch slowly when down to the speed limit.
On my 35 mile trip to work, I added up all my coasts and it was an easy 5 miles of total coasting if I add up all the big and medium coasts in 35 miles. Lots of hills but only a few steep ones where I need to brake. I have two coasts i can coast for over a mile. In gear, the same coasts are less than 1/4 mile. My coast in gear are only around 100 mpg on my Scan Gauge. My coast in nuetral are 360-450 mpg.

On days that I am late and just follow the car in front of me driving normal and leaving it in gear, I get maybe 47 mpg for the same trip. At the same speed I get 52-56 mpg same trip with coasting. Five miles of coasting while getting 400 mpg saves fuel.

My car has substantial aero mods so I can coast farther than stock vehicles.

 

[Lightflyer1]

Coasts in gear should turn off all fuel feed in my understanding. Should be infinite when coasting in gear.

 

[AndyBees]

Coasts in gear should turn off all fuel feed in my understanding. Should be infinite when coasting in gear.

Yeah, the Scan Gauge in my Jetta's go to flat line coasting in gear, indicating fuel totally turned off. The Gasser Engine in my 2011 VW Tiguan will show the same on the in-dash indicator. And, even though it it is a 6-speed automatic, coasting in gear when and where I can does improve them MPGs. Rather than MPGs with my Jetta vs the Tiguan, I look at cost of fuel per mile to drive them. In recent years, there's been little difference the TDI wins out!

Back in the day, that long 4+ miles of down hill coast I mentioned above, would result in the Temp Gauge dropping noticeably on a very cold morning on the way to work. So, that is solid proof the fuel is shut-off during coasting in gear.

 

[turbodieseldyke]

On my 35 mile trip to work, I added up all my coasts and it was an easy 5 miles of total coasting if I add up all the big and medium coasts in 35 miles.

When i used to drive up the Grapevine every week (I-5, south of Bakersfield), I used a stopwatch to track my bursts of In-Gear-Foot-On-Gas-Pedal time during the Neutral coasting. From the summit (4144ft), i could make it 20 miles with 90 seconds of Pedal-Time. I'd guess the final elevation petered out around 500ft.

 

[Felly123]

I can tell you that my coasting technique is worth 5 mpg for my car on my daily commute. I do not coast below the speed limit. I coast down to the speed limit or just under it. With my taller gear it makes it harder to accelerate at 50 mph in 5th and I waste fuel building boost or shifting to 4th. There are plenty of hills where I can maintain speed in neutral or accelerate. I put it back into gear or let out the clutch slowly when down to the speed limit.
On my 35 mile trip to work, I added up all my coasts and it was an easy 5 miles of total coasting if I add up all the big and medium coasts in 35 miles. Lots of hills but only a few steep ones where I need to brake. I have two coasts i can coast for over a mile. In gear, the same coasts are less than 1/4 mile. My coast in gear are only around 100 mpg on my Scan Gauge. My coast in nuetral are 360-450 mpg.

On days that I am late and just follow the car in front of me driving normal and leaving it in gear, I get maybe 47 mpg for the same trip. At the same speed I get 52-56 mpg same trip with coasting. Five miles of coasting while getting 400 mpg saves fuel.

My car has substantial aero mods so I can coast farther than stock vehicles.

Hello TDeanl, Where did you get your Scan Gauge? just what I looking for fo my 97. Thanks PS Just put a bigger 5th gear in last week.

 

[J_dude]

Hello TDeanl, Where did you get your Scan Gauge? just what I looking for fo my 97. Thanks PS Just put a bigger 5th gear in last week.

I got mine on amazon

 

[AndyBees]

ScanGauge II Ultra Compact 3 In1 Automotive Computer for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ScanGauge II Ultra Compact 3 In1 Automotive Computer at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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[Felly123]

I got mine on amazon

I don't want to be any trouble, but what Brand and or Make is it?

 

[Felly123]

ScanGauge II Ultra Compact 3 In1 Automotive Computer for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for ScanGauge II Ultra Compact 3 In1 Automotive Computer at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

https://www.amazon.com/ScanGauge-SGIIFFP-Automotive-Customizable-Frustration/dp/B00VX2NOK2/ref=asc_df_B00VX2NOK2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312540934012&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16051401268011279350&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014330&hvtargid=pla-569356064528&th=1

Never mind, I see where you linked it. Just ordered it. Cheers