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I have been hypermiling for about 2yrs now and have always wondered what I need to do when coasting downhill in neutral. I drive a 2007 VW Rabbit with stick shift.

My technique, since I do not switch my engine off is to just put the the car in neutral and take my foot off the clutch completely and just glide like that till I need to speed up again at which point I will push the clutch in again and put the car in gear. Is this correct or do I need to "ride" the clutch without disengaging the stick?
Any help would be great and if there are any other Rabbit Hypermilers with some awesome tips please share!


Thanks
Mike

Your way is correct.

You are doing it right. Keeping the clutch engaged puts extra wear on something (throwout bearing?).

Then next step is to switch the engine off, but only if/when you are comfortable with it.

Awesome thanks guys.

Yeah, unfortunately I will not be attempting to switch my engine off on these Dallas Highways haha. People drive like maniacs here and get angry when I am driving the speed limit in the slow lane. I have done it a few times but my car starts making this beeping noise that will not stop until I restart the engine.

I still manage to get 37-42mpg depending on my mood for the week though.

...my car starts making this beeping noise that will not stop until I restart the engine.

I wonder if that beeping noise is from the tailgaters and other maniacs on the roads. :D
It's interesting that the car has a warning tone if the engine isn't running. Is it like the seatbelt reminder? Does it beep if the car isn't moving while the engine is off?

Your neutral coasting technique is fine, as others said. Keep up the good work and welcome to CleanMPG!

It is this weird high pitched beeping sound, not like the one for the seatbelt reminder. I also find it hard to crank the engine again and have had to come to a complete stop and then crank the engine. Maybe it has some built in safety that prevents it, I don't know?

Oh and lol to your first comment

It is this weird high pitched beeping sound, not like the one for the seatbelt reminder. I also find it hard to crank the engine again and have had to come to a complete stop and then crank the engine. Maybe it has some built in safety that prevents it, I don't know?

That's weird. My '08 Jetta doesn't make a sound when the engine's off, although the check engine light always goes on until the engine is started.

That's weird. My '08 Jetta doesn't make a sound when the engine's off, although the check engine light always goes on until the engine is started.

Maybe it just wants to tell you something is wrong with your engine :D

Maybe there is a ECU update to be had at the dealership?

Do you return your key to the "On" position once the engine has stopped running?

Yes I do but then when I try to crank it again it starts that beeping and then sometimes it cranks and then sometimes it won't and I have to pull over. No big deal though, I don't think I will be doing it here in DFW anyways unless gas goes back to 4 bucks a gallon.

Maybe it just wants to tell you something is wrong with your engine :D

I would say no since I've scanned for codes and none are found. I think it's similar to how the CEL, and every other dashboard light, goes on when the key is just turned to the 'on' position without starting the engine.