Cars with "freewheel " like a bike.?

Question

Are there cars with freewheel, it would save on gas.

Answer 1

A car that is any gear but overdrive, which locks the engine to the tranny, will free-wheel. The auto trans  has a pump which the engine operates. Take your foot off the gas and the pumps slows enough not to work. That is why you can idle at a stop sign.  

Answer 2

When a modern engine is on over run ( rpm >2000 and throttle closed ) it uses no fuel anyway.

If you had a freewheel you would lose engine braking which would cause you to have to use your brakes more and wear them out quicker and since the engine would not be turned by the wheels it would infact use more fuel ! as it would need to keep running by itself.

So there is no point in it as it would cost more for no benefit

Edit  Automatics do freewheel to an extent which is why they use slightly more fuel. But newer computer controlled automatics are better and do give some engine braking effect.

Answer 3

freewheel like a bike?  a bike doesn't do anything different than a manual transmission in a car, i don't consider either to be freewheeling untill the clutch is disengaged

Answer 4

It was also called "overdrive".  Some cars today have an overdrive setting even on automatics.  Basically, overdrive allows the car to roll faster than the engine is pushing it but re-engages when the speed drops back to where the engine rpm would maintain it.

Answer 5

Rovers used to have a freewheel in the 1950s - but the only one i know of fairly recently was a 1976 Wartburg I owned about 10 years ago.

For those of you who've never heard of Wartburg, it was an East German car with a 3-cylinder 2-stroke engine. Sounded like the Crazy Frog and went everywhere in a cloud of blue smoke - great fun!

The freewheel was brilliant - you could change rear without using the clutch........

Answer 6

Studebaker cars used Borg Warner overdrive transmissions from 1939-1966 plus a few others used them on a few cars in the late 50's and early 60's.  In overdrive they freewheel but pull a k**b that puts it into direct drive and no more freewheeling.  

Answer 7

I used to do it all the time when I drove. Just put it into neutral. Cant do it with automatics, which annoyed me no end

Answer 8

Actually it wouldn't save on gas. A modern car engine on over-run (when you're just rolling in gear with no throttle) uses almost no fuel at all, whereas freewheeling or coasting in neutral needs the engine to fuel itself enough that it doesn't stall, I.E idling speed, usually 600-800rpm.  

Answer 9

Yeah, you just keep the clutch down...  I doubt there are any cars which include this as an actual 'feature', it's a bit dangerous.

Answer 10

My Dad had a Wartburg with freewheel. 3 pot 2-stroke. It cost him more in plugs than it did in petrol.  

Answer 11

not sure but some 4x4's and suv's have freewheeling hubs...but not sure if thats the same.

EDIT

come to think about it,dont auto-matics freewheel?

Answer 12

Some very early cars had freewheel.  With a fixed drive, you get the braking power of the engine when you take your foot off the accelerator.  Experience showed that this was safer.