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Clutch Coasting.

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by fintip, Sep 9, 2012.

  1. fintip

    fintip Member

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    Question: When seeing a red light up ahead, wouldn't it be more gas efficient to pull in the clutch and coast to the light? That should get the pistons sucking less gas into during the same amount of time... Are there any negative side effects? Any chance it wears more on the clutch to do this? Any chance it's not great for the transmission?

    (I normally shift down according to my speed as I approach, but I've been wondering about this lately.)
     
    fintip, Sep 9, 2012
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  2. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

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    More fuel efficient: not really. Off throttle is off throttle, you won't gain much mileage by coasting on the clutch. maybe 1/2 to 1 mpg.

    Premature clutch wear: very likely. Granted it won't wear out the clutch 10,000 miles sooner than normal, but any time you use the clutch the disc are wearing against each other, so of course there would be some extra wear. Again, not enough to be concerned about.

    But using the engine to do your braking saves A LOT on disc, pad, and shoe wear over 5,000 miles.
     
    tskaz, Sep 9, 2012
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  3. jeffcoslacker

    jeffcoslacker Member

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    Always engine brake (smoothly) and maintain correct gear range for speed.

    Never know when you might have to squirt outta harm's way...seems like the second most common non-rider error accident, getting mashed from behind while stopping.

    Watch your mirrors, always.
     
    jeffcoslacker, Sep 9, 2012
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  4. jeffcoslacker

    jeffcoslacker Member

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    PS you can't really pull any more fuel through the circuit with the throttle closed and slowing in gear than you can idling and coasting...the closed throttle plate limits the amount of air entering, and the slides are slammed shut, so the needles are not lifted to allow fuel in...you're just running on the idle circuit, regardless..
     
    jeffcoslacker, Sep 9, 2012
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  5. mtnbikecrazy55

    mtnbikecrazy55 Active Member

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    this would be the bigger issue for me. ALWAYS keep your bike in gear, and always in a gear that you can get outta trouble quickly if need be.
     
    mtnbikecrazy55, Sep 11, 2012
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  6. mrpackerguy

    mrpackerguy Member

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    Could someone please post gear range for speed numbers? Curious. I find I can commute to work comfortably in 3rd gear even on 45mph roads. And when out on country roads, 4th gear seems fine for 55-62 mph
     
    mrpackerguy, Sep 15, 2012
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  7. KrS14

    KrS14 Active Member

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    This is one of my pet peeves. I ALWAYS see guys shifting to neutral at stop lights. You can't very well get out of the way quickly if you're in neutral.
     
    KrS14, Sep 16, 2012
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  8. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    there's a thrust bearing on the clutch rod thingy that works when the clutch is pulled in, that's getting some extra use
     
    Polock, Sep 16, 2012
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  9. LVSteve2011

    LVSteve2011 Member

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    Oh Polock, you certainly have a way with words.
     
    LVSteve2011, Sep 16, 2012
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  10. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    it's really another language, almost like Latin but i tone it down so younz guys can capish
     
    Polock, Sep 16, 2012
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