http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/12202.page Public Action
The reason I did it was there was this big ass long hill I had to go down and the Arrow had a crappy 3 speed w/o overdrive so I had to basically floor it down the hill just to keep the truck from slowing down (yes, I know, most vehicles go too fast downhill, and you need to brake or downshift, but not that one). However, when coasting she would hold a nice fast terminal velocity without any accelerating or braking whatsoever (75 ish - yea, a bit too fast, but I was a dumb ass testosterone ridden teenager).

The only reason I would now consider this to have been "not so unsafe" was that the car was pretty damn basic so it had neither power steering nor power assisted brakes so even if the engine shut off, control would not have been compromised. Of course, being an science and engineering geek, my penchant was to experiment so, to be sure of my hypothesis, I even tried it sometimes with the engine off and it never made any difference as far as steering and braking were concerned (but yes, the ability to accelerate out of trouble was gone but that was of very little import when I was already traveling at terminal velocity). Suffice it to say, now that I have cars with power brakes and steering (and I'm older and supposedly wiser), I don't do anything so risky, because even though power steering makes little difference when the car is in motion, power assisted brakes are kinda useless without any vacuum assist.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#911637 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#911637 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#910419 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#910419 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908617 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908617 GMT Dangerous? Compared to what. Skydiving? Riding horses? Driving drunk?
I have done it and to the amazement of many of you, the sky did not fall, the car still steered, and yes the car could still be stopped.
I don't do it much anymore because it really doesn't seem to save that much gas and besides, every time I switch off the engine and restart, the CD player pauses a while to re-boot, very annoying.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#909476 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#909476 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908446 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908446 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908413 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908413 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908212 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908212 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908019 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#908019 GMT
That said, I remember on a visit to Darjeeling, which is way up a mountain, that the taxi drivers in old Land Rovers would cost down in neutral with the engine off, to save gas. They had manual brakes and steering, though; you don't. And you run a serious risk of brake fade, if the brake shoes get too hot.

/Mr Lynn]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#894029 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#894029 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#892424 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#892424 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#885219 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#885219 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883611 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883611 GMT
You got a lot of flak because we tend to like posters to stay alive to post another day. Don't be offended.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883240 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883240 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883232 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883232 GMT
You couldn't fill your coffee cup with the amount of fuel that your 4-cylinder car uses in going down that hill.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883229 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883229 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883228 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883228 GMT
http://www...ilers.html]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881615 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881615 GMT http://www...kmesa.html

http://wichitamountains.org/

http://en....hi_Country

http://www...ihina.html

I don't know how you missed hills from OKC to MO on I-44. The entire eastern half of the state is prety much rolling hills, mountains, and forests. KS and NE are much flatter than OK.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#909624 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#909624 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883217 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883217 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883225 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883225 GMT
Now, those folks I can understand trying to save a few cents.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881422 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881422 GMT
By the way, coasting down hills in neutral is called "Georgia Overdrive". How could it be "Oklahoma overdrive"? Driving through Oklahoma from Texas to OK City and then NE to Missouri, I did not see a hill. Does Oklahoma have a hill?]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881247 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881247 GMT "There ya go".]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#882626 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#882626 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881219 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881219 GMT
If not, you must be suicidal.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#909655 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#909655 GMT Does Oklahoma actually have hills long and steep enough to be dangerous to coast down?  

My wifes aunt uses that method. And one day while visiting my wifes Mom she did it and got in a accident. She didn't understand why it didn't work the way it does at home in Central Florida. Well considering that Space Mountain at Disney World is the Second highest mountain in Florida....it can't be too dangerous...]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#882224 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#882224 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881237 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881237 GMT I do it all the time but our hills in Texas, (Baja Oklahoma) are mostly just steep enough to maintain the speed limit and I have a manual transmission. Since the owner's manual ok's dinghy towing behind a RV with the transmission in neutral, I figure it's ok when gravity is doing the towing.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881233 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881233 GMT
Dangerous, yes. Stupid, yes. Having said that, I leave the car running but still put my MANUAL tranny into neutral on downhill runs that I am VERY familiar with. Saves me, maybe $2 in a year, but makes my old Okie roots feel better.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881211 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881211 GMT This is one of the best examples I have ever seen of being "penny wise and dollar foolish". The pennies that would be saved in gas consumption will be more than overwhelmed by the extra wear and tear on the starter and the lack of lubrication to part of the transmission.

And, then, when you factor in the safety issue of having NO POWER ASSIST for the brakes and the steering, it becomes just plain foolish to even consider this.
]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881015 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881015 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880636 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880636 GMT
Off topic, however, with a hybrid car there are many times when the engine is turned off. I don't know which (if any) of the hybrid variants do this, but a hybrid could be coasting down a hill with the engine turned off. Steering and brakes are electric, and regenerative braking keeps your speed under control while recharging the battery.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880613 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880613 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881232 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#881232 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880448 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880448 GMT If you coast in gear with the engine running, the computer will deliver minimum fuel to the injectors.
Try to calculate the amount of gas you save by shutting down. It is likely to be pennies per month, maybe less. Leaving aside any risk or damage to the transmission by coasting with the engine off, you should still see that there is insignificant fuel savings. Not worth it.

]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880024 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880024 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880017 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#880017 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879822 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879822 GMT
The OP is probably thinking that if you leave it in gear, the momentum of the car will keep turning the transmission and engine, which would keep turning the power steering pump and generate vacuum for the power brakes. This would be the case in a manual transmission car or some of the old automatics with the extra pump, although this practice on a carbureted car could lead to one's muffler exploding. But on a modern automatic, the pump that generates the pressure is run on the engine and so it doesn't work the other direction, which is also why you can't push-start an automatic and why it's a bad idea to tow with the drive wheels on the ground.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883224 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#883224 GMT turn the engine off...I still have control over the power steering  

Yeah, right. Have you really put ANY thought into this?]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879820 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879820 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879819 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879819 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879817 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879817 GMT
This practice is illegal in some states nad for a good reason.]]> http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879811 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879811 GMT http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879615 http://action.publicbroadcasting.net/cartalk/posts/list/793412.page#879615 GMT