Riding in Neutral

[Coastal]

It is mentioned above in a couple posts that the engine uses no fuel in neutral - Can someone please explain to me how an engine runs with no gas? To keep the engine running you need 3 things, fuel, air & spark?

Also, I would certainly think there is less friction it the driveline while in neutral - wouldn't you have to get better MPG in N than in D?

Also, someone mentions accidentally putting it in reverse - I think the computer will not let you put the transmission in reverse when travelling over a certain MPH - who wants to try this to make sure?!

With these questions, I still would not find it adviseable to put in neutral, just curious on a couple of the points made above

 

[gaylon]

19.8? I would compose her a song and take her out to eat!

I cooked her lamb chops (both Rib and Loing chops) and jacket potatoes with a wonderful 00 Cab Franc.


She does not want for good food or wine.

Thanks for the thought.

 

[gaylon]

I cooked her lamb chops (both Rib and Loing chops) and jacket potatoes with a wonderful 00 Cab Franc.


She does not want for good food or wine.

Thanks for the thought.

Loin Chops - good wine....

 

[e9999]

It is mentioned above in a couple posts that the engine uses no fuel in neutral - Can someone please explain to me how an engine runs with no gas? To keep the engine running you need 3 things, fuel, air & spark?


snip

well, gravity (or inertia) via the wheels via the transmission keeps the engine spinning , like a motor running a compressor...

 

[Tinkerer]

Lots of responses. Thank you. I will pass on this advice to her. She managed to get 19.8 for the first half of this weeks tank, which includes some traffic and city driving...

Can't do much more than 14 in my 2000. Don't ask about the '84. Of course, she is a much more 'zen' driver than I am.

19.8 mpg? Wow. I bow and tip my Zen hat to her. My own record is 18.8.

(I'd still like to keep my yin/yang avatar for IH8MUD use, though...)

How do you calculate mileage, if not by actual miles / actual gallons ?

(You mention "first half of this weeks tank", which begs the question. A built-in vehicle mpg calculator is not always accurate, but actual miles divided by actual gallons IS accurate. I fill up tank, drive to near E, fill it up again, and divide miles driven by gallons used.)

 

[greynolds]

I fill up tank, drive to near E, fill it up again, and divide miles driven by gallons used.)

Which is only accurate if the odometer is accurate . Even with stock tires, odometers are sometimes not accurate - my Land Rover odometer read about 10% low (IIRC) with the stock tires - tested by using mile markers along a highway.

 

[NMuzj100]

Which is only accurate if the odometer is accurate . Even with stock tires, odometers are sometimes not accurate - my Land Rover odometer read about 10% low (IIRC) with the stock tires - tested by using mile markers along a highway.

Mile Markers are often not that accurate either.

Trying to calculate fuel economy on even full tanks of gas is pretty spotty. When consumer reports is calculating MPG on vehicles they have to place fine-tuned fuel flow meters into the fuel lines of the engine in order to get accurate fuel usage. They then compare that with a calibrated measuring device (bicycle wheel type ) attached externally to the car. IIRC.. this was the only way they could get repeatable results.

Even the fuel value of a "Gallon" of gas will vary with temperature as the gas expands and contracts.

gaylon - Have your wife figure out whether she gets better milage with regular unleaded or premium ? Both camps appear to have a scientific basis to believe their chosen fuel will get better MPG. She may actually be watching closely enough to tell. Have you removed the third row seats (even the second row) ?

 

[greynolds]

Mile Markers are often not that accurate either.

True, but this was a stretch that is known to be pretty close.

Have you removed the third row seats (even the second row) ?

What third row seats? Mine were removed as soon as I got home from the dealer.

 

[tech_dog]

I'm also a bit obsessive about gas mileage in my 100, and often coast in neutral.

One thing I've noticed is that there definitely seems to be "good gas" and "bad gas" when it comes to MPG. The best I've ever gotten on a tank is 20MPG, and it was on a tank where I accidentally filled up with regular. I think that's coincidence, and that other factors actually determine how much energy is in the tank. I've had good and bad tanks with both regular and supreme, and there's no clear correlation with brand either.