So I’ve been driving my old hatchback the same way for years, but lately I’ve been wondering if I’m actually doing it all wrong. I coast in neutral down hills thinking I’m saving fuel, but a buddy told me that’s a myth and modern cars do better in gear. I just don’t know what to believe anymore.
I used to coast in neutral down hills and feel clever but now I worry I am guessing my way through it I want to trust what actually saves fuel
From a mechanic friend I hear modern engines shut off fuel when you lift off the pedal and engine braking slows you naturally so staying in gear keeps you in control and it might improve fuel efficiency
Maybe the whole thing is overblown is it really about the right throttle and tire pressure?
Reframing the issue keeps the road from turning into a set of fixed rules I think about what the car communicates as you drive and not just what a chart says
Feels like a rush to pick a single rule when the road and weather keep changing
There is a broader idea here about habits and physics and what you are willing to trade for ease of mind