Shift to Neutral at RED light - is this a bad practice?

[Bugzii]

At those very long RED lights, I shift Neutral on my auto transmission. This happens everyday, and I'm always at a complete stop while shifting. Does this affect the transmission negatively in the long run... and in what way???

Thanks in advance...

 

[unDummy]

Yep, is bad. You're wearing out the clutches.
Leave it in drive. They don't call it an "automatic" for nothing.

 

[Leo]

Yeah exactly what unDummy. However in my old car, I sometimes shifted it into N only if I was gonna wait longer than a few minutes. It sometimes helps relieve strain from the engine if your idling in stinking hot heat and the AC on at full blast...

 

[gundam2000]

in drive at a stop you are heating up the transmission. (BAD)
when shifting to neutral you stop heating the transmission so much but you are increasing clutch wear.
as long as you have fresh trans oil and do no overheat it too badly leaving it in drive is better (in my opinion)

 

[digitaldrifter91]

i used to put it in neutral...but now i just leave it in drive and pull up the ebrake.....

i dont like it cuase if ur not ready and u drop it in drive and u rev it..it will jerK which is really bad.

 

[Bugzii]

Thanks fellas.

 

[digitaldrifter91]

what u guys think about my e-brake idea?

 

[rpn453]

quote:

---

Originally posted by digitaldrifter91:
what u guys think about my e-brake idea?

---

Great for catching a quick nap at those stop lights!

 

[Ray H]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bugzii:
At those very long RED lights, I shift Neutral on my auto transmission. This happens everyday, and I'm always at a complete stop while shifting. Does this affect the transmission negatively in the long run...

---

Probably less harmful than the alternative - shifting to neutral when the light turns GREEN...

 

[digitaldrifter91]

hahahaha mmuahahaha..

 

[bluestream]

If shifting the transmission into neutral is hard on the clutches, would the same be true for shifting into Park?

Dave

 

[unDummy]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bluestream:
If shifting the transmission into neutral is hard on the clutches, would the same be true for shifting into Park?

Dave

---

Shifting into neutral is not hard on the clutches. Shifting back into any gear from neutral/park is.

 

[Ray H]

Thanks for confirming what I thought, unDummy. In "Park" and "Neutral" none of the AT clutches are engaged. I personally don't bother at stoplights, but when waiting at a fastfood takeout line or a railroad crossing, I do put the trannie in "Neutral" and pull up the emergency brake. (I avoid "Park" since if I'm rear-ended, sitting in "Neutral" avoids busting the parking sprag.)