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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Portland
Posts: 382
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Cruzin' in Neutral
OK - Here's the deal. I need the boards advice. A buddy of my owns a '69 Chevelle with the 350/350 combo. My truck has the same combo. When we go down a long hill on the HWY, he puts his car in neutral to "save gas". Then he puts it back in drive and away we go. Is that safe on the transmissiion? He has been doing it for years and he said it isn't hurting the transmission. Is this true? I don't think it can be doing any good on the transmission. How does the transmission know to go back in 3rd gear when put into drive again while cruzin at 60+ MPH in Neutral? Thanks for any and all input.
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,873
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
I believe the governor in the trans will tell it to go into high gear. If you read the manual on the 350 trans it may say (I'm not sure on this,go read it and see) that when towing a vehicle in neutral,not to exceed a certain speed and distance. Coasting would in effect be the same thing with the car being "towed" by gravity. Personally,I wouldn't do it to save 3 cents worth of gas.
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 3,930
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
Not worth it. If you run out of gas and need every last bit of momentum to get off the road, popping it into neutral stops the engine from slowing down the vehicle. Don't ask me how I know...
If you really want to save gas, put on a TBI setup. If I remember right, these have a deceleration fuel cut off so the motor isn't using any gas as you slow down. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: here
Posts: 5,789
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
Its pretty safe to say he isnt saving anything at all.
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#5 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
the towing comment doesn't apply to this.
An auto tranny has the pump driven by the torque converter, if the vehicle is being towed with the drive shaft in place, then part of the tranny is spinning, but not the oil pump. If the engine is running, even at an idle, you can tow all daylong with the shaft in place at idle. He isn't doing any damage, however, he ain't saving any money. He may have saved 3 cents in the last 10 years. When you lift, the throttle closes, and you don't suck much fuel in there at all. He could do some damage by accidently over shooting the shifter. He is putting some minor exrtra wear on the shift linkage and valve body, not major though. if the engine is at idle when he pops it in gear, then he could be doing some advanced clutch pack wear, again, not detrimental, but added wear. Tell him he is a tool, and if he's that concerned about fuel... to get a gas sipper and park/sell the cool car. On a side note; On a fuel injected engine, there is no fuel being used at all as you decelerate in gear... so in a fuel injected, you burn more by poppin it in neutral. |
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#6 |
chrome makes it go FASTER!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cleveland Tennessee
Posts: 2,884
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
He's probably not saving fuel,but you'll never convince him of this. If he's been doing it for years, it would kill him to go down a hill in drive.
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She can't cook and she won't clean. But she looks good in a skirt and she brings me beer. She can stay for now. EDIT:: But she left me anyway, So forget her. 1962 GMC Stepside V6 4 speed My rolling resto thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=324226 My old farm truck http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post3465005 |
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#7 |
never finish start another
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: North Platte Nebraska
Posts: 432
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
If he want's to really save fuel, tell him to put it in reverse
![]() Last edited by nplocoman; 05-20-2007 at 07:36 PM. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Portland
Posts: 382
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
Thanks all who added there input. Really appreciatative. He has had the chevelle now for over 15 years. It is his DD. It is what he has always done in this car. I always have said that you are going to be replacing the transmission just for saving a few drops for gas, or worst yet, over shoot that thing into reverse. Thanks again fellas.
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cheney, KS
Posts: 669
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
What about popping it into neutral and revving the hell out of it when you drive by a hotrod.....like the ricers do?
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#10 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Studio City, Calif.
Posts: 2,873
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
Quote:
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'69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme. |
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#11 |
68 C10 Longbed
![]() Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Naples, Florida
Posts: 520
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
I had a friend one time who was cruising at like 80mph down a highway and had a 4 spd. He put the clutch in just for the hell of it while he was in 4th gear and held it down a while. When he let the clutch out again he blew the motor!
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#12 |
Chief Honcho In Charge
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bentonville AR
Posts: 970
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Re: Cruzin' in Neutral
Tell him to pop it in park if he wants to save money on fuel.
__________________
1992 1500 4x4 Shortbed 1984 Ford F250 Supercab Longbed 6.9L Diesel 1972 K10 Cheyenne Super Fleetside Short Bed - 350 - A/C 1971 VW SuperBeetle 1960 Wife 1984 Son 1986 Son 1989 Son Previous Trucks 1967 C10 SWB (1980-1981) 1971 C10 LWB (1998-2004) |
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