illegal to put your car in neutral? you've got to be kidding. I'm not from MO but "show me".

 

If memory serves me right you have an X right? You do that to an auto? So if you are coming to a stop at lets say 20mph+ etc, you would just pop it to N?

 

The bottom line is that is doesn't freakin matter. I've also been in the habit of putting autos in N at lights all my life. Not sure why I do it, I just do. I'm also a left footed braker, which has been proven to yield faster reaction times. I've done both these things forever, and the left brake has helped me at the track. I've owned many cars, both manual and auto, and never had problems with trannies (except toasting my Camaro's when I was racing it).

BTW, when it's snowing out, always put the auto into N when trying to stop quickly (in straight situations where you don't need to change the car's direction with power). It's amazing how much better the car stops without the tranny engaged.

 

You are correct I have the X, as long as your engine is running you will not do any damage to your transmission as all the vital fluids are still flowing.

Example, since you are a Long Island guy...Have you ever driven east on 25A (Northern Blvd) toward Cold Spring Harbor? IF nobody is behind me as I accelerate from the traffic light I'll pop it into "N" as I hit about 15MPH, then just coast. The effect of gravity accelerates me to about 60MPH or so. At the bottom of the hill if I have a green light and as speed bleeds off I'll add some gas to about 2500 RPM then drop it back in to "D" and continue on my way at about 30MPH.

Why bother? Because that's what I did when I drove a stick, improves MPG and it makes me feel like I'm in the "Soap Box Derby"

 

It nice to hear two consecutive posts stating it's cool to pop it to N. Just like you I've driven manual all life and just like popping it to N because it's a habit. I am not sure where cold spring harbor is. From Norther Blvd east, I've only driven it past the bridge by port washington. After that it pasts by acura/bmw dealers, etc. That's as far as I've driven on northern blvd I think. There might of been some kinda mall down the road.

By the way, how you know I am a Long Island guy? I actually live in Queens but pretty much bordering Nassau and I am in L.I. all the time. As a matter of fact I just came back from L.I. (Glen Cove Rd.)

 

Cool. I've been doing that alot till I hear it's bad on this forum. Now I might put it back to N then.

 

uh, yeah....idling uses more gas than coasting in gear, so your not really improving MPG.

 

True in both cases you are at idle. But with the car in gear your speed would be say 30 MPH where as, with the car in neutral your speed would be 60 MPH.
So you would cover the same distance in a lesser time...thus better MPG.

 

using that logic.. If I floor it,, go 145 covering the same distance in way less time,, i would get better gas milage?

 

I engineer parts for automatic transmissions. Never ever, under any circumstances place your automatic in N while driving.

The automatic transmission fluid pump is connected to the transmission input shaft. This shaft rotates at a similar speed to your engine (not necessarily the same speed). The pump lubricates the trans and generates the pressure to hold you in gear.

When you are moving 60 mph at idle your transmission is not getting enough lube pumped to critical parts that may still be moving. It may not be immediately fatal but it ain't good.

Further, when you are coasting in gear (D) you will likely be using over-running elements (OWCs). These effectively disconnect the transmission from the engine for better fuel economy. For example, GM's vehicles notoriously run way over speed on long downhills with the cruise control on.

Sorry.

 

+1. Always done it ...... and always will.
C.