Cruzin' in Neutral

[72 cheyenne pdx]

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.

[WorkinLonghorn]

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.

[Pyrotechnic]

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.

[corn]

Its pretty safe to say he isnt saving anything at all.

[Longhorn Man]

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.

[retodd7711]

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.

[Slammed70]

What about popping it into neutral and revving the hell out of it when you drive by a hotrod.....like the ricers do?

[nplocoman]

If he want's to really save fuel, tell him to put it in reverse

[72 cheyenne pdx]

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.

[WorkinLonghorn]

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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.

Good point. I was assuming that if he was that cheap then it would follow that he is turning off the engine too,you know,to save an extra penny at least.

[ghackett1]

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!

[timcos]

Tell him to pop it in park if he wants to save money on fuel.