So I get awesome fuel economy, but I also do a fair amount of coasting down hills, to off ramps, to stop lights and signs, and into my driveway. My question is if I'm coasting down a long stretch of steep decline highway, and I throw the car back into 5th gear while coasting at 50-60 because there's a car behind me, does this hurt the engine?
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Is Coasting BAD for the Engine and Long Term Reliability (?)
- Thread starter EconoBox
- Start date
But you lose speed much more quickly as the engine brakes on its own.
True but it is still better to just keep it in gear because pulling it out of gear and coasting the injectors are still open at the idle speed, when you coast in gear the fuel is cut-off... Coming up to a stoplight this will also help your brakes out because the drive line is connected helping you stop. (engine brake)
True but it is still better to just keep it in gear because pulling it out of gear and coasting the injectors are still open at the idle speed, when you coast in gear the fuel is cut-off... Coming up to a stoplight this will also help your brakes out because the drive line is connected helping you stop. (engine brake)
Brakes are cheaper than engine work.
(band2)
exalted_one
Member
- :
- 03 protege es
Brakes are cheaper than engine work.
(band2)
Are you saying that you will need engine work because you coasted in gear?
Racebrewer
Member
- :
- Mazda, Mazda 2 Touring MT
Zero engine damage in either case.
John
John
Are you saying that you will need engine work because you coasted in gear?
No, but coasting in gear taxes the engine and extra wear and tear. Not saying that coasting in gear will directly harm an engine.
exalted_one
Member
- :
- 03 protege es
Why is coasting in gear any different than any other normal driving situation? Your engine is still spinning when coasting out of gear only it has to burn fuel to keep it going.
I just don't see how it could be detrimental I guess.
I just don't see how it could be detrimental I guess.
No, but coasting in gear taxes the engine and extra wear and tear. Not saying that coasting in gear will directly harm an engine.
there is absolutely NO WAY coasting in gear is worse for the engine then, i don't know, actually DRIVING the car.
phunky.buddha
Booga Booga?
- :
- DFW TX
- :
- No mo MZ5 want MX5
Yeah.... no biggie either way. Coast in gear- that's what you're supposed to do anyway when driving stick.
there is absolutely NO WAY coasting in gear is worse for the engine then, i don't know, actually DRIVING the car.
Are you saying that there is an equal amount of stress on an engine going 60 mph in 5th gear and an engine in a car coasting in gear and slowing down?
Are you saying that there is an equal amount of stress on an engine going 60 mph in 5th gear and an engine in a car coasting in gear and slowing down?
i'm saying your reasoning for taking the car out of gear to coast is not sound. you put more stress on the engine getting up to speed, than you would save by taking the car out of gear to coast. but, whatever. not my car.
i'm saying your reasoning for taking the car out of gear to coast is not sound. you put more stress on the engine getting up to speed, than you would save by taking the car out of gear to coast. but, whatever. not my car.
I was just asking a question. No need to be all offended and emotional.
BeetleJuice
Member
- :
- mazda2 touring
iI coast out of gear on the hwy while going down hill. I WILL TRY with leaving it in gear. see if my mpgs improve.
I don't really understand the point of arguing back and forth without providing hard data. The bottom line is that where you are driving is a much more important factor in determining whether to coast in or out of gear. My area is chock full of long, gradual declines; so for me it's better to coast out of gear to maintain speed. There is simply no way to maintain a reasonable speed in gear. Does coasting in gear cut the injectors off? Yes. But until someone take 2 identical trips using one method and then the other, and then compares the data, it's up to personal preference.
As far as getting to an answer for the OP's original question: There shouldn't be a wear issue on the motor from popping back into 5th at speed. You're not jumping in RPMs any more than you would be from a dead stop, and there is less load at speed, so short of the normal wear-and-tear on the clutch, you're good.
As far as getting to an answer for the OP's original question: There shouldn't be a wear issue on the motor from popping back into 5th at speed. You're not jumping in RPMs any more than you would be from a dead stop, and there is less load at speed, so short of the normal wear-and-tear on the clutch, you're good.
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