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Will shifting in to Neutral in my AT hurt the transmission?

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Cdubneeddeal said:
From my experience the fuel doesn't burn as efficiently as it would be under load so some of the gas can drip down the cylinder walls. But shit I may not know what I'm talking about. After breaking apart two babies vw engines that's what I noticed. I could be wrong. I'm sure someone like ZV would have more experience than I do.
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If this is happening it means your rings are already gone, it didn't cause your rings to go bad.

Your rings do a decent job of sealing air at very high pressures, if they can seal a high pressure gas they can seal a liquid (though you shouldn't really have much liquid gas inside a properly functioning cylinder, it should be vaporize pretty well if the fuel injection is functioning correctly).
 
Hey OP, allow me to answer your question after three pages of nonsense.

"Will shifting in to Neutral in my AT hurt the transmission?"

Yes, it can.

Some cars won't allow you to shift back into drive if engine RMP and wheel speed doesn't match (after it's been bumped into N from D). So what you'd have to end up doing is slow way the hell down until it allows you to shift back into drive again; after doing that a while, I don't think it's good for your transmission (probably have to accelerate the crap out of it to catch up to traffic flow after that).

Ask me how I know...
 
SSSnail said:
Hey OP, allow me to answer your question after three pages of nonsense.

"Will shifting in to Neutral in my AT hurt the transmission?"

Yes, it can.

Some cars won't allow you to shift back into drive if engine RMP and wheel speed doesn't match (after it's been bumped into N from D). So what you'd have to end up doing is slow way the hell down until it allows you to shift back into drive again; after doing that a while, I don't think it's good for your transmission (probably have to accelerate the crap out of it to catch up to traffic flow after that).

Ask me how I know...
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*GASP* How dooooo you know?.

Anyways, I've been doing this for a couple months now and I've never experienced an issue with getting back into D. It always goes back in without an issue. I just can't seem to get a definitive answer from anyone whether or not this actually hurts my transmission. I don't care what anyone says about "saving gas". My MPGs have increased dramatically since this, and all i want to know is if my transmission is going to be hurt. Let's try and stay on topic here.
 
I've never seen or heard of an auto that won't let you shift back into drive immediately.

I doubt very much shifting between N and D will bother anything. It absolutely will not save you fuel imo, but it is not damaging anything at all. Feel free to shift into N, and also feel free to downshift to slow down with your AT.
 
Proprioceptive said:
*GASP* How dooooo you know?.

Anyways, I've been doing this for a couple months now and I've never experienced an issue with getting back into D. It always goes back in without an issue. I just can't seem to get a definitive answer from anyone whether or not this actually hurts my transmission. I don't care what anyone says about "saving gas". My MPGs have increased dramatically since this, and all i want to know is if my transmission is going to be hurt. Let's try and stay on topic here.
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Technically every single time an automatic transmission shifts there is slight wear on the brake bands and the clutch packs. Adding additional shifting by going in and out of neutral will at the very least cause some additional wear simply due to the increased number of shifts.

What is more important, however, is that a shift from neutral into drive while at speed is harder on a transmission than a shift from one gear to the next or a shift from neutral to drive when stopped. While this isn't as harsh as a "neutral drop" (revving the engine while in neutral then engaging drive while your foot is on the throttle), it's still harder on the transmission than a normal shift.

Overall though, the biggest issue is control. In a situation in which you suddenly need to be able to apply power or use engine braking it's much better to have the car in gear. In my opinion, no increase in fuel economy is worth the loss of control that coasting in neutral causes.
 
Zenmervolt said:
Technically every single time an automatic transmission shifts there is slight wear on the brake bands and the clutch packs. Adding additional shifting by going in and out of neutral will at the very least cause some additional wear simply due to the increased number of shifts.

What is more important, however, is that a shift from neutral into drive while at speed is harder on a transmission than a shift from one gear to the next or a shift from neutral to drive when stopped. While this isn't as harsh as a "neutral drop" (revving the engine while in neutral then engaging drive while your foot is on the throttle), it's still harder on the transmission than a normal shift.

Overall though, the biggest issue is control. In a situation in which you suddenly need to be able to apply power or use engine braking it's much better to have the car in gear. In my opinion, no increase in fuel economy is worth the loss of control that coasting in neutral causes.
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Ahh... this is very helpful. I did not realize that I lost this control when in Neutral. Does this mean that my TRAC, ABS, Brake Assist and other functions are no longer in operation when I'm in N?
 
Does this mean that my TRAC, ABS, Brake Assist and other functions are no longer in operation when I'm in N?
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Does your dashboard light up like a pinball machine when you shift into neutral?
 
Proprioceptive said:
Ahh... this is very helpful. I did not realize that I lost this control when in Neutral. Does this mean that my TRAC, ABS, Brake Assist and other functions are no longer in operation when I'm in N?
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You do not lose ABS or brake assist or brake-based stability control. While traction control does not go offline when in neutral, it has nothing to work through (if the engine isn't connected to the wheels, there's nothing traction control can do because you won't be getting wheelspin).

However, by having the engine disconnected, you lose the ability to apply power immediately and you lose any engine braking that you might otherwise have. Being in neutral removes one method of control (the application of power) from your options. I know that people say you can just shift back into Drive if you need to accelerate, but in a panic situation people don't always think clearly.

ZV
 
Doesn't help and adds a bit of extra wear on your transmission (not coasting, but the D-N-D switch).
 
An automatic transmission is meant to be left alone while you're driving. Constantly messing with the shifter from N->D and D->N is hard on the transmission.
 
its not hard on it, really, but it's gonna add some extra wear.

I just wanna add that I hate Hypermilers with every ounce of my soul. driving slow, drafting, coasting, homebrew mods etc may save you a few bucks, but make the road less safe for everyone else.
 
l0cke said:
Sorry, I don't know much about AT, just that you can not tow most of them with the engine off.
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Fixed. Some can be towed. I know many automatic jeeps can be flat towed as long as you follow the directions in the owner's manual for where to set the transmission and transfer case. I bet there are some others that are similar.
 
canadageek said:
its not hard on it, really, but it's gonna add some extra wear.

I just wanna add that I hate Hypermilers with every ounce of my soul. driving slow, drafting, coasting, homebrew mods etc may save you a few bucks, but make the road less safe for everyone else.
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Considering that the roads are unsafe because of idiots driving too fast for the conditions or thinking their large SUV's 4WD somehow gives them better handling and braking performance, I think your anger is misplaced. I'm far more annoyed with distracted drivers or people who are so fucking impatient that they cause accidents that never should've occurred in the first place. Anyways hypermilers don't always do anything in particular and since their behavior at the very least is an attempt to the save the environment while everyone else's unsafe behavior is just their being selfish, I think your anger is seriously misplaced.
 
From a mechanics standpoint, YES, it can hurt your transmission. Every time you put your car in drive the clutches in the transmission wear a little. It isn't so bad when going from park to Drive since the the engine is at idle speed and the torque converter is unlocked and uncoupled . At highway speed you engine will probably drop close to idle speed in neutral. When you put it back into drive your drive line is at highway speed and PARTS of your transmission are too, while the engine and the other half of the trans are at idle speed. Add in an locked converter and you are causing quite a bit more wear per shift than the Park to Drive shift trying to bring the engine back up to speed. Also the computers are usually NOT setup to handle Neutral to Drive at speed and may cause it to switch a few gears before finding out which one it needs to be in. IMO this is just as bad as 1/2 ton trucks pulling a trailer In OD where the transmission hunts between Drive and Overdrive alot. You MAY be fine doing so for 50,000 miles but it WILL wear out the transmission faster.
 
fleabag said:
Considering that the roads are unsafe because of idiots driving too fast for the conditions or thinking their large SUV's 4WD somehow gives them better handling and braking performance, I think your anger is misplaced. I'm far more annoyed with distracted drivers or people who are so fucking impatient that they cause accidents that never should've occurred in the first place. Anyways hypermilers don't always do anything in particular and since their behavior at the very least is an attempt to the save the environment while everyone else's unsafe behavior is just their being selfish, I think your anger is seriously misplaced.
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Ahh, the old, "Someone else is doing something worse, so my own bad behaviour is therefore justified" excuse. It doesn't work for 5 year olds and it doesn't work for you either.
 
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