driving downhill - fuel consumption

Pedant on: not with foot operated handbrakes, push button ones and automatic handbrakes !!!! Pedant off.

No it doesn't, removal of the key must occur before the lock operates. Try it for yourself.

One manufacturerwas building new cars with carbon thrust bearings until 2001. But you're right - the car I was referring to is from

1969.

Herald (engine) thrust bearings are notoriously weak. I suspect the problem is overstated, but it seems reasonable to take an easy precaution.

Ian

I'm intrigued as to how you think that could possibly matter. The cover plate turns with the engine. The release bearing is fastened to the gearbox. How do you think their relative velocity is affected by what the driven plate and input shaft are doing?

Or, to put it another way, imagine a flywheel rotating at 1,000rpm with the clutch depressed. What do you think you can do to the input shaft which will change the rotation at the release bearing?

Well, if we're willy-waving qualifications, I'll see your C&G and raise you three degrees in mechanical engineering.

Almost as if there is a little slippage as the release bearing is brought up to speed on each application of the clutch, isn;t it?

Ian

That's the daft contradiction. We are told that it's wrong to coast because you couldn;t instantly accelerate if necessary - and yet it's fine to be in top almost to a standstill. How much acceleration (if needed) is any car going to have at 10mph in top?

Ian

I did once have to drive the DS about 30' with the suspension flat (don't tell the owners' club). It wasn't terribly comfortable, I admit. Mind you, it didn't - I discovered - have any bump stops then.

Ian

Depends on the car. This was a Mark II Escort. I turned the key to '0' and the steering lock clicked on.

YMMV.

Ian gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

2001! Who was that? I'd have thought it would be more expensive to be the only manufacturer using carbon ones than to fall into line with the others.

If I had one of those, I'd be tempted to do loads of gratuitous declutched coasting, just to test the theory ;o)

Cheers,

Colin.

Then ITYF it had a fault, the design spec. includes no activation till the key comes out as a safety feature. I had several mk 1 and 2 escort and none locked till after the key came out.

Heh trust Leyland! I wonder how much you could affect the life on them by adjusting your clutch usage...

Cheers,

Colin.

Could easily be. It was a knackered old car and the ignition was so worn it could be easily started with a screwdriver.

Whatever, I was there, you weren't. It happened.

Yes, it does.

Why? It's a waste of fuel, just let it slow down in gear, thus cutting the fuel and saving yourself a few pence. Or just keep your foot down till the last moment and brake hard :)