My commute is largely uphill on the way to work and downhill on the way home.

I've gotten into the habit of placing my auto transmission in neutral and saving gas by coasting home.

I read in the owner's manual, however, that towing my jeep in neutral without the transfer case in neutral can cause 'severe transmission damage'.

Obviously I'm not towing the Jeep, but I'm concerned that by coasting out of gear I might be causing some trouble.

Just to clarify, I'm coasting with the gear selector in neutral--I'm not selecting neutral from the transfer case because I occasionally need power (to pass and whatnot).

Thanks in advance,

Shovel

 

Coasting in neutral won't damage the auto transmission as long as the engine is running, because the transmission oil pump will still be pumping oil.

If the hill is steep enough so the Jeep will gain speed in drive, with your foot off the throttle, the injectors will shut off, causing you to burn zero fuel. This is more economical then coasting in neutral, and reduces the amount of braking required.

You can tell if this feature kicks in, when at the bottom of the hill, you feel it when the injectors turn on again. It's not a smooth transition. It is way more apparent with the cruise control engaged.

The early JKs won't do this, unless they have had a software update. That's when my '08 started doing it. Before the update, the injector pulse width would never go to zero. After the update, I can see the reading go to zero, and I can feel it when they start injecting again.

 

I don't recommend it because you might just slip one click past neutral into Reverse if you're doing it all the time. And then you've f-ed your transmission.

 

As long as the engine is running you are fine. Neutral in the transfer case is for towing because the motor will not be running and at that point you could do damage to the transmission. That said I am going to try to see if I can feel the change that this guy is talking about. I live in the Texas hill country and will do it tomorrow.

 

I used ti live in Schertz, Texas, when I was stationed ay Randolph AFB. Does Cibolo Creek still flood on a regular basis?

When you test it out, remember, the hill has to be steep enough so the JK will gain speed, even with your foot off the gas. The point where the injectors turn back on will be most apparent with the cruise control engaged.

 

Actually that's not possible. They are designed to not allow it. Mythbusters

 

Oh Ya Don't go out and try it!

 

Yeah, that won't happen and not just because Mythbusters tried it.

 

I can move the selector on mind from drive to neutral, and back, without pressing the button. All other positions are blocked unless I press the button.

 

Now I find out this information I overshot neutral last winter trying to engage 4WD. I wasn't going very fast and I was on ice. But it didn't sound very good.