Shifting to Neutral?
 

I'm interested in getting the best mileage possible from my '04 Civic.
I'm only really into my third tank of gas since buying the car. The car
has not yet delivered 29 MPG. It's only reached about 24 MPG so far.

I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
off at RR crossings when the trains come.

I'm just interested in maximizing my gas mileage.

GK

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Hi,
If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
you learn shifting patterns.
Tony

gbsmith wrote:
> I'm interested in getting the best mileage possible from my '04 Civic.
> I'm only really into my third tank of gas since buying the car. The car
> has not yet delivered 29 MPG. It's only reached about 24 MPG so far.
>
> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
> you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
> myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
> off at RR crossings when the trains come.
>
> I'm just interested in maximizing my gas mileage.
>
> GK
>

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Hi,
If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
you learn shifting patterns.
Tony

gbsmith wrote:
> I'm interested in getting the best mileage possible from my '04 Civic.
> I'm only really into my third tank of gas since buying the car. The car
> has not yet delivered 29 MPG. It's only reached about 24 MPG so far.
>
> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
> you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
> myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
> off at RR crossings when the trains come.
>
> I'm just interested in maximizing my gas mileage.
>
> GK
>

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Hi,
If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
you learn shifting patterns.
Tony

gbsmith wrote:
> I'm interested in getting the best mileage possible from my '04 Civic.
> I'm only really into my third tank of gas since buying the car. The car
> has not yet delivered 29 MPG. It's only reached about 24 MPG so far.
>
> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
> you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
> myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
> off at RR crossings when the trains come.
>
> I'm just interested in maximizing my gas mileage.
>
> GK
>

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Hi,
If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
you learn shifting patterns.
Tony

gbsmith wrote:
> I'm interested in getting the best mileage possible from my '04 Civic.
> I'm only really into my third tank of gas since buying the car. The car
> has not yet delivered 29 MPG. It's only reached about 24 MPG so far.
>
> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this? I also recall that it's wise to shut the car off if
> you're going to be idle for more than a minute. Personally, I can't see
> myself shutting the car off at every light -- I don't. But I do turn it
> off at RR crossings when the trains come.
>
> I'm just interested in maximizing my gas mileage.
>
> GK
>

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this?

Assuming you have an automatic, yes. When you are standing still with
the car in drive the engine is working against the torque converter,
basically wasting energy heating up the oil. That said, newer Hondas
have torque converters that are very "loose" (even on small inclines
with the car in drive you will roll back unless you step on the brakes).
This means that the fuel you waste by not shifting to neutral is very
limited compared to cars in the 70's.

Fuel economy is why Honda makes the torque converters that loose. During
normal driving a mechanical lock-up clutch bypasses the torque
converter, so you don't loose power in a loose torque converter.

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this?

Assuming you have an automatic, yes. When you are standing still with
the car in drive the engine is working against the torque converter,
basically wasting energy heating up the oil. That said, newer Hondas
have torque converters that are very "loose" (even on small inclines
with the car in drive you will roll back unless you step on the brakes).
This means that the fuel you waste by not shifting to neutral is very
limited compared to cars in the 70's.

Fuel economy is why Honda makes the torque converters that loose. During
normal driving a mechanical lock-up clutch bypasses the torque
converter, so you don't loose power in a loose torque converter.

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this?

Assuming you have an automatic, yes. When you are standing still with
the car in drive the engine is working against the torque converter,
basically wasting energy heating up the oil. That said, newer Hondas
have torque converters that are very "loose" (even on small inclines
with the car in drive you will roll back unless you step on the brakes).
This means that the fuel you waste by not shifting to neutral is very
limited compared to cars in the 70's.

Fuel economy is why Honda makes the torque converters that loose. During
normal driving a mechanical lock-up clutch bypasses the torque
converter, so you don't loose power in a loose torque converter.

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

> I seem to recall advice from the 70s during the "energy crisis" that
> shifting to neutral at a red light helps conserve gasoline. Is there
> any truth to this?

Assuming you have an automatic, yes. When you are standing still with
the car in drive the engine is working against the torque converter,
basically wasting energy heating up the oil. That said, newer Hondas
have torque converters that are very "loose" (even on small inclines
with the car in drive you will roll back unless you step on the brakes).
This means that the fuel you waste by not shifting to neutral is very
limited compared to cars in the 70's.

Fuel economy is why Honda makes the torque converters that loose. During
normal driving a mechanical lock-up clutch bypasses the torque
converter, so you don't loose power in a loose torque converter.

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Phillip Weston wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
> scribbled:
>
>
>>Hi,
>>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>>you learn shifting patterns.
>
>
> I think he has an automatic transmission.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Weston
> Taumarunui, New Zealand
>
> Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

Hi,
Same rule applies.
Tony

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Phillip Weston wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
> scribbled:
>
>
>>Hi,
>>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>>you learn shifting patterns.
>
>
> I think he has an automatic transmission.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Weston
> Taumarunui, New Zealand
>
> Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

Hi,
Same rule applies.
Tony

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Phillip Weston wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
> scribbled:
>
>
>>Hi,
>>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>>you learn shifting patterns.
>
>
> I think he has an automatic transmission.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Weston
> Taumarunui, New Zealand
>
> Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

Hi,
Same rule applies.
Tony

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

Phillip Weston wrote:

> On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
> scribbled:
>
>
>>Hi,
>>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>>you learn shifting patterns.
>
>
> I think he has an automatic transmission.
>
>
> --
> Phillip Weston
> Taumarunui, New Zealand
>
> Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

Hi,
Same rule applies.
Tony

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
scribbled:

>Hi,
>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>you learn shifting patterns.

I think he has an automatic transmission.


--
Phillip Weston
Taumarunui, New Zealand

Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.

Re: Shifting to Neutral?
 

On Wed, 19 Nov 2003 22:40:55 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40@shaw.ca>
scribbled:

>Hi,
>If you really want to maximize gas mileage, install a dash vacuum gauge.
>Keep the vacuum level as high as you can at all times. It'll also help
>you learn shifting patterns.

I think he has an automatic transmission.


--
Phillip Weston
Taumarunui, New Zealand

Remove the obvious spamblock to reply via e-mail.