Driving with your engine turned off (good or bad)

manikjeet · 12th March 2007, 18:24

Yesterday while coming back to chandigarh from the hills I switched off the engine off the car went on rolling down.
I know its stupid

but it was fun and it was raining, so the speed didn't matter.

my question is that does it harm the engine in anyways or its ok to do

i have seen many auto doing this in rajansthan forgot the name of the place

theMAG · 12th March 2007, 21:55

Its bad in that the occupants will most likely expire alongwith their car - seeing as how EPS and booster brakes wont work in modern cars with the engine off. But the petrol saved switching off the engine is a good thing - and can be retrieved from the wreck of the car post-facto.

gd1418 · 12th March 2007, 21:59

Totally agree with MAG. You didn't mention which car was that from your stable. Except for the Alto rest all in your stable have power brakes that require the engine to be running to operate. How did you brake?

Or are you related to the Governor or the CM for the road to be stopped of all vehicular traffic other than yours..!!!

It certainly won't harm the engine as you queried, but it certainly would have enjoyed the rest after the climb it negotiated and in the process would lay the occupants to rest...!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG

Its bad in that the occupants will most likely expire alongwith their car - seeing as how EPS and booster brakes wont work in modern cars with the engine off. But the petrol saved switching off the engine is a good thing - and can be retrieved from the wreck of the car post-facto.

Vid6639 · 12th March 2007, 22:02

Which car? As rightly pointed out by theMAG the brakes and steering wont function if it ha power steering.

OT: The huge tyres on the Alto in you avatar are fitted in the wrong direction. they are directional and facing the wrong way.

manikjeet · 12th March 2007, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by gd1418

Totally agree with MAG. You didn't mention which car was that from your stable. Except for the Alto rest all in your stable have power brakes that require the engine to be running to operate. How did you brake?

Or are you related to the Governor or the CM for the road to be stopped of all vehicular traffic other than yours..!!!

It certainly won't harm the engine as you queried, but it certainly would have enjoyed the rest after the climb it negotiated and in the process would lay the occupants to rest...!!!

did this with my alto, the breaks were way to hard.Had to stand on breaks

saved around 4l of petrol

rks · 12th March 2007, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by manikjeet

Yesterday while coming back to chandigarh from the hills I switched off the engine off the car went on rolling down.

I hope you are aware that your steering might get locked if you pull the key out. That is just one step away from disaster and too close for comfort as far as I am concerned. This is in addition to the other points made.

karthik247 · 12th March 2007, 22:14

While going hill, u'll be using the brakes (if they work with engine off) most of the time to slow down causing them to overheat or fade. But while the engine is on, u can use engine breaking with is very good and efficient.

The main probs with driving with engine off are:
No brakes
No power steering
Overheating of brakes in case of downhill driving.

adya33 · 12th March 2007, 22:14

As everyone has said switching your cars engine off during any sort of movement of car is a strict NO NO.
The power steering won't work, breaks won't work at their full potential. A very dangerous place to be.
Sure you save few liters of fuel but are couple of hundred rupees more important than your/your loved ones life?

autoenthusiast · 13th March 2007, 00:10

Whoa mate, thats the most dangerous thing to do.

All the advise given above about the brakes/power steering and so on does hold true. Booster assisted brakes just won't work after sometime.

Also what if you needed engine power to suddenly swerve out of the way of a vehicle headed straight for you ?

All in all, the slight gain in terms of FE is just not work the risk to your life, just thank your lucky stars that all went well and don't try it again.

Zappo · 13th March 2007, 01:03

I am surprized that no one has as yet has cried blue murder... Well, in simple terms its the most dangerous thing to do. theMag said as much in his sarcastic post. Search the forums and you will find a lot many threads on the same subject.

ess_a · 13th March 2007, 01:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by manikjeet

did this with my alto, the breaks were way to hard.Had to stand on breaks

saved around 4l of petrol

Although lot many have already said this, but once more, it was a really foolish thing to do.
Even Alto has power brakes and thats why they got that hard.
You might have saved 4ltrs of fuel and live to tell us about it, but you definitly put your life, your co passengers life, and the the lives of numerous many people on the road in jeopardy and that too at a time when i was RAINING!!

. Fell lucky to escape unscathed.

P.S.- This post might sound rude or obnoxious, but boss I had to call a spade a spade. These type of misadventures are NOT DONE.

sbasak · 13th March 2007, 02:44

Quote:

my question is that does it harm the engine

The only engine it can cause harm is called the heart. There may be multiple hearts in the car depending on the number of occupants!

Well, joking aside, please never do it again... ever....

moralfibre · 13th March 2007, 07:09

As far as I know, the Alto comes with power assisted brakes which are driven by a booster. Turning off your engine will not supply any power to your brake booster and inturn lead to inoperable brakes. Please do not indulge yourself in this risk and its always better to burn fuel no matter how much, it is not as costly as your life is.

benbsb29 · 13th March 2007, 09:28

Hi Manikjeet,
The reasons on why you shouldnt involve in the same practice again has been pointed out by the others, either via direct rebuke or through sarcasm. Please do not put yours as well as others lives in danger all for the cost of a few 100 rupees.

Maybe you should read the poem which had a line going ..
"For the want of a nail, the Kingdom was lost...."

kph · 13th March 2007, 10:11

By the way, this is a usual practice by some bikers. Around 50 km from my home town, a place called Vagamon, there is a continuous uphill climb for 17km on the way. Some bikers compensate while coming down what they've burned while going up. 17km continuous neutral with engine off. Last week I did it on my bullet, the reason was different though - forgot to check fuel available. There is no fuel bunks there at the place. So came back in neutral and of course it was fun.

12th March 2007, 18:24	#1
manikjeet Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chandigarh Posts: 1,618 Thanked: 295 Times View My Garage	Driving with your engine turned off (good or bad) Yesterday while coming back to chandigarh from the hills I switched off the engine off the car went on rolling down. I know its stupidbut it was fun and it was raining, so the speed didn't matter. my question is that does it harm the engine in anyways or its ok to do i have seen many auto doing this in rajansthan forgot the name of the place
	() Thanks

12th March 2007, 21:55	#2
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Its bad in that the occupants will most likely expire alongwith their car - seeing as how EPS and booster brakes wont work in modern cars with the engine off. But the petrol saved switching off the engine is a good thing - and can be retrieved from the wreck of the car post-facto. Last edited by theMAG : 12th March 2007 at 21:57.
	() Thanks

12th March 2007, 22:02	#4
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,727 Thanked: 43,460 Times View My Garage	Which car? As rightly pointed out by theMAG the brakes and steering wont function if it ha power steering. OT: The huge tyres on the Alto in you avatar are fitted in the wrong direction. they are directional and facing the wrong way.
	() Thanks

12th March 2007, 22:14	#7
karthik247 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR, HYD Posts: 2,710 Thanked: 30 Times	While going hill, u'll be using the brakes (if they work with engine off) most of the time to slow down causing them to overheat or fade. But while the engine is on, u can use engine breaking with is very good and efficient. The main probs with driving with engine off are: No brakes No power steering Overheating of brakes in case of downhill driving.
	() Thanks

12th March 2007, 22:14	#8
adya33 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 1,839 Thanked: 183 Times	As everyone has said switching your cars engine off during any sort of movement of car is a strict NO NO. The power steering won't work, breaks won't work at their full potential. A very dangerous place to be. Sure you save few liters of fuel but are couple of hundred rupees more important than your/your loved ones life?
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 00:10	#9
autoenthusiast BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Goa Posts: 417 Thanked: 5 Times	Whoa mate, thats the most dangerous thing to do. All the advise given above about the brakes/power steering and so on does hold true. Booster assisted brakes just won't work after sometime. Also what if you needed engine power to suddenly swerve out of the way of a vehicle headed straight for you ? All in all, the slight gain in terms of FE is just not work the risk to your life, just thank your lucky stars that all went well and don't try it again.
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 01:03	#10
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,919 Thanked: 2,652 Times	I am surprized that no one has as yet has cried blue murder... Well, in simple terms its the most dangerous thing to do. theMag said as much in his sarcastic post. Search the forums and you will find a lot many threads on the same subject.
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 07:09	#13
moralfibre Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: MH-12 Posts: 8,443 Thanked: 13,956 Times	As far as I know, the Alto comes with power assisted brakes which are driven by a booster. Turning off your engine will not supply any power to your brake booster and inturn lead to inoperable brakes. Please do not indulge yourself in this risk and its always better to burn fuel no matter how much, it is not as costly as your life is.
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 09:28	#14
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,963 Thanked: 13,154 Times View My Garage	Hi Manikjeet, The reasons on why you shouldnt involve in the same practice again has been pointed out by the others, either via direct rebuke or through sarcasm. Please do not put yours as well as others lives in danger all for the cost of a few 100 rupees. Maybe you should read the poem which had a line going .. "For the want of a nail, the Kingdom was lost...."
	() Thanks

13th March 2007, 10:11	#15
kph BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Manali Posts: 156 Thanked: 13 Times	By the way, this is a usual practice by some bikers. Around 50 km from my home town, a place called Vagamon, there is a continuous uphill climb for 17km on the way. Some bikers compensate while coming down what they've burned while going up. 17km continuous neutral with engine off. Last week I did it on my bullet, the reason was different though - forgot to check fuel available. There is no fuel bunks there at the place. So came back in neutral and of course it was fun.
	() Thanks