Hi, new owner of a '09 1.8L automatic.When I drive on my 300 mile business trips, I'm trying to optimize my mileage. Comparing my Vibe's coasting/gliding ability to my old '98 Olds Intrigue. The Vibe seems to have a great deal less distance capability. Is there any technique I can use to lessen what seems to be engine braking?
A lot of times when I'm coasting I throw it into Neutral, not sure if you already do this, but I've noticed that when coasting while in N it seems to coast a lot longer than when in gear, and the RPM's drop which should help fuel economy. You could check out the website http://www.cleanmpg.com they have a lot of info about hypermiling and can probably help you achieve better MPGs.
The Vibes do not coast as well as other GM vehicles. I have discovered that the GM 4sp automatic transmissions have the best coasting. The new 6sp does not coast very well, and the 5sp from anybody (including the Honda in my Vue) are terrible.
My Sunfire has way more engine braking then The Vibe. I know that in the Sunfire when you let off the gas the injectors shut off (as long as you're in gear) and remain off until you use the throttle or the engine coasts down to high idle. As the Vibe doesn't have an aftermarket exhaust like the Sunfire and is quieter in general, I am unable to tell if this is happening. I'm still trying to hunt down long enough cables for my multimeter and stethescope so I can test this theory at highway speed!
Yeah, if the Vibe has deceleration fuel cutoff it's going to use less fuel staying in gear and letting off the gas to coast than it would be throwing it in neutral and letting it idle. I can't remember if it has DFCO,may be worth a check on cleanmpg.
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
Auto, Moon & Tunes, power package. 143k
Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey.
Put it in neutral...when it's in gear obviously it will have drivetrain loss/braking.
'04 lava GTSRI, Progress rear sway bar, Infinity reference backs, components in the front, Infinity Kappa 124.7w sub, Alphasonik 600rms@2ohms for the sub, alpine head unit, worst paint ever!
I suppose with a scanner if you could read the injector duty cycle you'd probably know if the 1ZZ-FE supports deceleration fuel cutoff. My guess is that it does, but that's purely a guess.And I do have to agree, the Vibe does not coast as well as other GM vehicles I've owned. On my drive to work there's a fairly large hill. In the Vibe, if I let it coast, I'll hit about 75mph and top out there. In my '98 Buick Regal GS, I had to apply brakes often, as I'd easily coast to 90mph+ and there was a CHP station only a few miles away.
Quote, originally posted by ClunkClunk »On my drive to work there's a fairly large hill. In the Vibe, if I let it coast, I'll hit about 75mph and top out there. In my '98 Buick Regal GS, I had to apply brakes often, as I'd easily coast to 90mph+ and there was a CHP station only a few miles away.680 north in Sunol maybe?