Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Is it okay to coast in neutral?

Not true actually.

An engine is at it's most efficient under immense vacuum. (engine braking)

Now if you were engine braking at 5k rpm (high rpms) I would have to agree idling is likely to use less gas.

Either way it's still not a bright idea (nor is engine braking at 5k rpm, but hey)

Also since the topic came up. Running on the last bastions of fuel is bad for the fuel pump, injectors, filter, and engine. It's a very easily avoidable situation...

In days of old, cars did not have nearly as good of brakes as they do now. Coasting downhill in neutral then trying to stop could be very dangerous as it was very easy to over drive your brakes. Shifting back into gear also was not nearly as easy either. I don't know if it is illegial now, but it was when I first applied for a driver's license. Even if it isn't illegal now, common sense should prevail and it should not be done if there is any chance of loosing control of the car.