GAS PROTEST

[Modelcar]

....Coasting down hill any distance with the engine shut down and the vehicle having an automatic transmission could cause transmission damage. In years past they had a rear oil pump to help with all the requirements of the transmission including oil pressure for lubrication...but not now for years. So now the transmission gets no pressure lubrication coasting with the engine shut down. Same applies when towing similar vehicle any disance...Remove the drive shaft...At least disconnect from differential. All above applies to rear wheel drive vehicles.

[DSchmitt]

I doubt that the cycle of any traffic signals is long enough to make turning off the engine worth while. I do turn off my engine when stopped at a moveable bridge which may take ten minutes or more.

From the California Vehicle Code

"21710. The driver of a motor vehicle when traveling on down grade
upon any highway shall not coast with the gears of such vehicle in
neutral."

Turning off the engine while moving is dangerous. Power stearing and brakes don't work and on virtually all modern cars the steering wheel locks.

[UPTRAIN]

I spoke too damn soon!!! Last night gas jumped from $1.89 9/10 all the way to $1.94 9/10...A WHOLE NICKLE OVER NIGHT!!! This really sucks, I may have to stay closer to home this summer.

[Modelcar]

....It is discusting...Our last big jump here a week or so ago was 25 cents overnight...!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 440cuin

Tomtrain- yes saving gas by turning the engine off should help a bit. Rule of thumb I heard was that if you are stopped for more than 30 secs there could be a saving. The problem is that you dont wanna hold up traffic because you forgot to turn the engine back on hehehehe. Coasting by turning the engine off works the same way especialy on longer not too steep downhill slopes. Does NOT work if you got power steering or if if your ignition locks so you cant start until you stop.
But even if you do hold traffic up doing this, just do it in "protest" of high gas prices. I do the turn off the ignition thing at lites just so I dont choke on my own fumes hehehehe....
but my buddy does it because he realy is so broke he has to save every penny.

I also heard from my broke buddy that if you got electronic fuel injuction you can turn off the engine while moving in gear and it acts like an engine brake, even with automatic trans but NEVER with carburated engines !

Not a good idea to switch-off, what with power steering and power brakes- let alone column lock! Especially on a down-grade!!!
440cuin- when i put a ford in my pipe and smoked it, I didn't inhale! But seriously- I smoked a 'Stang (v-8) @ a stop-light in an 04 prius (and HE egged it on!) I'm not sure which is funnier- a hybrid smokin' a v-8 or the look on the guys face in my rear-view!
Don't even get me started on the Supra!!!- Ok back to trains!