Hey smart guys, does shifting into neutral with an automatic car...

I think this question might be best reserved for the swarm of nerds in the dark matter, "we don't know crap about what we don't know about yet" thread started by a certain professor from Northern California. I don't wanna name names.

 

No, the engine is still idling....doesn't save anything.

DD

 

I'm pretty sure that all cars with electronic fuel injection will turn off the accelerator once you come to a stop. I think the neutral shifting technique is for carbureted cars.

You may want to read about hypermiling , though. I've been using these techniques over the past couple of weeks. I am now getting almost 20 mpg in a GMC Yukon with a 4.8L V8!

 

I'm no expert, but I read somewhere that with some cars, idling burns more gas.

 

Check your tach to see what speed your car is running in gear as opposed to in neutral. If your car idles at a higher rev than it runs in gear then you might save gas I suppose.

 

Backwards rather, if it idles at a lower rev than it runs in gear then you might save gas.

 

Want to save gas? Try driving no more than 50-55MPH. May not be fun if you are a speed demon but you'll save gas if you don't mind taking a little longer to get where you are going.

 

http://chunlick.blogspot.com/2008/05/world-wonders-1-neutral-to-save-gas.html

 

Yes, OP, it's a fact that we don't know what happens to 97% of the gasoline in your car! A neutral only provides dark energy. I would avoid that.

 

i think hypermilers actually turn off their car at red lights...

 

With the automatic transmission in gear, it puts a load on the engine. The engine computer adds fuel to accomodate that load and keep the rpm at a set point.
Even if the neutral idle rpm may be higher, it does not mean it is burning more fuel than a lower rpm, in-gear situation.

Either way, it's a minimal difference. I would lean towards burning less fuel while in neutral, at a stop.

On another note, adding electrical loads to an engine will also affect fuel consumption, since the alternator is put under more load to supply the car. Radio, lights, rear defroster (especially-turn it on and notice the engine behavior, more noticeable on small engines), etc.

 

You can put it in neutral when you know there is a downward hill coming up.

 

I think that's a myth that was made up in the 70s. I think cars nowadays it can vary, depending on gearing etc. I get better mileage at 75-80 than I do at 55.

 

Huh?

Unless I don't understand alternators, I don't believe this to be true at all. Alternators put out a constant voltage (voltage regulator). The alternator pulley's resistance never changes, no matter how much "load" is put on it.

 

I like to put it on neutral when I'm at a red light just because I'm lazy as s***. Then when the light turns green I'll auto pilot it at 35mph.

 

awesome!

 

You need gasdar. It only works if you put your car in neutral. I think Autozone carries it.


j/k

 

That's a pretty retarted thing they do. Doing that will screw up your starter quicker, and you will end up paying more to replace your starter than the amount of gas you save by turning your car off at every light. And doesn't turning your car on use up more gas than we think?

 

Why don't you ask these guys?