Neutral Vs Glide

Yes, you're right...there is no regen braking in N, and I believe the ICE still has to turn above 42 mph.
Supposedly there could be a (lubrication?) issue if you keep it in N too long (minutes?), so it's probably good to put it in D occasionally on really long downhills.

I use N all the time without problems, although some people say it's dangerous (and illegal).
I think the risk of looking at the screen to achieve glide is higher than the risk of being in N and needing unanticipated acceleration. However, anytime you might need VSC (like snow, rain, high speed corners), I wouldn't use N.







<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darkecho @ Aug 12 2006, 02:25 PM) [snapback]302273[/snapback]</div>

 

also, below 42 mph if you use neutral while the ice is running, it seems like it wants to stay running a lot longer than if you were to glide. i also believe if the ice is not running below 42 mph, and you then put it in neutral and go above 42 mph, the ice won't spin up (someone would have to verify this with can-view).
as for lubrication, i believe that's provided by the ice, and neutral or glide would not make a difference.

so as long as you get the ice to shut off first below 42 mph, there should be no difference in the effect (except safety).

 

I probably use N more than anyone here. We have had long discussions about it in the past. I regularly get high 50s for mileage and my highest is 818 miles at 65.1 MPG through the regular use of N. I use it for about 15% of my total miles.

As for warnings by others, I have decided to be the test case for the practice and can report that there has been no noticable problems for 57,000 miles so far and my wife has racked up 30,000 miles. I've been responsible for adding 11 prius to the roads besides mine and many of those drivers practice the same technique. I can't really say anything about the many grand prius that are on the road as a result of those 11.

 

I use N all the time since the discussion around long upgrades somewhere on here. Of course I use N for the other side of those long upgrades!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 18 2006, 02:10 PM) [snapback]305493[/snapback]</div>

I think I am a little slow to understand the P&G technique as well as the use of Neutral. I think the only time I am in neutral is when I first power up. Could you please direct me to the earlier discussions about the use of Neutral. I did a search but couldn't come up with anything! Thanks!

 

Here's a search link. The tread starts a little wierd because the original thread was before the switch over to the new forum so some of the original posts were lost.

http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...ting+in+neutral

 

In neutral you can not charge the battery, and it will discharge some due to your normal electrical loads.

In glide without arrows you are still powering those loads from the engine and charging or discharging the battery a bit. I can glide with no arrows easily, but with can view on current I can not hold it exactly at 0 or any other place for long.

Since the electical load varies with AC fan speed etc, it is hard to know what current to try to hold. 0 amps means you aren't really coasting because you are generating power for the electrical loads.

The no arrows just means power to the wheels from the battery is very low.
But it won't be as low as neutral.

True coasting requires holding something like -3 to - 6 amperes typically, so you are draining the battery to power the fans etc, and not adding drag. But like I say this varies when a fan speed changes or another pump turns on or off.

 

I believe that in most states it is illegal to put a car in [N] to glide. Better check local laws could affect insurance in case of an accident.

Wildkow

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Aug 21 2006, 12:32 PM) [snapback]306779[/snapback]</div>

I definatly am not going to do something illegal just to improve mileage. I am well enough if I can simply understand Glide. When I speed up and then take my foot off the gas peddle I have blue arrows from the wheels to the battery. Apparently that is not Gliding? I thought blue arrows from the wheels to the battery were GOOD because that means you are charging your battery, no?

Why would I want NO arrows to the battery?

p.s. I am not a scientist, I am just a 32 year old female Prius driver that at one time knew how to change her own oil and unsuccessfully rebuild the carborator for my first car, a 1974 Toyota ?? (pea green and super sporty. All that beside the point, please explain in as preschool fashion as possible without mentioning amps or voltage(you can but I won'y get it)

THANK YOU DEARLY!!!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(narussian @ Aug 21 2006, 03:10 PM) [snapback]306920[/snapback]</div>

If you are seeing blue arrows, I think most people on this board would call that "coasting" not "gliding". Gliding is moving with no arrows, as I understand it.

Blue arrows are good in that you are getting energy back, but the energy has to come from somewhere. In this case, the energy is coming from your car's momentum. Basically, blue arrows means the system is using the regeneration to charge the battery. When it is doing that, it is slowing your car down, even if you aren't braking. It's like letting off the gas in a regular automatic; the car will start slowing down because of the engine compression.

Gliding, then, is holding the accelerator such that you don't have any arrows. This means the car is still moving forward, but the regenerative system isn't eating your speed to charge the battery. You can drift along further than you would with the blue arrows showing.

Did I make any sense?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prince of Jupiter @ Aug 21 2006, 04:02 PM) [snapback]306983[/snapback]</div>

Coasting - No brake, no gas with blue arrows from wheels to battery - battery regeneration via energy from cars momemtum (some Drag)

Gliding - Gas pedal with NO arrows of any kind/color (no Drag)

Neutral - No brake, no gas, Neutral transmission, No arrows (No Drag)----ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Prince of Jupiter @ Aug 21 2006, 04:02 PM) [snapback]306983[/snapback]</div>

If what I said above is correct you made tons of sense! Thank you!!!

How's the OK heat, I know we are frying down here in Texas and AC HURTS the mpg, hopefully the winter will be easier on it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(narussian @ Aug 22 2006, 07:21 AM) [snapback]307404[/snapback]</div>

You've got it! I'm glad that helped.

Ugh. I hate being hot, so I'm really ready for winter. It's pretty humid here lately, but I don't think it's as bad as the heat you've been having in Dallas. I need to move further north. We actually had a high in the 80s yesterday, though. It was a nice break.

 

If the car is warmed up, the engine will not be on when in N.