switching to neutral while downhill?

insighterrider · 10-09-2011, 04:30 AM

when I go downhill or "pulse & glide" I feel the urge to switch to neutral to gain speed. anyone known if this is bad for the transmission/engine?

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**Jayemtee** · 10-09-2011, 07:20 AM

Bad for the transmission/engine? NO

Bad idea? Probably

jcbesq · 10-09-2011, 03:47 PM

i still don't understand why you would want to do this?
the car cuts out/starts up the ice/ima itself ... let it do the thinking ... it knows what's best

Cobb · 10-09-2011, 06:11 PM

You just miss out on regenerated.

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circa1986 · 10-10-2011, 12:47 PM

That defeats the entire purpose of having a hybrid, you realize. The battery is charged when you go down hills and brake. Then again, I suppose if you are going fast enough downhill and you don't need to apply the brakes, then the net result on that particular hill will be nothing. But in general, it's a bad idea.

steve_b1 · 10-10-2011, 01:56 PM

I do the insighterrider frequently. Why? As a means of picking up speed on a downhill coast when the regen is slowing the car to the point of obstructing traffic behind me. Just seems to work "better" than using the gas pedal. Nudging up the speed w/ the gas pedal creates a little surge, computer needs to think a little, blah blah blah. Popping into neutral and back, barbarically enough, seems less complicated overall.

And again, to the point of the OP, what's the harm? I remember motorcyclists discussing why coasting down a particularly long stretch of hill nearby w/ power-off was a bad idea mechanically speaking (lack of proper oil flow being the biggy). What about in neutral?

**Jayemtee** · 10-10-2011, 10:24 PM

Power off coasting and neutral coasting are two completely different situations. Neither shows any signs of an intelligent driver.

steve_b1 · 10-10-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayemtee

Power off coasting and neutral coasting are two completely different situations. Neither shows any signs of an intelligent driver.

Lashing out over your own inadequacy to answer the OP's question is symptomatic of something worse than simply low intelligence.

**Jayemtee** · 10-10-2011, 11:24 PM

I'm glad I don't do that.

BrianZ54 · 10-11-2011, 11:54 AM

I have a couple of points to consider. I was a shift to neutral guy in another day. I recall when it came time to shift back you had to try and get the engine up to speed just before shifting. You usually got a noticeable "clunk" if you weren't perfect. With electronic transmissions it might not be an issue, but it seems it could be. Those of you that have; do you feel or hear anything to indicate when the engine and transmission reengage? If so it could result in abnormal wear and tear.

There (probably) is a point when you pull back on the gas pedal that the throttle shuts off gas flow but the IMA does not go into an automatic charge. It's difficult to hold sometimes, if you're on a long downhill that varies in grade it's near impossible, but it should work that way. If this is an option with the Gen 2 it certainly offers some positives. Your engine and transmission stay in sync. Instead of the engine idling and using fuel it is truly interrupting the flow of gas for a time. It keeps your hands on the wheel and allows less of a break in concentration (but we know you'll be looking at the dash a bit more).

If I'm wrong on any assumptions I hope somebody corrects me. The Gen 2 is on my short list of "next cars" and I'd like to be more well informed than I was when I bought my Gen 1.

One more thing: we all have different ideas and very different knowledge / skill levels. Even if you don't agree with someone I'd recommend giving them (or me) a break. This stuff should be fun.
Thanks,
Brian