Is the coast clear

To coast or not to coast, that is the question. I will be travelling through mountainous regions and gas stations will be like hen's teeth, is it safe to engage neutral and freewheel down long mountain roads, obviously not over steep or bendy. Am driving 1998 manual 2.5 diesel.

jack707 said:

To coast or not to coast, that is the question. I will be travelling through mountainous regions and gas stations will be like hen's teeth, is it safe to engage neutral and freewheel down long mountain roads, obviously not over steep or bendy. Am driving 1998 manual 2.5 diesel.

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Only you can decide that mate. If you were driving a automatic you would i suppose be free wheeling down most hills relying on brakes anyway.

Id rather take more fuel wi me... moutainous roads never know what gonna happen

i think it more will it screw your gear box up ?
in short bursts shouldnt do any damage but wouldnt it be safer to carry spare fuel ?

How will it screw gearbox up if freewheeling(engine will be disengaged)

jack707 said:

How will it screw gearbox up if freewheeling(engine will be disengaged)

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Know nowt about the manual gearbox, but if it has an oil pump it will maybe on the input shaft. If that were the case, coasting would mean gearbox turning with no oil pressure. Thats the reason you can't tow an auto
Given the well documented problems with P38 brake failure, coasting would seem to be like having a death wish

Wammers, engine braking is available on the auto by manually selecting a lower gear

No gearbox damage from coasting but here's a way you can save even more fuel: coast downhill, then get out and push uphill. Or better yet, don't drive a Rangie.

Datatek said:

Know nowt about the manual gearbox, but if it has an oil pump it will maybe on the input shaft. If that were the case, coasting would mean gearbox turning with no oil pressure. Thats the reason you can't tow an auto
Given the well documented problems with P38 brake failure, coasting would seem to be like having a death wish

Wammers, engine braking is available on the auto by manually selecting a lower gear

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Yes but in third or D there is no engine braking, so you would rely on brakes. If you select a lower gear the box should not change into it until the vehicle as reached a speed suitable for that gear. So if you are coasting down hill at 50 mph and your brakes fail throwing it into second for engine braking, will not have any effect unless the vehicles is slowed to the operating speed for that gear.

with your foot off the throttle your engine will only be using enough fuel to keep it "ticking" over - no matter how many revs it might be showing on the rev counter, so to be safe keep it engaged in the correct gear for the decsent of hills.

bmp42 said:

with your foot off the throttle your engine will only be using enough fuel to keep it "ticking" over - no matter how many revs it might be showing on the rev counter, so to be safe keep it engaged in the correct gear for the decsent of hills.

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Or even less as some ECU's operate an "overrun fuel cut off"