restart with clutch or starter?

[161horsepower]

I'm a newbie who can't afford to get a Scangauge just yet so I pose this question: which type of restart uses the least amount of gas? I have a manual Accord (non-hybrid) and I'm very comfortable keeping a little glide going so I can restart with the clutch in almost any gear, although starts in 1st are still rough. But maybe restarts with the starter use less fuel. Thoughts? Maybe there are other factors to consider as well.

[BailOut]

AFAIK there isn't an easy answer to this question. In my Yaris the rolling start is better on FE because it seems to bypass the ECU's penchant for running rich for a few seconds on an electrical start.

However, the wear and tear on the vehicle's systems are greater with a rolling start than an electrical one (it puts a lot of stress on the clutch rather than the starter), so it's a toss-up as to which one is the most efficient from all aspects at the end of the day.

[PaleMelanesian]

I always clutch-restart when I'm moving. I only use the key starter when I'm actually stopped. The key to smooth clutch-starts is to use a higher gear. If you're going 30mph and plan on using 4th gear, start it in 5th and then drop down to 4th. The higher gear gives a much smoother start.

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

I always clutch-restart when I'm moving. I only use the key starter when I'm actually stopped. The key to smooth clutch-starts is to use a higher gear. If you're going 30mph and plan on using 4th gear, start it in 5th and then drop down to 4th. The higher gear gives a much smoother start.

I tend to do the same, but I can understand if you use the starter the first couple of miles or at low speeds. I use the highest gear possible to clutch-start and still am trying to figure some of this out.

[brick]

When I'm moving I prefer to use the clutch simply out of convenience. (I may have a strange idea of convenience.) And I really don't think that the clutch wear is anything to worry about. It's there, no doubt. But I figure that spinning up an engine can't be any worse than getting an entire car moving from a dead stop, and the clutch is designed to do that over and over and over again.

[psyshack]

I prefer the clutch if still moving at all and less than 30 sec's to idle at a light. If over 30 sec's then I key start. It can get real dicey "ie" a real seat of the pants move. What do I do? Its a gut thing.Traffic lights are wack-o here,,, or is it me? Im not a good light timer. So if all else fails. Bump start the car and let the tiny battery in the Civic recover.

Some times I set there wondering what my father would have done,,, or Excel,,, sno,,, Billy, brick, Delta or other hypermiling brothern. Bottom line is,,, I had to make the call. As you will.

psy