OK to coast downhill in Neutral?

[SmartDigger]

Originally Posted by whalepirot

I do not have a scan gauge and especially appreciate unicycle's comments. I figured that the ForTwo, like numerous other brands, would shut off the fuel injectors when coasting, in gear, above about 1500rpm. If the scan gauge is showing those incredible numbers in neutral, perhaps the Smart's logic is different, or the engine is below whatever RPM threshold.

in my vibe which cuts the injectors when coasting, My scangauge reads same if I coast in drive or nutral.

[CruzinSusan]

Originally Posted by SmartDigger

in my vibe which cuts the injectors when coasting, My scangauge reads same if I coast in drive or nutral.

Is that because my smart would think its idling? And not traveling down the road?

[madbunny]

On my brand new Scangauge, I see 9999MPG when I let my foot off the gas (after a few seconds). I did the TPS (throttle position sensor) calibrations for fuel cutoff listed in the booklet, but I only had to change the default by like 2 numbers I believe. It still behaved the same way before and after.

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by Susie 1382

An old lady's observation:

a wise old lady at that!

with everyone (well, maybe not everyone) worrying about the durability of the smart over the long haul and complaining about the short warranty, why bother to go out of your way to do something that may or may not have an adverse effect longterm? Even if mechanically it turns out to do no harm, just the act of fumbling around with the gear shift lends opportunity for sh!! to happen. If you want to take up the experience of free wheeling, be braver and take up as suggested skiing, snowboarding or bungee jumping!
Leave the highways for the drivers!

[unicycle]

This has been a useful if not entirely conclusive thread. As noted, it's too early to tell how many different things will affect our cars. If someone mentions how shifting into N for a few minutes at a time eventually led to having to get a new tranny, that would be helpful; maybe we'll know more in a few years.

I should just add one more observation. Unless the hill is REALLY steep, my car will slow to a crawl in D if I take my foot off the gas. In N, it will slow a bit, but not too much. Perhaps the over-all effect is about the same. So for the time being, I'll avoid neutering my car and will continue drafting from time to time when conditions permit.

[SmartCard]

Originally Posted by unicycle

So for the time being, I'll avoid neutering my car and will continue drafting from time to time when conditions permit.

neutering.......ouch, what does your smart think of that?

[oldmike]

So for the time being, I'll avoid neutering my car and will continue drafting from time to time when conditions permit.[/quote]


OUCH!! indeed...

Neutering, from the Latin neŭter (of neither type), is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part of it. It is the most drastic surgical procedure with sterilizing purposes. The process is also referred to as castration for males and as spaying for females. Colloquially, it is often referred to as fixing. In male horses, the process is referred to as gelding.

[oldmike]

Let's help the masses!!!


neutralize or -ise
Verb
[-izing, -ized] or -ising, -ised
1. to make electrically or chemically neutral
2. to make ineffective by counteracting
3. to make (a country) neutral by international agreement

[smarticus]

It's really nice of you to take so much of your time to correct all of lifes little problems. Maybe with practice, you can move up to some that matter.

[oldmike]

Like I said before, I have to kill this 8 hours at the desk on something!!!

And I even had time today to squeeze nine holes at lunch!! life is great when you OWN a smart!!!