i go up and down a few decent size hills.. i wodner if i will damage my car if i flip it into neutral and rolling down the hill instead of takign my foot off the break? this way the engine doesn't maintain a 2.5k rpm
any thoughts?

 

You won't really save fuel by shifting to neutral, as the engine still has to idle.

You won't damage anything by leaving it in gear either.

 

i notice that if i put it in neutral.. i can maintain higher speed.. in gear.. my speed drops very quick since i'm not putting any gas and drags

 

Isn't that illegal?

 

Well, in neutral, the engine is disconnected from the drivetrain, so you can coast more easily. Otherwise you'll experience compression braking.

In some states, yes, being in neutral is considered not being in control of your vehicle, and is thus illegal.

 

Also, Honda engines actually shut off fuel flow when coasting in gear, so you'll save gas by not putting it in neutral.

 

ic.. then the only benefit i see for putting it in neutral is to prevent the breaking compression which slows it down quicker..
in neutral it maintains speed longer

 

do u really save gas when in gear? when in gear, you also have engine braking.

 

it may be the ecu stops fuel flow, when letting off the gas, but it more than obvious it doesnt "coast", coasting lets the car continue without the drag of the engine connected to the transmission. on downhills, my sport 5at speeds up considerably, and on flat land, if I just chop the throttle it slows so quickly from engine decompression I have to gas it to make up speed that I would have if I simply put it in neutral (approaching a traffic train, or stop light way ahead).
I think ( does anyone else have real data?) using neutral can save gas. it does seem like coasting in gear, takes some amount of slight throttle opening, to override the compression of the engine braking.
trying to sense my throttle opeining compared to engine power, it seems like there is a half inch of pedal movement that can still provide the same speed delivered from the engine. for instance, in the 5at what speed will the car stop at if you leave the pedal depressed till it wont acellerate anymore.
for instance, driving home today, I kept the gas pedal depressed till it finally leveled out at 80mph or about.
I hear some of you talk about not going over 50-55, how much are you "backing off" when you reach that speed?
and do you who seem to get that illusive 40mpg, use neutral?
my average is about 26, with the last 3 fillups at about 30.
putting it in neutral on johnson road, my fit would go to 90, from 60, if I didnt use the brakes!
no flat land till lancaster.