I've got into the habit when in traffic of letting the car coast at 1k rpm but when the traffic clears I pull away. The engine sounds like it's struggling as you'd expect and the car rumbles but am I actually causing any damage (det?) or is it just a little unhappy about doing it?

 

not being funny, but why would anyone do that?

 

Nothing wrong with coasting at 1000 rpm - tickover is 700-800. Wouldn't recommend pulling away in too low a gear though.

 

dunno about the newage, but i know on the classics if your in traffic for a while, you get heat soak from the turbo to your TMIC. if you then suddenly pull away a bit nippy, it causes pinking. usualy, if i am in traffic for any length of time, when i get going again, i keep the revs low and acellerate gently till the TMIC has had some air over it to cool it a bit before i start driving normaly again

 

You don't say what gear you do this in? In 1st or 2nd it'll be ok but any gear higher than that and you should change down. Actually labouring the engine in a high gear will cause unnecessary loading on the bearings.

JohnD

 

You mean too high a gear?

JohnD

 

Thanks John, I suspected it wouldn't be such a good idea but when you crawl in as much traffic as I do it just becomes a lazy habit. I do it in 2nd, 3rd and 4th if necessary!
I do try to accelerate gently after this but clearly the correct way would be to change down and maybe even feed in the clutch too.

 

Lower in terms of numeric ratio but yes, I meant better to pull away in 1st than 5th ;o)

 

If the transmission is driving the wheels, the fuel is cut-off, if it's idling it's using fuel.

Not good to labour the engine IMHO.

dunx

P.S. I cruise downhill to work at 40 mph in top gear and it's fine, and sips a mere 16 mpg LOL

 

Haven't you read your Impreza Owners Manual
Driving in the wrong gear causes the engine to labour and should be avoided

 

kick that habit mate. Like the rest has said, labouring the engine is really not what you want to do too often

 

was your last car an auto? lol
1k rpm is fine if coasting down hill.
you can tell by the sound of the engine if its happy to pull or not, simply make a note of the revs

 

Ive heard doing this buggers up the head gasket... whether or not thats correct though is another matter!