Automatic Transmission Question

[GoHAnSoN]

Recently i heard that when u engaged in "D" , it is not healthy to swift to "N" when you try to slow down.(like when i spot a red light some distance in front, usually i swift to "N" and slow down. )

how true is it ? anyone mind to enlight me ?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Why would you do that? By leaving it in Drive you get help from the engine braking as well as brakes

 

[bradruth]

Well you don't get any engine braking if you're in neutral, but I don't know why it would be harmful (other than using the brakes more).

 

[m2kewl]

i'll leave the answer to the pros, i've never driven an auto

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Why would you do that? By leaving it in Drive you get help from the engine braking as well as brakes

Not true. Automatics engage the clutch when you are slowing down (essentially going into neutral). You will see the engine idling when slowing down, not RPM's decreasing -> downshift -> RPMs decreasings (and so on and so forth until neutral).

 

[aswedc]

You don't have to use the transmission, but you are. Seems to me it would bad just by adding extra wear.

 

[slag]

Its not dangerous. It simply disengages the foward drive and planetary gearset and freewheels the drive mechanism in the tranny.

 

[GoHAnSoN]

i would like to know whether it really will hurt the transmission.
i heard that the transmission might be "locked" and stuck forever if you swift to "N" during "D"

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: GoHAnSoN
i heard that the transmission might be "locked" and stuck forever if you swift to "N" during "D"

Hah, no way.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Marauder911

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Why would you do that? By leaving it in Drive you get help from the engine braking as well as brakes

Not true. Automatics engage the clutch when you are slowing down (essentially going into neutral). You will see the engine idling when slowing down, not RPM's decreasing -> downshift -> RPMs decreasings (and so on and so forth until neutral).

Hmmm... I never realized that, then again, I never watch the RPM's drop in an automatic as I slowed down

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: GoHAnSoN
i would like to know whether it's really will hurt the transmission.
i heard that the transmission might be "locked" and stuck forever if you swift to "N" during "D"

Nah, not true. The only thing that locks in an automatic transmission would be a torque converter (if it was a lockable torque converter), but that will not lock you out of Drive from Neutral, it just allows there to be no slip in the clutches when you reach a certain RPM (in an automatic transmission, there is almost always a decent loss of power in the transmission due to the slipping that occurs with all of the clutches).

 

[GoHAnSoN]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: GoHAnSoN
i heard that the transmission might be "locked" and stuck forever if you swift to "N" during "D"

Hah, no way.

how true ? cos i heard real cases where the tranmission got stuck, maybe it's just highly rare ?
but is doing this a healthy to the car?

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: GoHAnSoN

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: GoHAnSoN
i heard that the transmission might be "locked" and stuck forever if you swift to "N" during "D"

Hah, no way.

how true ? cos i heard real cases where the tranmission got stuck, maybe it's just highly rare ?
but is doing this a healthy to the car?

A transmission can get locked for other reasons (running low on the Automatic Transmission fluid, something breaks, etc...). Read my post, it shouldn't do any harm. Now neutral dropping a car will do some harm, but shifting into neutral while slowing down shouldn't help nor harm.

 

[Gibson486]

wy would you do such a thing with an automatic?

 

[GoHAnSoN]

hum...ok thx

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

I also heard that hwen you are in neutral ATF fluid does not get dibriubted evenly over the tranny.

However I do not know if this is true or a myth?

 

[vegetation]

Just buy a manual transmission and leave your auto in drive.

 

[Mermaidman]

There's no harm to the tranny, but you lose a modicum of control while in neutral (e.g. can't accelerate suddenly if necessary).

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
I also heard that hwen you are in neutral ATF fluid does not get dibriubted evenly over the tranny.

However I do not know if this is true or a myth?

Its a myth. The pump is connected to the shaft the torque converter sits on (input shaft). As long as the engine is spinning, the pump is also spinning and lubricating the transmission.