For AT cars, do u switch to N when possible or remain D?

[KaKiLang]

Auto is different from manual, rolling on N will overheat the gear box, premature failure if you constantly change From n to d as well, just look at all those taxi driver... Best of all push all the way to P.

 

Not true, my first ride 9yrs scrapped becos jiak yiu, present civic 8yrs old still running like crazy nvr got hiccups on gbox, but I change gbox fluid every year.

[Acieed]

Stick to your brakes unless your hands are itchy, legs tired or need to drive into automatic carwash.

[Bicolor]

Probably doesn't save fuel, but allows a bit of rest if the wait is a long one.

 

Hear so many concerns about premature wear and tear, but in reality I don't think it is an issue if not done excessively or when the vehicle is in motion. My uncle has done it with all his cars which have all been quite old and kept for a long time, and never had any issues with the gearbox. Similarly so many taxi drivers do it and despite their great mileage never encountered problems with the gearbox, provided the vehicles are serviced regularly (personal communication with some taxi drivers I know).

 

I did have a friend, however, who would switch to neutral and coast downhill to save fuel. It proved to be a bad choice of driving method, because, apart from the obvious aspect of danger, his gearbox spoilt within a year of owning that car.

[Zze121]

Will this damage thing make any diff on normal 4AT, CVT or DSG gearbox, will the heat from the gearbox increase rate of wear n tear?

[Goobii]

Spoil your GEAR BOX ~! best to leave it @ D and just WAIT ...

 

unless you are at a total stop for a longer time maybe waiting for car wash or waiting at side road for passenger which is more than 15min...

 

else pro long doing D N D N ... will spoil the gear box.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Goobii

[KaKiLang]

I did have a friend, however, who would switch to neutral and coast downhill to save fuel. It proved to be a bad choice of driving method, because, apart from the obvious aspect of danger, his gearbox spoilt within a year of owning that car.

 

Have tried this for a few tanks of petrol on my AT ride out of curiosity, it doesnt really saves much petrol but it does has a better roll. Probably your fren did not do it properly, when the car loses speed near the bottom of the downhill cruise, when engaging back to D do not gas the padel immediately, pause for a second for the clutch to engage fully before gasing. just my own experience.

[Fastfive1]

Will this damage thing make any diff on normal 4AT, CVT or DSG gearbox, will the heat from the gearbox increase rate of wear n tear?

 

I think on a dual clutch transmission you might have to shift it to neutral when you're stuck at the lights because when in drive and stationary at the same time, the clutch is held at the biting point. Hence leaving the car in drive while stationary for long periods of time may burn out the clutch and cause the car to jerk.

[Eagle8964]

MHO,It really depends on what car you are driving and just follow whatever writtten in drivers manual.Currently driving a 3series auto,and user guide wrote that its best to change to N whether halt as it really cut off engine power and indeed save fuel rather then cause wear in gearbox..

 

If as what above bros are saying,why do you think car manufacturer put the N for?For rolling down slope?

[Fastfive1]

MHO,It really depends on what car you are driving and just follow whatever writtten in drivers manual.Currently driving a 3series auto,and user guide wrote that its best to change to N whether halt as it really cut off engine power and indeed save fuel rather then cause wear in gearbox..

 

If as what above bros are saying,why do you think car manufacturer put the N for?For rolling down slope?

 

Is yours a DCT 3 series?

 

The purpose of the N i think was to create a separation between R and D for safety purposes as well as to let the vehicle move freely under its own weight and gain momentum without the motive force from the engine for towing purposes i suppose....

Edited December 5, 2011 by Fastfive1

[Eagle8964]

Is yours a DCT 3 series?

 

The purpose of the N i think was to create a separation between R and D for safety purposes as well as to let the vehicle move freely under its own weight and gain momentum without the motive force from the engine for towing purposes i suppose....

 

 

Not too sure whether its DCT,as i didnt bother to find out the specs of this car.Another thing i notice different is whenever car about to complete stop and i shift to neutral,car will stop and jerk abit.Just like engine or transmission cut off.Use to drive drive a camry but shift N,it will still roll..

 

Thats why i believe its different case for different manufacturer .

[Fastfive1]

Not too sure whether its DCT,as i didnt bother to find out the specs of this car.Another thing i notice different is whenever car about to complete stop and i shift to neutral,car will stop and jerk abit.Just like engine or transmission cut off.Use to drive drive a camry but shift N,it will still roll..

 

Thats why i believe its different case for different manufacturer .

 

Haha i see. In my old w124, when i shift to D to N, there will be a slight jerk that probably indicates that i'm not in gear. Similarly when i shift from N to D, there will also be a slight jerk, probably telling me i've got into gear. However the engine is still running.

[Mindbox33]

Based on my scanguage reading..putting N mode at idling e,g, traffic light or parking.. My rpm will go up instead of dropping.. I believe if we might consume more petrol than savings..

 

My idling in D mode is 650rpm +\-... Once i put into N mode, it will slowly go up to 680rpm +\-

 

But my frequent wkshop said putting N mode during idling prolong ur engine mounting as lesser vibration. It is true that it reduce alot of vibration now at idling but given engine mounting change vs gearbox change.. I know wic is more worth it....

[Beng2]

Did I read that you guys shift to N when the car is coasting to a red light? If you really need to shift to N, why not wait till the car has completely stopped?

 

I realise that the onboard FC computer will show zero fuel consumption when coasting down in D till about 10-20kph.

 

Running the engine in N does use less fuel compared to keeping it in D when stationary - according to the FC meter too. However, I won't do that as it might cause more wear and tear to the transmission.

 

Speaking of this, anyone realise that taxi drivers like to shift to P mode at the lights? I would expect it to cause even more wear on transmission because it needs to go to R first before going to P.

[Tom_kkh]

no diff in fact it may consume more

 

i know becos i used to drive an auto

 

so jus leave it at d and hold the brake

 

 

if u install scanguage and monitor the fuel consumption, there is a slight difference between gear N versus D when not moving

[Tom_kkh]

dont change to N to save fuel, dont change to N to save your engine. All it does is spoil your gearbox faster. Neutral should be used only for towing.

 

 

i have a friend in KL, proton, he shift from D to N whenever stop even for just a few seconds. i have counted he shift from D to N no less than 50 times for a half hour drives. his car is 7 years old and no problem with the gear, yet.

 

Actually he is not the only one in KL doing that, a few of my friends in KL also do the same, 1 is an altis, all car age above 5 years, never have any problem.

 

my bro in law(singapore), a mazda 3, also shift from D to N whenever at traffic light, his car 8 years old, no problem whatsoever.

 

so i believe these talk of D to N will damage gearbox maybe its a hearsay or older model cars do have this problem but modern ones has overcome it?

[Tom_kkh]

Based on my scanguage reading..putting N mode at idling e,g, traffic light or parking.. My rpm will go up instead of dropping.. I believe if we might consume more petrol than savings..

 

My idling in D mode is 650rpm +\-... Once i put into N mode, it will slowly go up to 680rpm +\-

 

But my frequent wkshop said putting N mode during idling prolong ur engine mounting as lesser vibration. It is true that it reduce alot of vibration now at idling but given engine mounting change vs gearbox change.. I know wic is more worth it....

 

 

mine actually drop if shifted to N. on consumption of fuel that is. never notice the RPM.

Edited December 6, 2011 by Tom_kkh

[Timex1441]

Did I read that you guys shift to N when the car is coasting to a red light? If you really need to shift to N, why not wait till the car has completely stopped?

 

I realise that the onboard FC computer will show zero fuel consumption when coasting down in D till about 10-20kph.

 

Running the engine in N does use less fuel compared to keeping it in D when stationary - according to the FC meter too. However, I won't do that as it might cause more wear and tear to the transmission.

 

Speaking of this, anyone realise that taxi drivers like to shift to P mode at the lights? I would expect it to cause even more wear on transmission because it needs to go to R first before going to P.

taxi drivers dun care lah....it's not their own car anyway...

[Baphomet]

The only time I use N is after parking.

 

After car in slot, step brake, put to N, pull hand brake, release brake, brake, put to P.

 

Purpose is to let the car's weight "rest" on the brake instead of the gear.