putting car in neutral save gas
Does putting your car in neutral save gas?—By chemmmmm
I have an automatic 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue. If I put the car in neutral while driving does it save gas? Also, does it hurt my car if a switch from neutral to drive frequently while driving?
Best Answer - By Jack
Context related.If you are running the air-conditioner and sitting at a stop light or are stopped for some other reason, then yes putting the car in neutral during that time will save fuel.
If you are just coming to a stop and then going, then it will not save fuel. Your engine needs to have it’s load decreased for fuel to be conserved. Yes, idling while in gear is a load. It’s a small load. Idling with the air-conditioner running is a slightly larger load.
Make sure you put it in drive and wait for it to engage before accelerating. The wear on your transmission might not be worth the little fuel you save.
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Comment by
Superman on 24 September 2009:
No if your in a place you can put your car in neutral such as a hill it won’t matter. When you put your car in neutral the engine is still running thus burning the same amount of gas.
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Comment by
bandit_60 on 24 September 2009:
it don,t save a bit more gas ! after all your car is still running.you can switch gears but why would you want to do that when the transmission will do it for you ?all your doing is wearing out the linkage. if you want to change gears then get a manuel.
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Comment by
pedro7of9 on 24 September 2009:
a auto tranny is a series of pumps ..[sometimes belts]]..putting it in/out of gear puts undo wear on it…and it doesnt save any gas..
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Comment by
LeAnne on 24 September 2009:
No. If the vehicle is in neutral and you let off the gas, the computer needs to keep the engine running much the same as anytime the vehicle is stopped and idling – if the vehicle is in gear and you let off the gas to coast, the computer can initiate a fuel cut because the vehicles momentum will keep the engine’s rpm’s up.
It may seem to be a good idea because the vehicle will seem to coast further without any engine drag – and it might even show a slight increase with a carbureted engine – but not with an electronically controlled fuel system.
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