Is Coasting in Neutral Gear Good for the Car?
3 Answers
Coasting in neutral gear is not good for the car, and here are the reasons: 1. When coasting in neutral, the engine's lubrication system stops working. Over time, this can lead to accelerated wear of the engine. On long downhill slopes, coasting in neutral means you can only rely on the foot brake to control speed, as engine braking is unavailable. This can cause the brake pads to overheat and wear out, leading to a sharp decline in braking performance and increasing driving hazards. 2. Coasting in neutral refers to the practice where the driver shifts the gear lever into the neutral position while the vehicle is moving, disengaging the clutch between the engine and the drive wheels, and relying on the vehicle's inertia to move forward.
Having driven for decades, I must remind everyone about the safety risks of coasting in neutral. When coasting in neutral, the engine is not driving the wheels, which means you lose engine braking. In emergencies like sudden braking or steep slopes, the braking distance increases, making skidding or loss of control more likely—especially in rain or on curves. Many accidents happen because drivers try to save fuel this way. Modern fuel-injected cars actually cut off fuel automatically when coasting in gear, making it more fuel-efficient than neutral. I recommend always maintaining gear control—safety first is far more important than saving a bit of fuel. Regular checks of the braking system and tires are also crucial. Never overlook these details—they affect not just your safety but others' lives too.
From a fuel-saving perspective, coasting in neutral is really not worthwhile. Modern vehicles with engaged gears will cut off fuel injection during coasting, relying on inertia to keep the engine running with minimal fuel consumption. But what about neutral coasting? The engine must maintain idle fuel injection to prevent stalling, ultimately wasting more fuel. In the long run, this adds significant costs when fuel prices are high. There's also the emissions issue—incomplete combustion in neutral creates more pollution. My own real-world tests in urban driving showed coasting in gear saves 1-2 liters per 100km. I recommend making it a habit to use transmission gears for deceleration instead of shifting to neutral—it's both eco-friendly and economical. Why not adopt this practice?
