Automatic gearbox and regular use of neutral

Ditzy_Mitzy

I'm not an expert on automatic boxes by any means, but having had a read around there does seem to be something to what the OP is saying.  It appears that the new VW diesel engines produce a very strong engine braking effect, particularly when coupled to a DSG with a tendency to change down as speed decreases. 
The engine braking effect is sufficient to bring the car, or van in this case, to a stop in fairly short order.  VW themselves recognise this and fit certain models with an automatic coasting function.  This does electronically what the OP has been doing manually, in that it disengages the gearbox and lets the vehicle roll in neutral.  Drive is re-engaged upon depression of the accelerator or brake pedal.  Sounds mad to me, but it's there.  Coasting can be switched on and off, apparently.  Perhaps it's just off in the OP's van, leaving him to replicate it manually by putting the gear selector into neutral?  

Source: Who's Coasting? | VW T6 Transporter Forum (t6forum.com)

basill

Not just DSG, Volvo 8 speed non dsg autos coast in eco mode.   Must be something to save.    Emissions if not actual fuel possibly 🙂

Advocado

basill said:

Not just DSG, Volvo 8 speed non dsg autos coast in eco mode.   Must be something to save.    Emissions if not actual fuel possibly 🙂

If Volvo of all manufacturers have their cars coast, it can't be as dangerous as people on here seem to think.

basill

Advocado said:

basill said:

Not just DSG, Volvo 8 speed non dsg autos coast in eco mode.   Must be something to save.    Emissions if not actual fuel possibly 🙂

If Volvo of all manufacturers have their cars coast, it can't be as dangerous as people on here seem to think.

Like the Skoda you regain control the moment you touch brake or accelerator automatically.  you don't waste any reaction time manually moving the lever back to D.

BOWFER

Advocado said:

basill said:

Not just DSG, Volvo 8 speed non dsg autos coast in eco mode.   Must be something to save.    Emissions if not actual fuel possibly 🙂

If Volvo of all manufacturers have their cars coast, it can't be as dangerous as people on here seem to think.

I think the 'danger' part of it is being grossly exaggerated by some on here, I'm not joining in on that.
My electric car has very little to zero braking effect in D.
I have to select B mode to get any.
I wouldn't call it dangerous at all, it's just people getting all preachy.

itsmeagain

All mid-premium manufacturers will be automating this (if not already and EV doesn't take over first). It's what skilled and frugal drivers already do, but it does have risks for the unskilled. The automated control systems will just take the skill & risk out the equation and make it seamless.

To quote the highway code is ridiculous and out dated. If you followed that you'd claim Lewis Hamilton is the worlds worst driver!

Mark_in_Kent

itsmeagain said:

To quote the highway code is ridiculous and out dated. If you followed that you'd claim Lewis Hamilton is the worlds worst driver!

The highway code is for the road, not racing tracks. Daft comment.

 The Highway Code is still valid, we take our tests against it. 

itsmeagain

Two questions for the 'experts'
(1) What are the 2 mains causes of engine braking and why do diesels generally have less braking than petrols?
(2) What are the 4 main reasons that diesels generally achieve a higher mpg than petrols?

BOWFER

Mark_in_Kent said:

itsmeagain said:

To quote the highway code is ridiculous and out dated. If you followed that you'd claim Lewis Hamilton is the worlds worst driver!

The highway code is for the road, not racing tracks. Daft comment.

 The Highway Code is still valid, we take our tests against it. 

Parts of it are still valid, parts of it are a joke.
Braking distances especially, utter nonsense that are easily halved by even a run-of-the-mill car.

Mark_in_Kent

BOWFER said:. 

Parts of it are still valid, parts of it are a joke.
Braking distances especially, utter nonsense that are easily halved by even a run-of-the-mill car.

I think those braking distances are aimed at people coasting in neutral in an automatic car .