Do you save gas if you put the gears in neutral in every stop light?

Question

Do you save gas if you put the gears in neutral in every stop light?

Answer 1

Assuming that you aren't at a stop light for more than a couple of minutes, it is not worth changing gears.  For one, gas is used in chating gears and it is not good for the transmission to shift into neutral everytime you stop.  This would only make sense if you were stuck in traffic for several minutes and not moving.

Answer 2

thats a good question, i heard some tips for saving gas from people they are: dont drive with ur windows down so just use air conditioning cuz the more wind there is and ur window is down then that causes ur gas to go down faster, try not to get ur RPM over 3 u knoe those numbers on ur Gage that has numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and try to drive at a consistent speed to save gas

Answer 3

Not really cause you're not firing the gas off to get motion, but when coasting neutral helps if you use it often.

Answer 4

only if you have a stick shift....not if you drive an automatic

Answer 5

This has some useful info on it:

http://www.wikihow.com/Save-Money-on-Gas

Answer 6

i would think so

Answer 7

Have you ever noticed that your tachometer goes up when you take your car out of gear.  You might burn an extra ounce of gas per gallon by doing that.  :-)

Answer 8

technically, yes, if your car is fuel injected. your car is using gasoline to push against the brakes when you're stopped. another idea is to put it in neutral down hills so that your car does not waste energy, and just uses gravity.

Answer 9

Wow! Doesn't anybody take physics or even auto mechanics anymore? With as much misinformation as this forum is spreading we'll be out of oil sooner than later. Standard transmissions actually burn a little 'more' because of gearbox friction but holding the clutch is tough on the throwout bearing. Automatic transmissions definitely use more fuel if left in gear, period!

Answer 10

uhhh, no

Answer 11

yes, a little bit. but u should put it on neutral because the brake pads dont get worn out

Answer 12

No, and you would be putting so much strain on the transmission, that in the long run, it would be cheaper to pay a little exta in gas!!

Answer 13

sometimes, depending on the car

Answer 14

In an automatic transmission you do save a little because the engine is under less load requiring less fuel to stay running.  That is why the RPM's drop a little when it is in gear.

But you would save more if you had a stick shift.

And more if you cut off the engine every time you knew you would sit still for 10 seconds or more.

And if you get tired of turning the key all the time to save money when fuel prices are so high, you could get a hybrid (new or used, what ever you can afford) and it will turn the engine off automatically for you.

Here's a video that will teach you how to double your gas mileage.  Turning the engine off at lights is one of the techniques.

http://truths.treehugger.com/internation...

It seems so easy!  By doubling your mileage, it feels like gas is only $1.50 a gallon!

Answer 15

No.  In fact, you might be using more fuel.  My car actually idles faster in neutral than in drive when stopped.

Answer 16

no, you can see by your rpm's, if you are stopped in first gear, it is the same as neutral.

you can reduce gas consumption by putting it in neutral when on downgrades (especially on the highway), it can reduce your RPM's by around 3000.

Answer 17

You don't save gas, but I was taught to put it in neutral because you don't want to keep the clutch engaged while you're just idling.

Answer 18

If you are driving a vehicle with an automatic transmission you will save a very small amount of fuel because the engine will rotate less times every minute. Every time the engine rotates, it burns a tiny amount of fuel.

If you are driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, the amount of fuel you save by putting the car into neutral would be rediculously small. The only benefit you will get from this is less wear on your crankshaft thrust bearing. (Might give you an extra months usage of this bearing in a 10 year period) If your engine has less wear, it will run more easily and therefore won't require as much fuel to turn it.....the saving of fuel is rediculously small and the effort you use to put the car into neutral and then back into gear will require you to eat more because you will have burnt calories and then you will be adding to the fuel costs of the delivery trucks that provide your supermarket with food and so on......  Stop worrying : )

Answer 19

I don't think so

Answer 20

Dude, does you engine stop running at every red light? Its not your transmission, its your engine. If it is running, then you are burning fuel.

Answer 21

yes but would the minimal gas savinge be worth the wear and taer on the transmission???

Answer 22

Don't do that!  The only thing that you would be doing to the car would be putting added abuse to the tranny!  It might help reduce your gas milage over the course of many years...but it's not worth the extra abuse you put on a vital (and very expensive) component to your vehicle.  Driving like a normal human being (not like you live in Florida), correct tire pressure, and maintain your care like you should...those thing's will keep your milage at the best rate for your car.

Good luck buddy!  Everyone's feeling the pinch of gas prices!!  at $3.26 a gallon for regular, who wouldn't!!

Answer 23

i dont think so...when u put it in neutral..ur jus movin ur foot off the brake...

Answer 24

You  did not specify if you are asking about a stick shift manual or a automatic car.

If you have a manual stick shift not automatic. I  would think that it would not matter much  if you have the clutch in. Unless the car goes with the clutch in then it's a problem that needs to be adjusted and fixed in that case it would be better to be in neutral.

If you have a automatic it could depend on the transmission if it is working right also the automatic car is so different about these things I really don't know which  would be best for gas saving. Although putting a automatic into neutral the car must be completely stopped so no damage will happen. Although i would not think it would use  any more gas if it's neutral this again might depend on if the transmission if the transmission needs to be adjusted then this could affect something. I think with a automatic it might depend on how the manufacturer built it and how then made if you are looking where looking for a  small difference.

Answer 25

Probably not, but I never keep my car in gear at a light. I have a manual shift car, and take it out of gear and pull the e-brake, so I dont have to have any of my feet on the peddles. If you have an automatic, and it idles fast, keeping it in N at the light may prevent you from banging into the car in front of you though.

Answer 26

I have a vehicle that shows my current mpg. I have coasted to a stop light in gear and in neutral and it shows no difference. It wouldn't matter if you did it after you stop, because the engine would use the same amount of gas to keep running if it were in gear, or in netural. The only way to save is to coast when you can.