Zephyrin |
Apr 25, 2008 12:37 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arainach
(Post 597628)
Crash - slowing down to conserve momentum not only conserves a LOT of gas, for those of us with manual transmissions it saves a pile of wear on the clutch too, and those things aren't cheap. I won't be changing my habits any time soon.
Also, Killy, engine braking is downshifting to slow down, and it doesn't save gas, it burns it. What Crash is describing is simply slowing down a bit and taking your foot off the gas to ensure that when the light turns green you're still rolling and you don't have to do a full start from stopped again.
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Slowing down to conserve momentum saves gas when you're approaching a RED light about to turn GREEN, not the other way around, which is what Crash is describing. I'd be upset if somebody took five years to get to the damn red light, too.
Engine braking is leaving the vehicle in gear, or downshifting, in order to use the engine drag to slow the vehicle. This is definitely a SAFER prodedure when driving a big rig, but unnecessary in a passenger vehicle other than a bus, because the vehicle just doesn't weigh that much.
I don't engine brake. If you drive a manual, you should just throw in the clutch, and use the brakes to control your decline in speed, instead of downshifting each gear. If it's an automatic, the sooner you hit the brakes and starting slowing, the sooner it kicks outta gear. Some even kick out of gear fairly soon after just letting off the accelerator.
This saves you wear on the clutch AND the engine, and conserves gas. Brake pads are MUCH cheaper to replace than either the clutch or engine, or even for the price of gas nowadays.
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