Quote:
Originally Posted by ryanfx
it uses less gas to downshift. Proven on a full PCM scanner on multiple cars.
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There's no way that's true. When I'm heading to the river and I hit the downhill portion leading up to the traffic light I coast an easy half mile or more at 45 mph with the engine at idle. If you downshifted you wouldn't even make it to the light without having to give it gas.
Brakes are a lot cheaper than clutch jobs but don't forget that downshifting is putting a sudden surge to your engine which loads it up a bit and causes more engine wear than coasting does. In the long run, I'm sure downshifting causes more wear, maintenance and costs than coasting does. But it would probably take at least 150K miles to really find out so I doubt we'll be able to prove anything. It's really just a driving style thing. I bet most of the people that downshift have a cutout or Loudmouth exhaust as well.
