Is it wrong to use neutral w/ an automatic?

[Prost264]

I developed a habit that when I'm pulling into a parking space or when reversing I always put the transmission into neutral and coast.

When I'm approaching a parking space (whether it be in a parking lot or on a street) I go into neutral and coast into the spot, or when reversing I give it enough gas to move but go into neutral right away and coast backwards until I'm where I want to be. I realized I subconsciously time it when reversing so that I don't even have to touch the brakes, the car moves back to where I want it, I put it into drive and pull away (I don't throw it into drive going 10mph, I'm barely moving when I put it into drive).

Anyway, somebody yelled at me the other day for doing it in their car and said it was "really bad" for the transmission. Is this true?

[M_Bolc]

Full stop, then shift. I have a torque converter from my dad's old car that'll tell you personally why not to shift on th fly.

[Prost264]

What is the problem with putting it into neutral when going ~10mph though? I know I'm not using a clutch like a manual but how does it hurt?

[thedguy]

As long as the engine is running when you're moving it's fine. If the engine ain't running, the torque converter ain't spinning the pump and can fry an automatic in no time. This is why automatic cars have to be towed with the driven wheels off the ground or the driveshaft disconnected.

Bigger question is, why do you bother?

[Prost264]

I honestly don't have a reason why I do it.

Maybe its some deep psychological issue where I'm compensating for not having a manual how the hell do I know. I never thought to myself 'hey I'm gonna make things interesting and start using neutral' it just happened.

I guess I'll stop doing it now.

[TheCleaner]

just a q following that, does this mean you wouldn't be able to push start an automatic? as it may damage the gearbox?

[BorHor]

No you can't push start an automatic transmission car. As for the actual reason I do not know.

[thedguy]

You can't push start automatics because there is no hydraulic pressure. The engine has to be running to turn the pumps that make an automatic transmission work.

There is 1 notable exception, IIRC the powerglide has the pump driven off the output shaft of the transmission and can be push started. I can't remember for sure if that is a mod the circle track guys do or if it's actually how they were made

[Hidden_Hunter]

I can't understand why the hell you would do this? what actual benefit do you gain?

To me it seems like kinda a dumb idea parking etc with no accellerator control

[Zuhaib]

I am with others on the whole "why bother", no upside. And in some cars, like VWs, you can be locked out of D if your not on the brakes. No point on a auto car to be in N unless you need to cost with no engine power (like when you run out of gas).

[sonza68]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

I can't understand why the hell you would do this? what actual benefit do you gain?

To me it seems like kinda a dumb idea parking etc with no accellerator control

I can't speak for the OP, but at home I often roll into the parking spot in neutral. It is very slightly downhill and in N I don't have to ride the brake to keep from hitting the parking block too fast. Not that it is a hard thing to do, but instead of putting it in R, it is just as easy to let it roll back on its own.

[Prost264]

Like I said before, I have no good reason for doing it, that's why I'm asking.

[Punisher Bass]

Originally Posted by Prost264

Anyway, somebody yelled at me the other day for doing it in their car and said it was "really bad" for the transmission. Is this true?

If you had tried that shit my car, you'd be riding in the trunk before I dumped your body in a shallow grave.

[vegasrebel29]

Originally Posted by Punisher Bass

If you had tried that shit my car, you'd be riding in the trunk before I dumped your body in a shallow grave.

Aren't they the same thing?

[InfernalVortex]

Neutral is for moving the car around when you cant run the engine. I dont mean tow truck. I mean pushing it from the driveway to the garage or something.

[Ottobon]

Most cars are smart enough not to let themselves get damaged if you do something foolish, on the note of putting the car in neutral at a light will decrease the amount of fuel it takes to idle (some cars you can actually see the raise in RPMS if you quickly put the car in D and take it out, or if you put the gear lever inbetween N and D.) Anyways this has been confirmed multiple times by many people with scangauges (which gives accurate on the fly readings of the ECUs fuel injection) you can also of course coast much further when in neutral, so if you want a easy way to reduce milage in a auto, put it in neutral when your not accelerating.

*Putting a newer manual car (almost anything with EFI, particularly if it was made after 1995) into neutral will NOT help milage on decelration, as almost all EFI cars completely shut off the fuel when decelerating, so just leave it in gear when coasting to a stop in a manual.

[bafranksbro]

^ Your not allowed to do that here. No coasting in neutral or with your foot on the clutch while going down a hill, it's illegal although I don't see how you would be caught.

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by bafranksbro

^ Your not allowed to do that here. No coasting in neutral or with your foot on the clutch while going down a hill, it's illegal although I don't see how you would be caught.

if you mean "free wheeling" then thats something different, that implies that the engine is off, thus no power to the steering or brakes. Still, its a bullshit law.

[nist7]

Originally Posted by Ottobon

*Putting a newer manual car (almost anything with EFI, particularly if it was made after 1995) into neutral will NOT help milage on decelration, as almost all EFI cars completely shut off the fuel when decelerating, so just leave it in gear when coasting to a stop in a manual.

hmmm, interesting. So does the motor just run on the momentum of the crank/axle ? So combustion is *stopped* since there is no fuel injected into the cylinder?

But to the topic of using N on autos. I actually started doing that myself just to keep me from putting the trans into D when it's still rolling backwards! I've rode with people who will reverse, and while the car is still going backwards, sometimes as fast as 10mph, they will slam it into D...I mean that, to me, would be worse than coasting in N and then putting it into D.

And so far I have not seen anyone offer a factual/logical explanation as to why using N in automatics in this manner is "really bad" for the transmission.

Originally Posted by bafranksbro

Your not allowed to do that here. No coasting in neutral or with your foot on the clutch while going down a hill, it's illegal although I don't see how you would be caught.

WTF? I think it may be illegal to shut the engine down and coast on public roads. Otherwise I don't see any reason to make coasting illegal. For one thing, how the heck are they going to enforce that law?

[Lupin_IV]

Logically, if it were bad to do it, there would be a lockout that you could only shift into neutral when the brake is on.