January 5, 2011
Does a manual transmission save gas by coasting?
I’ve heard cars consume more gas per second of idling than per second of moving, but I’ve also heard that taking your foot off the gas lowers the gas consumption while you’re moving. So with a stick shift on a highway or going down a hill, do you use less gas with it in fifth gear or coasting in neutral?
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Filed under Gas Conservation FAQ by on Jan 5th, 2011. Comment. 
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Comments on Does a manual transmission save gas by coasting?
yeah because when you step on the gas peddle it is using more gas to accelerate
Yes it does but in many states it is illegal to do this and also it is somewhat dangerous to do as well.
Makes sense. Not giving it gas means saving gas. However I think you will be putting more wear on the clutch everytime you take it out of gear to coast.
coasting .. is being out of gear.. and only in nutral.. if you take your foot off the gas the rear wheels are still turning the engine so you are not saving. well a small amount maybee.. in any gear the engine is turning ok only in nutral are you saving..
The only way idling wastes more gas than normal driving is when your car is started, but not moving anywhere. The fuel use is less, but if you’re not using the energy produced by the engine to move, it is indeed a waste.
Lets say for example that a car uses 4 ounces of fuel per minute while driving normally at 70mph, and 0.5 ounces of fuel per minute while at idle. Idle is uses less fuel, but if you’re just sitting there idling, you’ve used gas, but have gone nowhere. But if you can coast downhill, with your engine idling, you’ve used less gas but travled the same distance as the guy letting his engine spin at 3000+ rpm.
An alternative to coasting in neutral would be to simply have your food on the clutch pedal whilst you coast, leaving your gear selector in the position for the highest gear. It wouldn’t be any less safe than shifting gears, and your engine will idle along just the same.
Some people shut the engine off altogether going down long hills. I wouldn’t reccomend this.
Not really, if you coast your manual transmission you could ruin it, by coasting it the bottom gears are not turning and therefore it cannot lubricate the top gears.