Fuel consumption

[sylvester]

Originally Posted by CFS75

I remember back in the 1960s that a friend had a Rover with some sort of 'freewheeling' device. When you took your foot off the accelerator the car carried on coasting or freewheeling, the idea was to improve fuel economy.
I drove it on one occasion and it was an extremely frightening experience because the car did not slow down until you braked.
It must have been legal at that time because it was standard equipment.
Does anyone else remember this device or is my memory going?

This type of over ride was common on cars fitted with two stroke motors such as SAAB and Wartburg to prevent the motor from seizing due to lack of 'in fuel' lubrication. Ergo, there was no engine braking when going down hill, not the vehicle to own if you lived in Blackburn!

[Teflon]

Originally Posted by Katpee

.....when you are coasting the engine is actually using fuel to keep the engine running, whereas if you don't 'coast' the engine is actually more economical.
Sounds strange I know but give it a try it may help.

Just to complicate thing further, you have to remember that when coasting, although the engine is using more fuel (as stated above), there is no engine braking, so the car will travel much further before needing throttle than it would by simply taking the foot of the pedal. Over a given distance, coasting may still be more economical in certain circumstances, dependant upon road conditions (traffic; junctions etc).

Cliff

[podge]

Early Rovers P3 and P4 had freewheel but traffic was lighter in those days. As regards consumption, I am getting 51m.p.g at the moment, try to keep below 2500 when changing up and keep to 70 on motorway, do 70 mile round trip each day, Tourer cdtclubse manual...........other drivers let me out at junctions now! would not in "old faithfull".........96 Mondeo how sad is that!