Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Coasting???

  • 24-05-2011 2:21pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,493 ✭✭✭DazMarz


    I passed my driving test a few months back, no problem. But there is still one thing that I do not understand at all...

    What is the big problem with coasting? (putting in the clutch prematurely?).

    Is it something to do with not being in control of the car fully or something? This was just something I could never fathom, as it made approaches to areas where you had to stop (red lights, etc.) a lot easier, and I was always getting rapped on the knuckles by my instructor over it... What is so bad about it? I'm guessing lessened control, but I'm not sure...


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 845 ✭✭✭softmee


    Is this bad for a car?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8 tdohee


    2 problems with it AFAIK:
    It's dangerous - someone slams into the back of you while you're coasting and the car will fly forward - if the clutch is engaged then the engine will act as a bit of a brake, via the gearbox.
    Secondly it's more fuel efficient to have the engine engaged at all times - the turning of the wheels will turn the engine, and in modern cars this will use virtually no fuel. When coasting the engine uses fuel just to turn over.

    Some people ride the clutch when travelling downhill (or put the car in neutral, it's the same thing) in the mistaken belief that this will save fuel. Quite the opposite in fact.


  • Posts: 0 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Camilo Fancy Hash




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 845 ✭✭✭softmee


    So, about how many meters before junction its god to press the clutch -just few meters before you stop?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 489 ✭✭mlumley


    softmee wrote: »
    So, about how many meters before junction its god to press the clutch -just few meters before you stop?

    Somehow I dont think you had a very good tutor if he didnt teach you this.
    If you are slowing for a junction depress the clutch as you depress the brake.

    I know, some one will say I'm wrong, I only have a bike, car, truck and bus licence, what do I know.:eek:


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,327 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    The test often requires some odd procedures.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,780 ✭✭✭sentient_6


    softmee wrote: »
    So, about how many meters before junction its god to press the clutch -just few meters before you stop?

    You should only clutch to stop as you just about feel the engine start to buck. For instance your approaching a junction & say your driving in 3rd. Brake brake brake, clutch & gear down to 2nd, OFF clutch, brake brake brake brake, engine starts to shudder just a little as your close to stopping & quickly kill it with the clutch & brake to stop. Get it?

    If you want as well you could skip the going down to 2nd bit & just stop in 3rd(or any other gear for that matter, but i find 3rd....tidier), just stay braking & stop the engine shudder nice & sharpish with the clutch as its just about starts, which will happen slightly earlier if in 3rd rather than 2nd but makes no difference.

    Edit: re reading thread:
    mlumley wrote: »
    If you are slowing for a junction depress the clutch as you depress the brake.

    I know, some one will say I'm wrong, I only have a bike, car, truck and bus licence, what do I know.

    Thats coasting.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭**Timbuk2**


    You do NOT press the clutch as you press the brake, you only press the clutch just before the engine starts to shudder (which means pressing your clutch when the car reaches a very slow speed, about 3 car lengths depending on what gear you are in).

    Driving with the clutch in unnecessarily means that you are technically driving out of control, and it uses more fuel (the RPM will be higher with the clutch in than it will be with just breaking while the gear is engaged). I'm not sure technically why this is, but I think when you have the clutch out (not pressed), the motion of the car keeps the engine from cutting out, whereas if you press in the clutch, the motion of the car is disengaged from the engine and the RPMs have to be increased to idling RPM to prevent the engine from cutting out.

    Note you don't have to change down the gears while you are stopping. I used to, but my instructor told me it's better if you stop in whatever gear you are in. After I passed the test, I returned a bit to the changing down the gears thing without realising, but on the Aviva Ignition test I stopped in the gears I was in (like I did for my driving test), and afterwards he told me that while this is fine, it's sometimes a bit smoother if you change to 3rd (or 2nd) before you stop, instead of stopping in 4th or 5th like I was at times.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,327 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Last ten or twelve feet is when I usually press the clutch, but I don't exactly have a good record as regards tests.:D
    None of the last four have mentioned gears though, so they must like what I'm doing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 845 ✭✭✭softmee


    mlumley wrote: »
    Somehow I dont think you had a very good tutor if he didnt teach you this.
    If you are slowing for a junction depress the clutch as you depress the brake.

    I know, some one will say I'm wrong, I only have a bike, car, truck and bus licence, what do I know.:eek:

    My tutor is the best in the world and i only think he wasnt saying anything because i was doing it right.. ;)


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17 sarahd19


    sentient_6 wrote: »
    You should only clutch to stop as you just about feel the engine start to buck. For instance your approaching a junction & say your driving in 3rd. Brake brake brake, clutch & gear down to 2nd, OFF clutch, brake brake brake brake, engine starts to shudder just a little as your close to stopping & quickly kill it with the clutch & brake to stop. Get it?


    I was wondering is this considered coasting in an exam , my parents have recently told me to start doing this was a tad worried if i was picking up a bad habit :)


Advertisement