Shift from N to D while driving: how bad is it?

What does that have to do with anything? Probably not many but it is an entirely different practice because holding the clutch adds wear and you have to hold it down.


There is absolutely no reason for what you are doing. Other than you want to do it.

Thats fine, but don't go around acting like you're some almighty jackass because you wanna do something different.



I actually tried shifting to N at the light a time or two because someone on here argued that it takes alot of pressure on the brake pedal to keep the truck stopped at a light with the auto (this was someone with a 6-speed). What I found was that that was complete BS, took the same pressure to keep me from rolling as it did to keep the truck stopped in gear.

 

I didn't say it had anything to do with the topic under discussion. As stated, I was curious to know. BUT, since you inquired, one of the arguments presented against NOT shifting into N was to be ready in case sudden acceleration was needed. Wouldn't keeping the box in first with the clutch depressed be safer? If you read back I stated this wasn't an issue if you are attentive in traffic - others said it was.

Someone asked a question further up what everyone did, and I answered what I personally do. I never did say there was a reason for doing it other than habit, but I have yet to hear a legitimate reason for me NOT to do it?

Care to define how one acts like an almighty jackass by asking questions? I stated what I did and people questioned it. Add a bunch of what I believe to be irrelevant facts and myths and I politely questioned them. Do you personally think idling while in neutral wastes a transmission? If someone posted that in another thread the entire board would be over them in a second. I politely asked for an explanation.

Show me where I singled someone out personally in an inappropriate manner, without asking/adding a legitimate comment or question, and I'll privately send an apologetic PM.

 

I was just reading through the thread and you seemed to be getting really steamed and aggressively defensive (if you will ) about people questioning what you are doing, which is why I said what I did.

I don't really have any comments on the manual transmission thing, don't care either way.


It obviously puts some extra wear on the transmission. Anytime you shift it is going to put wear/strain on things. It also is unnecessary. If you wanna do it thats fine...

The main thing is that when you put the truck in N, all the gears are still turning however the foward clutch is disengaged. In most cases this would mean that the transmission fluid isn't getting pumped around which = everything turning without any lubrication.

Problem with your posts is this

"I knew the response I would get before I even posted, I was just wondering what fish would bite first! "

which is called trolling.

So you purposefully started this whole thing knowing that people would say something about it.


I would also wager that you burn more gas with the transmission in N than you do with the brake pedal down because the truck idles higher in N.

In the same categeory as how coasting down hill in N actually uses MORE gas than coasting down a hill in gear.



I don't care what you do, but if you wanna weasel out some reasons why you shouldn't there are some, the reasons you should are...because you want to

 

I guess guilty as charged with regard to the trolling comment - I'll have to take that one on the chin.

I really wasn't getting steamed though, as my overuse of smiling emoticons should have displayed.

What I failed to understand is that everyone questioned it, told me it was wrong, that I was damaging things, but couldn't provide any factual information once questioned. I drive allot of highway miles so I actually only do this maybe 1 - 2 times daily anyways. I'm skeptical by nature and believe nothing until I see it for myself or at least have the theory explained.

It was always my understanding that the ATF pump was coupled to the torque converter, which in turn is connected to the crankshaft of the engine via the flywheel. Therefore, if the engine is running, the ATF pump should be pumping fluid? Since the AT is hydraulic by nature, no clutch packs or bands engage until called for by a valve opening (or in our case an electronic solenoid)in the valve body allowing fluid on a gear set . Therefore nothing should be turning in the absence of fluid?

I realize that the pressuring up and down of the system probably does contribute some wear and tear, but honestly, isn't the system designed to provide millions (if not more) of pressure ups and downs over its entire life?

Not trolling anymore, just looking for an actual account of what is really detrimental about placing the selector in neutral.

 

I have a manual taco and i rarely keep the clutch depressed, unless it is a quick light or im at a stop sign.

 

i occasionally shift my AT into N while at a light, just because ive found myself unconsiously slowly let up off the brake, ive also found that it takes much more pressure to keep the truck stopped at a light while in D rather than N, i usually only do this when i know the light will be awhile to change..


and as far as what you said about the engine idling higher while in N or D...you need to do your research, engines have a set idle speed, weather it be in N or D, its still going to idle at the same speed, so saying that youre going to burn more gas while in N rather than D is completely false,

AND if you would pay attention to your tacometer while you were going downhill, you would also know that since youre traveling at a variable speed while going downhill, with everything still engaged, the rotational force of the tires still spinning on the road in turn rotates your engine causing higher rpms...putting the gear select in N, disengages, therefore allows your engine to drop down to idle speed...this doesnt only apply to going down hill, but also on level ground as well...so please tell me how you burn more gas by placing your truck in N rather than D...if anything, you would save gas, but its such a minute amount, it doesnt really matter...

 

Mmadej87 i saw your post after mine where are you stationed in miami, and how is it. I saw your pics of the wreck, whos fault was that and what the hell happened.

 

pm sent

 

Man im on watch at a workstation and the popupblocker is keeping me from opening the window try again would ya

 

I think it idles lower in drive because there's a little bit of load on the engine.

I could be wrong but I think if the engine is spinning from slowing down with the transmission(engine braking) then the injectors are turned off thus using less gas than having to maintain idle.

 

ive noticed when i shift from N to D, the rpms DO slow down, but then kicks in and works harder to get back up to idle speed, you can even hear a change in the engine sound while idling...

im no mechanic and dont know everything on how these engines work, so you may be correct on injectors being turned off, or injection amount lowered..but i doubt it makes any significant change in mpgs..which was my main point i was trying to make