What is Neutral Coasting?
3 Answers
Neutral coasting refers to the driving technique where the driver shifts the gear lever to the neutral position while the vehicle is in motion, disengaging the clutch between the engine and the drive wheels, allowing the vehicle to move by inertia. Below are relevant details: 1. Precautions: Neutral coasting should only be performed when safety is ensured and the vehicle is in normal technical condition. It is prohibited to coast with the engine off, especially when going down steep or long slopes. 2. Regulations: The 'Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China' explicitly prohibits coasting in neutral or with the engine off when going downhill. Additionally, during driving tests, coasting in neutral for more than 3 seconds will result in test failure as per the listed penalty items.
Coasting in neutral means that when I drive a manual transmission car and encounter a downhill or need to slow down, I shift the gear to neutral, letting the car glide by inertia with the engine only idling, aiming to save some fuel. I used to do this often on rural roads because I thought it reduced engine load and could extend component lifespan. But now I know it's very dangerous—without engine braking, if the brake system fails or the road is slippery, losing speed control could lead to accidents. I remember once coasting too long on a mountain road, almost losing control and nearly hitting a wall. Since then, I've never done it again. Modern cars have ABS and electronic stability control, making it even more unnecessary to rely on neutral coasting. Staying in gear not only ensures safety but also effectively utilizes engine braking.
My understanding of coasting in neutral is that when I first learned to drive, a friend told me that manual transmission cars can save fuel when coasting in neutral. For example, after reaching a steady speed on a flat road, shifting to neutral allows the engine to idle with less effort. However, my instructor quickly warned me that this habit is not good and could pose safety risks. Without the support of engine power, braking distance increases in emergencies, and handling performance decreases. Modern cars with electronic fuel injection systems may not necessarily consume less fuel in neutral because the control system needs to maintain idle stability, potentially leading to higher actual fuel consumption. I tried coasting once on suburban roads, and while it was fine for a short distance, in the long run, it’s not good for the transmission or engine. Now, I try to avoid coasting in neutral whenever possible.
