autostick option: gas saver or gas sucker?

[pppt03turbo]

what yields better gas mileage in medium to heavy traffic? [8]- using the autostick or leaving it in [D]rive? [:I]

[MichaelDay]

Haven't heard of anyone doing a scientific test since it would require using some specialized equipment (doubtful that you could drive that way for two full tanks of gasoline).

That being said, you would need to be very diligent using the autostick to maximize fuel economy. If you want to try it, you should be extremely light on the throttle, and shift to a higher gear earlier than the transmission typically does on it's own. Your performance will take a nose dive. You should be able to be passed by a 1950 Citroen 2CV's when accelerating.

[Gary04GT]

My guess would be that leaving it in drive in heavy traffic would work best since it is my understanding that the PCM is programmed to change gears at the "right" RPM for best performance/fuel economy. [8]

[dfunkdj]

Not sure but it seams I use more gas in auto stick mode but then I leave it set in gear to mess with all the ricers.Also when in D the car dosent shift down as fast as it could when jumping on the gas to race a mustang or ricer auto stick lets you drop a gear when you want..

Don

[pppt03turbo]

thanks all. i'll keep it in [D]rive while in heavy traffic. i agree now that the car's cpu knows all optimum shifting points. i'll save the autostick feature for the rice burners out there!

[blackboosty]

I consistently drive in autostick, with the Trac Control OFF, and see higher mileages than when I drove in D...... Just my two cents.

[2step]

It may be possible to get a little better milage if you use the Autostick funtion to shift earlier than the computer is programed to. I think that I've read somewhere about the techniques that are used in those milage competitions and one of the things is a fairly open throttlebody but at a low RPM. You would need to shift up while still lugging the engine before the boost kicks in. It's a very un-natural way to drive in the real world. Your torque converter might never lock up so there's also a good chance it would not work.[:I]

[emr131]

Personally, in bumper to bumper I always leave the car in 2nd via A/S. It is a much smoother ride then when the car attempts to keep shifting from 1st to second to 1st. Plus I can idle the car forward instead of having to use the gas if I just want to creep along. Granted, I could idle it in first, but that is just too slow sometimes even for bumper to bumper.

[pppt03turbo]

quote:Originally posted by emr131

Personally, in bumper to bumper I always leave the car in 2nd via A/S. It is a much smoother ride then when the car attempts to keep shifting from 1st to second to 1st. Plus I can idle the car forward instead of having to use the gas if I just want to creep along. Granted, I could idle it in first, but that is just too slow sometimes even for bumper to bumper.

tried keeping it "2" last evening on the way home last night. EXCELLENT suggestion. i think it will ultimately extend the life of the transmission too. thanks again.

[robinjoe]

quote:Originally posted by emr131

Personally, in bumper to bumper I always leave the car in 2nd via A/S. It is a much smoother ride then when the car attempts to keep shifting from 1st to second to 1st. Plus I can idle the car forward instead of having to use the gas if I just want to creep along. Granted, I could idle it in first, but that is just too slow sometimes even for bumper to bumper.

I prefer using the A/S in bumper to bumper for that exact same reason. The difference between the car's brain (computer) and my brain is that mine has eyes. I can see that I'm going to hit the brakes in 10 seconds, so I won't shift up, but the car's brain would shift up, and then it will be in the inefficient 3rd gear as I'm slowing down to the down-shift speed again.

Also, by leaving it in 2nd I can let the engine slow the car down and use less brake. Can anyone tell me if slowing down in that manner is excessive on the engine/transmission?

Joe