Shift to Neutral at RED lights - bad for the tranny???

[Bugzii]

At those very long RED lights, I usually shift to NEUTRAL on my auto tranny. I do this everyday, and the car is always at a complete stop while shifting. Does this affect the transmission negatively in the long run... and in what way???

Thanks in advance...

 

[Shannow]

Good question.

Idling in gear makes heat in the tranny to be sure.

Idling in neutral reduces heat, but then there must be some additional clutch wear when the gear is engaged.

I'm inclined to say leave it in gear.

 

[HOndaGuy]

leave it in drive, your idle goes higher usually when your in park.

 

[MRC01]

quote:

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Originally posted by Bugzii:
At those very long RED lights, I usually shift to NEUTRAL on my auto tranny. I do this everyday, and the car is always at a complete stop while shifting. Does this affect the transmission negatively in the long run... and in what way???

Thanks in advance...

---

For stick shift, I put it into neutral.

For auto, I leave it in drive.

 

[Drew99GT]

In the long run, it probably makes no difference either way for the tranny. However, with a stick, putting it in neutral will probably reduce wear on the throwout bearing and fingers on the pressure plate.

 

[pacem]

I do same thing.

I also sometimes shift into N while driving.

 

[65hoss]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shannow:

Idling in gear makes heat in the tranny to be sure.

Idling in neutral reduces heat, but then there must be some additional clutch wear when the gear is engaged.

I'm inclined to say leave it in gear.

---

My new F250 has the trans temp guage. Sitting in traffic does not increase the temp. It probably goes up a little, but not enough to even see on the guage.

 

[RavenTai]

quote:

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Originally posted by 65hoss:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shannow:

Idling in gear makes heat in the tranny to be sure.

Idling in neutral reduces heat, but then there must be some additional clutch wear when the gear is engaged.

I'm inclined to say leave it in gear.

---

My new F250 has the trans temp guage. Sitting in traffic does not increase the temp. It probably goes up a little, but not enough to even see on the guage.

---

same guage on chevy 2500 light to light traffic and towing seam to be the most heat producing

 

[digitaldrifter91]

where is my posts in this thread???

 

[digitaldrifter91]

wait bro, u double posted HHAHAHA

look http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=000639

 

[timzak]

Leaving it in gear at a light means you have to keep the clutch pushed in during that time. I was always told that that was a no-no, so I assumed the only correct way to do it was to put it in neutral. I always put it in neutral about the same time I first hit my brakes, then coast to a stop and leave it in N the whole time until the light turns green.

 

[Bugzii]

digitaldrifter91 - yeah, I d-posted. I thought the subject fits under category better than the other. I couldn't erase the other one though.

 

[Shannow]

timzak, that's what I believe to be the correct procedure for manual trannies too.

 

[TheTanSedan]

Posted my .02 in this earlier thread on same subject:

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=000025#000020

 

[Propflux01]

QUOTE]My new F250 has the trans temp guage. Sitting in traffic does not increase the temp. It probably goes up a little, but not enough to even see on the guage. [/QB][/QUOTE]


if that trans temp guage is FORD, not aftermarket, it is probably just like the stock oil pressure guage. those read the same pressure as long as there is 9 or more PSI.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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I always put it in neutral about the same time I first hit my brakes, then coast to a stop and leave it in N the whole time until the light turns green.

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timzak, I wouldn't coast to a stop. I think it's safer to leave the car in gear until the last moment before stopping, in case I have to accelerate suddenly or unexpectedly.
For the record, I shift an MT into neutral if I expect to sit idle (or idling

) for more than 30 seconds.

 

[ikeepmychevytoo]

In an AT, it is the number of the times that you put it into 'D' that wears the clutch. After you put into the D the first gear clucth set is engaged, during a wait in red light it in 1st gear, and this is handled by the torque converter, which is a hydraulic system.

On '72~'73 Chrysler users manuals it is adviced that if you won't back-up after starting put it into the N before starting so that the 'R' wouldn't be engaged unnecessarily.

However I do this on long reds if the engine is cold, for the engine, not the transmission. Again if the AC is on, engine runs cooler and AC works better because the rpms would be free to climb. After a long commute engine and trans could be cooled better in N. Well, I just do not do it on stop and go.

Now I started a habit. If I have time to warm up the engine I do it in N, so the transmission also warms up.