MPG Mystery SOLVED!

[Mikeb Yaris]

Originally Posted by otterhere

"Also, as you decellerate, if you pop the gear shift over into 3 when the rpms hit 1100, you will maintain this effect for a longer period - right up to the point where you HAVE to put the brakes on to actually stop."

How do you know when your rpms hit 1100; is this yet another signal I'm not seeing?

I am familiar with the practice of putting the car in "N" while at stop lights to prevent its "pulling" on the engine and thus saving gas, but the 3rd gear thing is new to me... Aren't you afraid you're going to wear out the stickshift with all that manipulating???

My car (I think all sedans are) is equipped with a tachometer. Without a tach, you should be able to feel the car start to coast more freely when the gas kicks in. I'll do an experiment on the way home to see at about what speed this happens. Anyway, if you do not have a tachometer (that would be the dial to the left of the speedometer), just feel for the point when the engine isn't braking you anymore and then pop in down into 3.

I'm not at all afraid of wearing out the shifter. Think about it this way - I'm shifting 2/3 less than someone with a manual transmission. No chance I'm gonna wear this thing out!