VX = best hypermiler?
 

This car is surprisingly easy to cut corners on using gas. For one, it's easy to push around, so if you only have to go 20 feet and you don't want to start the engine and then kill it 30 seconds later you can just push the car the 20 feet instead of driving. 2nd, because it operates at ridiculously low RPMs (similar to diesel trucks: sip along at 1100RPM anyone?) it is very easy to jump start while coasting. You kill the engine, then put the starter back to the on position, then wait until the desired time to pop the clutch: ideally at about 37mph when the RPM in fifth is around 1150RPM and it's pretty seamless since there isn't a lunge to high RPM. (in a regular car you prolly would have to be at 1700RPM or more). But I have a question (since I seem to be a bottomless pit of them) Is this bad for the engine to do on a regular basis? I figure it's better than using the starter all the time (and more gas efficient too?) Your thoughts! Also, anyone have any problems running their batteries down from doing this? My speedo and odometer don't work when the ignition is in the off position but if you turn it to on, then the speedo and odometer work (even if the engine is still off) so I'm running down the battery while I'm coasting with the engine off and the car "on". But enough to be a reason for the car not starting a couple hours later?? It turned over, but it didn't quite have enough juice to start.

Yeah, yeah, you've got a VX. An enviable car, just gotta adjust that nut behind the wheel for best mpg :)

Its bad for the clutch to bump start it not so much the engine itself. You have to turn it to the on postion so that it counts the miles when you cost for me outherwise im not getting those miles to make the eoc count to my #s. Yes the vx is awesome for hypermileing i wish i had one!

Hello everybody

I own a 1998 Jetta TDi, which is powered by diesel. The owner's manual specifically says that bump starts (especially frequent ones) will cause major engine damage. Being that it is an owner's manual, they don't go into WHY this is, and just leave it as being a bad thing to do.

So, there is one take on the issue.

You has a turbo, and turboz needz gud oilz. :thumbup:

Maybe I call up the Click and Clack the Taprid brothers from the show Cartalk and see what their opinion is!

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re: bump starting. The only thing I could find was that if you are bump starting your cold engine first thing in the morning that you may drive off without waiting for the oil to circuate a bit. I don't know why there are special TDI considerations or how accurate that disclaimer is.

re: clutch wear, yah that happens every time you shift, though it takes far less clutch to get the engine moving than to get the whole car moving.

I dunno, I've never had a problem and bump start countless times per trip. I didn't invest in any extra hybrid hardware, but such an investment would buy a lot of clutch plates and motor mounts and other common driveline parts.

Not VX related (although there is one in the family), but for many years we pump started our 1974 VW beetle as I had wiring problems and the starter didn't work. Probably drove it 20k miles bump starting it every time, before I took the time to fix the starting system, made no noticable difference to the car.