Editor's Blog4 mins ago
Mitsubishi Mirage
The manual says that the car is not to be allowed to coast. Coasting (yes I know it's illegal), has been a way of life for many years now. Just as changing gears is done often unconsciously, so knowing when to slip out of gear - road ahead descending, or rolling up to a junction - is done without thinking about it.
What damage can be done to the car?
What damage can be done to the car?
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In a car with manual transmission you have to slip the gearbox into neutral anyway before you stop. If you're approaching a junction in top gear, assuming it's not down a steep gradient, then it would be wise to slip it into neutral and brake at about 25mph.
Changing to a lower gear before stopping causes unnecessary wear and tear on the transmission.
No damage is caused to the car by coasting in neutral but there are times when it could be dangerous. When descending a long hill it is much better to select a lower gear and use a combination of engine braking and wheel braking.
In short, look after your gear box. Replacing brake discs and pads is a much cheaper option.
Changing to a lower gear before stopping causes unnecessary wear and tear on the transmission.
No damage is caused to the car by coasting in neutral but there are times when it could be dangerous. When descending a long hill it is much better to select a lower gear and use a combination of engine braking and wheel braking.
In short, look after your gear box. Replacing brake discs and pads is a much cheaper option.
Two things. I always though that there were only three forward gears; second, top, and neutral ! Second, and far more seriously, going down a steep hill and coasting, thus relying on your brakes, is potentially very dangerous. The brakes may overheat and lose their efficiency. It's fun to be cryng "Whee!" with the exhilaration of freefall as you coast down the hill, feet off, but ain't so much fun when you reach the hairpin bend at the end, or the truck that's slowed down ahead of you, Then you should have been relying on 'gear braking' , using the engine and gears to keep slower. you.
Sigma, when I was taught in the Seventies, it was advised to come down the gears using engine braking.
Nowadays the advice has changed. It is brakes to slow, gears to go.
Approaching junctions you are now advised to use the brakes, but then select the appropriate gear to more off.
Part of the reasoning is that brake pads are much cheaper than clutches.
Nowadays the advice has changed. It is brakes to slow, gears to go.
Approaching junctions you are now advised to use the brakes, but then select the appropriate gear to more off.
Part of the reasoning is that brake pads are much cheaper than clutches.
-- answer removed --
Hopkirk is right.
A car should be under power (even if on a 'trailing' throttle) or brakes whenever it is motion.
Coasting on an auto transmission will knacker it in no time.
Coasting on a manual transmission means the car is not under your control.
To say 'you have to slip the the gearbox into neutral before you stop' is simply wrong.
A car should be under power (even if on a 'trailing' throttle) or brakes whenever it is motion.
Coasting on an auto transmission will knacker it in no time.
Coasting on a manual transmission means the car is not under your control.
To say 'you have to slip the the gearbox into neutral before you stop' is simply wrong.
This from 'Driving test tips':
Is coasting dangerous
Coasting is potentially dangerous as it leads to less control of the car. Keeping the clutch depressed whilst making a left turn for example essentially turns your car into a free-wheeling go-cart as the engine is disengaged. The engine when engaged, helps to increase breaking and therefore increases control of the car.
There are often times that the need to accelerate can prevent a potential accident from occurring. A car approaching you from behind at speed for example or a car pulling out just as you are passing. Coasting that involves leaving the gear stick in neutral will prevent you from using the accelerator if such a situation occurs.
Coasting on the driving test
As coasting is potentially dangerous, it stands to reason that it is taken seriously by examiners during the driving test. Most learners don't fail a driving test due to coasting as a driving instructor should pick this up and deal with it before the test is taken. Each and every test examiner has their own methods of dealing with correct procedures within a standard set of rules. So what one examiner deems as coasting, another may not. A little coasting here and there such as putting the clutch down a little too early before a stop occasionally will not fail a test but impose a minor or two.
Heavy coasting such as consistently depressing the clutch whilst making turns or setting the gear stick into neutral before the car has stopped will certainly result in a failure
Is coasting dangerous
Coasting is potentially dangerous as it leads to less control of the car. Keeping the clutch depressed whilst making a left turn for example essentially turns your car into a free-wheeling go-cart as the engine is disengaged. The engine when engaged, helps to increase breaking and therefore increases control of the car.
There are often times that the need to accelerate can prevent a potential accident from occurring. A car approaching you from behind at speed for example or a car pulling out just as you are passing. Coasting that involves leaving the gear stick in neutral will prevent you from using the accelerator if such a situation occurs.
Coasting on the driving test
As coasting is potentially dangerous, it stands to reason that it is taken seriously by examiners during the driving test. Most learners don't fail a driving test due to coasting as a driving instructor should pick this up and deal with it before the test is taken. Each and every test examiner has their own methods of dealing with correct procedures within a standard set of rules. So what one examiner deems as coasting, another may not. A little coasting here and there such as putting the clutch down a little too early before a stop occasionally will not fail a test but impose a minor or two.
Heavy coasting such as consistently depressing the clutch whilst making turns or setting the gear stick into neutral before the car has stopped will certainly result in a failure
When you take your foot off the accelerator pedal, the fuel injectors stop putting fuel in if it is not needed. Therefore coasting with the engine engaged uses no fuel. (not true for older engines with carburettors, where some fuel would still be sucked through)
Coasting with the engine disengaged would use sufficient fuel to idle the engine.
Therefore you actually use more fuel by coasting with the clutch depressed.
Coasting with the engine disengaged would use sufficient fuel to idle the engine.
Therefore you actually use more fuel by coasting with the clutch depressed.
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