Is coasting bad for gas mileage?

Question

is coasting in a car bad for gas mileage?

Answer 1

If you mean coasting with the car out of gear then it may save fuel, but it is so dangerous it could cost you your life. Just keep a light foot on the accelerator and use cruise control, that's the best way to save fuel.

Answer 2

This gets asked all the time and you get both answers.  I know for a fact that my engine uses less gas decelerating in gear than coasting in neutral.  I data log and see it all the time.  It will depend on the car but basically most new cars use some gas to keep the engine running out of gear.  But when you are in gear but foot off the gas, it is mostly compression that keeps the motor turning and very little gas.  And yes it is dangerous to coast because you never know when you need to accelerate suddenly.

Answer 3

It is BAD if you coast (coast) then accelerates then coast (slow down), etc.  That actually uses MORE gas.

If you are coasting while slowing down to stop, etc. then it would save LITTLE bit of gas.  But that is like getting the car towed (really BAD).

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Forget all those "SAVE GAS" scams.  This was on NBC morning TV show.   The difference is as much as 38% (their claim).  There are very simple rules to save gas:

(1) drive slow - not too much past 55

(2) accelerate slowly

(3) don't brake unnecessarily

(4) use cruise control - whenever it is safe to do so.

Don't coast - it is NOT safe (to coast in Nuetral) and it does NOT save gas.  It only saves gas, if you are planning to slow down (exiting, tolls, traffic).  Coasting then accelerating again is LESS efficient than just cruising.

The above really works. Using those simple rules I was able to drive from Boston to NYC (210.5 miles) on just 5.112 gallon (94 Civic).  That's 41 MPG (94 Civic 187K miles).  Actually I was speeding at 72 MPH so I could do even better at 55.

WOW !!

Good Luck....

Answer 4

not at all. it's cruising without stepping on the gas. hence, it will improve your car's mileage