Power Steering when I shut the car
Thread Starter
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Honda Fit Forums Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 287
From: Elkins Park, PA
Putting in 93 octane is a real waste of money. Your not driving a performanace car there. Consumer Reports did a test of cars using premium and regular. There was no difference (unless your car specifically requires premium, which it will say in the owners manual and by your gas cap). So you throwing money down the drain.
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,783
From: Torrance, CA
I don't think people understand what it is I'm doing. My commute is a little less than 10 miles, and it takes me about 40 minutes, which puts my average speed at 15 mph. There are 34 traffic lights through Philadelphia, and many are red, so I'm stopping at least every 2000 feet. How past do you think my top speed ever is? If I hit 40 mph, I'm going fast! (In fact, I do this on the last part of my trip to work, or the first part coming home. The speed limit on there is 25, I go 40 and get passed. Its a curvy, hilly road, though so my glide is just with my foot off the accelerator, with an occasional downshift, and I DON'T shut the engine. I do the whole 2-mile stretch without any braking except when one of the three lights is red, or the jerk in front of me feels that he needs to slam on his brakes.)
Except for the part described above and the first 10 minutes or so, my commute is through a heavily urban area. The road is relatively straight, but hilly. There are no animals crossing the road except people. Pedestrians are also relatively smart and only cross at crosswalks when they have a green light. Of course, some people do feel that they are allowed to park in the right lane as long as their blinkers are on, and that causes bottlenecks in the road when it happens. But generally speaking, I only shut the engine when I am coasting down a hill to a light that is red and will be red for a while after I stop at it, or one that is green but I know will be red by the time I get there.
On my commute this morning, I shut off the engine 17 times, equal to half the traffic lights. Since my last fill up, I have gone just over 100 miles and the needle just below the F on my gas gauge. Previously, 100 miles would have put the needle at about a third of the way down, so I can already see the savings will be significant.
As my original post stated, I rarely lose power steering. That is effectly a non-issue. My original question was WHY don't I lose power steering. As for braking, I am almost always coming to a complete stop anyway, so one use of my brake is all I need.
When I learned to drive, my instructor had a "dual control" car, meaning the passenger's side, where the instructor sat, had a brake pedal, so the instructor could brake the car himself. He was also very good at steering from the passenger's side. I asked him once, "Don't you need a gas pedal too?" His response was "I'll just use your gas" meaning he never had a situation where the student driver was going too slow and he needed to make the car speed up. Please give me an example of when I'd need to speed up in an emergency. Thanks!
Except for the part described above and the first 10 minutes or so, my commute is through a heavily urban area. The road is relatively straight, but hilly. There are no animals crossing the road except people. Pedestrians are also relatively smart and only cross at crosswalks when they have a green light. Of course, some people do feel that they are allowed to park in the right lane as long as their blinkers are on, and that causes bottlenecks in the road when it happens. But generally speaking, I only shut the engine when I am coasting down a hill to a light that is red and will be red for a while after I stop at it, or one that is green but I know will be red by the time I get there.
On my commute this morning, I shut off the engine 17 times, equal to half the traffic lights. Since my last fill up, I have gone just over 100 miles and the needle just below the F on my gas gauge. Previously, 100 miles would have put the needle at about a third of the way down, so I can already see the savings will be significant.
As my original post stated, I rarely lose power steering. That is effectly a non-issue. My original question was WHY don't I lose power steering. As for braking, I am almost always coming to a complete stop anyway, so one use of my brake is all I need.
When I learned to drive, my instructor had a "dual control" car, meaning the passenger's side, where the instructor sat, had a brake pedal, so the instructor could brake the car himself. He was also very good at steering from the passenger's side. I asked him once, "Don't you need a gas pedal too?" His response was "I'll just use your gas" meaning he never had a situation where the student driver was going too slow and he needed to make the car speed up. Please give me an example of when I'd need to speed up in an emergency. Thanks!
crap! i think you are...
i was thinking most of the time that you were just indulging in a bit of dry humor...
its not by sheer chance that your fit can go 0-60 in under 13 sec's...(its not to show off,
its to scooot when needed!) ever heard of an on ramp? or accidently pulling out infront of someone...???????
Thread Starter
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Honda Fit Forums Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 287
From: Elkins Park, PA
r u serious....?
crap! i think you are...
i was thinking most of the time that you were just indulging in a bit of dry humor...
its not by sheer chance that your fit can go 0-60 in under 13 sec's...(its not to show off,
its to scooot when needed!) ever heard of an on ramp? or accidently pulling out infront of someone...???????
crap! i think you are...
i was thinking most of the time that you were just indulging in a bit of dry humor...
its not by sheer chance that your fit can go 0-60 in under 13 sec's...(its not to show off,
its to scooot when needed!) ever heard of an on ramp? or accidently pulling out infront of someone...???????
I'd probably take an EXIT ramp with the car off, if I were familiar with the configuration at the bottom, but never an ENTRANCE when I'd have to merge at high speed! Come on, I do have SOME common sense!
FWIW, I'm at 175 miles at only half a tank, not the three-quarters it usually takes.
Last edited by LizardKing; Jan 28, 2008 at 10:38 AM.
Thread Starter
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Honda Fit Forums Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 287
From: Elkins Park, PA
Did you initially lose but then heard a click-click and it came back? That happens about a quarter of the time for me. The rest of the time the icon doesn't even come on. Maybe mine is used to shutting it now.
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,783
From: Torrance, CA
WTF??? Do you think I'm an idiot and I'm going to try going up an onramp or jump out in front of someone with my engine off? Maybe jumping out would be an example for a brand-new driver, but I'd think that the instructor would brake the car BEFORE the student gets in the way. I thought I made it clear that I turn it off when I'm going to stopping. I'm not going to jump out at anyone when I'm stopping.
I'd probably take an EXIT ramp with the car off, if I were familiar with the configuration at the bottom, but never an ENTRANCE when I'd have to merge at high speed! Come on, I do have SOME common sense!
FWIW, I'm at 175 miles at only half a tank, not the three-quarters it usually takes.
I'd probably take an EXIT ramp with the car off, if I were familiar with the configuration at the bottom, but never an ENTRANCE when I'd have to merge at high speed! Come on, I do have SOME common sense!
FWIW, I'm at 175 miles at only half a tank, not the three-quarters it usually takes.
that the power steering is unreliable in those situations.
We all get that you are being as safe as you feel you can be while doing this. I just think that some of us dont want others to get the same idea. Or think its a good idea. Which we have all probably
exacerbated by continually posting...but hey...its all for the sake of entertainment right? ahhaaaaahahaa
when i was in japan, every cab driver did this. i was wondering why they all threw it into neutral every time they would speed up. my thoughts on it is........you gain gas mileage while putting unnecessary strain on your transmission. i mean, its good in theory, but you should be trying to get the most out of your car and not your gas. i dont downshift to slow down either. brake pads are cheaper than a new clutch.
Thread Starter
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Honda Fit Forums Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 287
From: Elkins Park, PA
Obviously not, or my fuel efficiency would be lower, not higher. Maybe the 3 seconds while I'm actually restarting it uses more gas than just coasting, but I coast for 10 to 15 seconds, then stop at a traffic light for 30.
My Lips Bigger!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,913
From: Orlando, FL
ill take your word for it....
all of it...
when im in the car it will be on.
imo
if this was such a genius idea it would be on all cars that only have a gas engine, and implemented automatically
im not saying your not genius, but i dont feel this method has been thought through
all of it...
when im in the car it will be on.
imo
if this was such a genius idea it would be on all cars that only have a gas engine, and implemented automatically
im not saying your not genius, but i dont feel this method has been thought through
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 388
From: Amish Paradise, PA
Yes it stopped initially, then came back after about 2 seconds in the "on" position. I did not hear any clicking though, but it has always been consistent.
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 51
From: alabama
If you truly want to save on gas why not consider a small bike or a scooter?
Back in a summer I bought a small Ninja that will outrun most cars while still getting an honest 60mpg. People that drive them easy report 75mpg consistently. I have removable hard luggage for storage and use it to commute to work during good weather. I bought my mom a small Honda scooter and it is rated at 110mpg. And while I have never measured it ..I believe it to be close as the thing only holds slightly over 1 gallon and goes MONTHS between fill ups. My commute is also about 10 miles , 40mph max so it works fine too. (scooter goes 45-50mph max). I have no input on what you are doing is safe or not, but I would agree it's going to take it's toll on your starter at some point so you might want to consider a small bike.
Back in a summer I bought a small Ninja that will outrun most cars while still getting an honest 60mpg. People that drive them easy report 75mpg consistently. I have removable hard luggage for storage and use it to commute to work during good weather. I bought my mom a small Honda scooter and it is rated at 110mpg. And while I have never measured it ..I believe it to be close as the thing only holds slightly over 1 gallon and goes MONTHS between fill ups. My commute is also about 10 miles , 40mph max so it works fine too. (scooter goes 45-50mph max). I have no input on what you are doing is safe or not, but I would agree it's going to take it's toll on your starter at some point so you might want to consider a small bike.
Thread Starter
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Honda Fit Forums Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 287
From: Elkins Park, PA
If you truly want to save on gas why not consider a small bike or a scooter?
Back in a summer I bought a small Ninja that will outrun most cars while still getting an honest 60mpg. People that drive them easy report 75mpg consistently. I have removable hard luggage for storage and use it to commute to work during good weather. I bought my mom a small Honda scooter and it is rated at 110mpg. And while I have never measured it ..I believe it to be close as the thing only holds slightly over 1 gallon and goes MONTHS between fill ups. My commute is also about 10 miles , 40mph max so it works fine too. (scooter goes 45-50mph max). I have no input on what you are doing is safe or not, but I would agree it's going to take it's toll on your starter at some point so you might want to consider a small bike.
Back in a summer I bought a small Ninja that will outrun most cars while still getting an honest 60mpg. People that drive them easy report 75mpg consistently. I have removable hard luggage for storage and use it to commute to work during good weather. I bought my mom a small Honda scooter and it is rated at 110mpg. And while I have never measured it ..I believe it to be close as the thing only holds slightly over 1 gallon and goes MONTHS between fill ups. My commute is also about 10 miles , 40mph max so it works fine too. (scooter goes 45-50mph max). I have no input on what you are doing is safe or not, but I would agree it's going to take it's toll on your starter at some point so you might want to consider a small bike.
I'll just need to wear out the starter in the next 2 years and have it replaced under warranty.
Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 51
From: alabama
That is why I said I use it to commute in good weather. The idea is over time you save not only gas but spread your wear and tear over several vehicles rather than one. My toyota trade in was 1 month away from being 6 years old yet had 46k because I have bikes as well.
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