Neutral down hills?
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When I use to do that in my 5 speed saturn which was my vehicle before the ranger.. I would always put it in - N - on the huge long hills.. I remember bringing the revs up before letting the clutch out again in 5th gear or else it would be jerky.
As for putting it in - N - on my auto ranger on the hills, it seems to go over really smoothly with no jerky action at all.. I usually put it in Neutral on the last hill before my driveway and drift all the way in the driveway.
Once when I was young and stupid I did that in my dad's truck (96' GMC Sierra 4x4 at the time) and instead of putting it back into drive, I put it in and out of park real fast and the truck shut off, no power steering, no brakes, nothing.. I basically pooped on the spot. No damage done though - started right up again... haha, oh the things i've done.
As for putting it in - N - on my auto ranger on the hills, it seems to go over really smoothly with no jerky action at all.. I usually put it in Neutral on the last hill before my driveway and drift all the way in the driveway.
Once when I was young and stupid I did that in my dad's truck (96' GMC Sierra 4x4 at the time) and instead of putting it back into drive, I put it in and out of park real fast and the truck shut off, no power steering, no brakes, nothing.. I basically pooped on the spot. No damage done though - started right up again... haha, oh the things i've done.
#12
Using neutral downhill is definitely illegal in California where I learned to drive. It probably is in most other states too. I never do it.
Besides, if you let completely off the throttle for more than a few seconds while coasting in gear, the injectors shut off to save fuel. They don't start operating again until you open the throttle or reach a minimum RPM (something like 1500 approximately).
So, rolling down a long hill in gear with the throttle closed can actually use slightly less fuel than shifting to neutral and letting the engine idle.
Besides, if you let completely off the throttle for more than a few seconds while coasting in gear, the injectors shut off to save fuel. They don't start operating again until you open the throttle or reach a minimum RPM (something like 1500 approximately).
So, rolling down a long hill in gear with the throttle closed can actually use slightly less fuel than shifting to neutral and letting the engine idle.
#13
Plus if something happens and you need to power out of an emergency you don't have to fiddle with your shifter. I get out of a lot more bad situations by using my gas then using my brakes.
I would not do it.
You would save a lot more gas by not doing jackrabbit starts, using engine braking, driving at even speeds and not passing someone to get to the next exit. Things that many drivers do and then complain about gas mileage.
I would not do it.
You would save a lot more gas by not doing jackrabbit starts, using engine braking, driving at even speeds and not passing someone to get to the next exit. Things that many drivers do and then complain about gas mileage.
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I would say bad for the truck, do not do it
even for the manual drivers you do not have as much control over a free wheeling truck as one in gear
no matter how good of a manual driver you are each engagement of the clutch (unless PERFECTLY matched in RPM with the engine) creates heat and wear on the plate
even for the manual drivers you do not have as much control over a free wheeling truck as one in gear
no matter how good of a manual driver you are each engagement of the clutch (unless PERFECTLY matched in RPM with the engine) creates heat and wear on the plate
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not only could it cause damage, but think of it this way, when desending a big hill, you can shift your truck for D to '2' and that will give u more braking power. the big thing here is your relying 100% on the fact that your brakes with stop u. once they get red hot, their no longer effective. your MUCH better off using the engine and transmission to slow the truck down. since u can actually manually downshift your auto, so u get more engine braking which is more effective than brakes alone.
Me and dad learned this the hard way.... we used to take our boat up into niagra county for winter storage..... so, his E350 at 13,000lbs, + 10,000lbs for the boat and trailer, + 1/2 miles hill with a red light at the bottom..... dad, used to rely 100% on the brakes... well one year, that light at the bottom turned red, the trailer brakes were tugging at the truck, and the speedo was reading 60 in a 30 LOL needless to say we didnt stop for the light LOL! after that incident, we began downshifting the truck from D to 2 and that pretty much solved that problem.
Me and dad learned this the hard way.... we used to take our boat up into niagra county for winter storage..... so, his E350 at 13,000lbs, + 10,000lbs for the boat and trailer, + 1/2 miles hill with a red light at the bottom..... dad, used to rely 100% on the brakes... well one year, that light at the bottom turned red, the trailer brakes were tugging at the truck, and the speedo was reading 60 in a 30 LOL needless to say we didnt stop for the light LOL! after that incident, we began downshifting the truck from D to 2 and that pretty much solved that problem.
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#21
Originally Posted by rwenzing
Manual or automatic, why would you ever use neutral downhill?
It is potentially dangerous.
It is illegal in most states, maybe all.
It uses the same or more fuel than coasting in gear.
It is potentially dangerous.
It is illegal in most states, maybe all.
It uses the same or more fuel than coasting in gear.
Anyways, I appreciated your post, thanks.
#22
Originally Posted by Bhavesh
I'm wondering if people are reading your previous post. For me that settles the issue altogether (because of the fact that the injectors shut off).
Anyways, I appreciated your post, thanks.
Anyways, I appreciated your post, thanks.
#23
Originally Posted by lifted97ranger
don't do it.....bad for the tranny when it gets the sudden shock of being put back into drive......and what if you go too far and you put it in reverse? now talk about bad for the tranny.....
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