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Post by newwy66 on Jan 8, 2020 21:06:21 GMT
As a new owner I have lots of questions...please bare with me! When temporary stationary, say at traffic lights, should I put the car in neutral or is it ok to hold it in drive?
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andrew
Likes DAFs
Posts: 1,097
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Post by andrew on Jan 8, 2020 21:16:35 GMT
One of the beauties of the Daf automatic system is that the car doesn't creep when the car's brought to a halt. When the car comes to a halt the tick-over speed is low enough to allow the clutch to completely disengage, so there's no need to put the car into neutral when you're stationary. In fact, Daf recommend the gear is only changed when you want to change direction.
If the car does creep when you're stopped at lights, the tick-over may need adjustment.
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Post by newwy66 on Jan 8, 2020 21:19:26 GMT
great..thanks andrew
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Post by Richard DAF Webmeister on Jan 8, 2020 22:06:22 GMT
One of the beauties of the Daf automatic system is that the car doesn't creep when the car's brought to a halt. When the car comes to a halt the tick-over speed is low enough to allow the clutch to completely disengage, so there's no need to put the car into neutral when you're stationary. In fact, Daf recommend the gear is only changed when you want to change direction. If the car does creep when you're stopped at lights, the tick-over may need adjustment. Absolutely correct. Leave it in Drive or Reverse. No need to sit on the brake pedal either. Of course, being the Volvo, you have to start the engine in Neutral, whereas on the original DAF version, you had to start "in gear", to be precise.
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Post by newwy66 on Jan 8, 2020 22:27:21 GMT
thanks Richard
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Post by Nick the man with a daf.... on Jan 13, 2020 20:56:10 GMT
and of course the all important driving technique.. 30mph zones... accelerate with generous throttle to about 25 then come off throttle slowly all of a sudden the revs will drop and the car will speed up, this is the "overdrive" then gentle throttle will keep it at low revs but happy to get to 40 even.. learning the position of the throttle that gives this "gear change" will be the best thing you ever do, it works at all speeds, back off to that sweet spot and they will cruise, and cruise and cruise..
acceleration, bury the throttle, give them half a second they will change to s lower ratio, accelerate as required then drop off the gas back to cruise mode..
motorway, i go flat out down the slip roads, go for every ounce of momentum to get out onto the motorway safely, then again you will find you can gently come off the gas without losing any momentum, my 46 would cruise all day at motorway speeds, even my 32 will nip at the heels of modern cars, the 44 just wanted to go faster and faster, if find myself at 70 barely on the gas at all.. try that in a British classic.. no chance
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andrew
Likes DAFs
Posts: 1,097
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Post by andrew on Jan 14, 2020 9:17:03 GMT
I agree with Nick's comments. The M.P.G. figure for a Daf will be disproportionately affected by the throttle position, when compared to a manual or a conventional automatic. My daily car is Subaru, with a "transmatic" gearbox. This is really a Variomatic system (plus ca change!) although the changes are computer controlled, as opposed to being directly controlled by vacuum and engine speed. When driving the Subaru I notice that hard (and EXTREMELY fast!) acceleration is obtained by flooring the throttle and then easing off when the desired speed is reached, in precisely the same way as the Daf. My Subaru goes like the proverbial rocket when it needs to, but returned an amazing 40 M.P.G. on a recent run to Luxembourg for a long weekend. I monitor my Daf's MPG and it varies more, depending on the way it's driven.
My 33 easily keeps up with every-day traffic, although north London's traffic rarely moves that quickly anyway!
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Post by newwy66 on Jan 14, 2020 14:31:25 GMT
Great ...many thanks everyone for good advice to a DAF Variomatic newbie.
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