Idling at a stoplight

**zoedragon** · 11-23-04, 10:56 AM

Maybe you car buffs can answer this for me. When I'm at a stoplight that I know is going to take a long time to turn, I'll shift my automatic into Neutral while I wait. This is because I don't want the car to be pushing for so long during the red light. On the other hand is all that shifting bad for the automatic transmission? Should I not bother? What's best for the long-term condition of my car?

Also, which uses more gas, idling the engine in Neutral or idling it in Drive?

some2 · 11-23-04, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoedragon

Maybe you car buffs can answer this for me. When I'm at a stoplight that I know is going to take a long time to turn, I'll shift my automatic into Neutral while I wait. This is because I don't want the car to be pushing for so long during the red light. On the other hand is all that shifting bad for the automatic transmission? Should I not bother? What's best for the long-term condition of my car?

Also, which uses more gas, idling the engine in Neutral or idling it in Drive?

A page on the topic of neutral shifting while waiting at stoplights:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum.../March/18.html

More information from (here):
If you are solely concerned about gas consumption, I think it's too small an amount to be worried about it; enjoy your drive. However, if it's about transmission pressure it's a different story. This is what the experts say: If the weather is hot, or you've been driving in stop-&-go traffic, or if your stop takes more than 4 minutes, put the car in neutral. What you are trying to do here is to take some heat away from the tranny. Heat is the #1 killer of transmissions!

And one more tip for lifetime of trans: Use your e-brake when parking, especially on inclines. Pull the e-brake before disengaging drive (but after you've stopped). Just don't forget about it when you start driving again!

socio13 · 11-23-04, 02:19 PM

If your car had a manual transmission you would not have to worry about this.

**zoedragon** · 11-23-04, 02:29 PM

I know, but until I move someplace where I don't have to sit in 45 minutes of heavy traffic every day I'm going to drive an automatic. I used to come home irritated when I drove a stick under the same conditions.

Some2, thanks for the great info! Now I know not to bother shifting at the light. I'll just be wearing parts out faster. My car has a pretty good cooling system so I don't think I need to worry about that. Thanks again!

shoes · 11-23-04, 08:15 PM

always use the e-brake..

i don;t know why though, all i can say is that whenever i park my car on a hill and don't use the e-brake, it does that awkward roll back a little bit thing that just feels like its tensioning the untensionables.

***Admin*** · 11-23-04, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoes

..feels like its tensioning the untensionables.

Do you guys know what "neutral drop" is? I heard it is real bad to automatic transmission and I never put the car in neutral on a stop.
Install a transmission cooler to your car if you want to prolong the life of the transmission.

I've installed a tranmission cooler and an inline filter to my automatic transmission.

ak · 11-24-04, 10:07 AM

^ Tranny coolers are GREAT, unless you live in a really cold climate.

Why? The ATF (Automatic Fluid Transmission) needs to be in a certain temperature range or else it might damage the tranny, too. It's like engine oil, if it's TOO cold it's not doing any good.

In LA, I guess a tranny cooler is fine

Positive qualities about tranny coolers:
-Extended life
-Smoother shifting
-Less frequent tranny flushes
-Can save you money! A $75 tranny cooler can extend your life by 10,000+ miles. Cheaper than replacing a tranny ($2k+)

**zoedragon** · 11-24-04, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iKwak

Do you guys know what "neutral drop" is? I heard it is real bad to automatic transmission and I never put the car in neutral on a stop.

I've never heard of "neutral drop". What happens when you put an automatic into neutral during a stop (or even while rolling)?

Also, is the engine heat indicator on the dashboard remotely related to the heat on your transmission?

some2 · 11-24-04, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoedragon

I've never heard of "neutral drop". What happens when you put an automatic into neutral during a stop (or even while rolling)?

Also, is the engine heat indicator on the dashboard remotely related to the heat on your transmission?

To my knowledge, neutral drop is intended to refer to those who rev an engine high in neutral and drop it into drive. It's a common method of trying to inch out a little bit lower ET when drag racing. It's also an incredibly good way to explosively blow out your trans. It's similar to a clutch drop when you rev. to 4000+ rpm and then literally remove all pressure from the clutch forcing the plate to connect. Typically after a few runs at this one has a plume of smoke and a $400 repair bill.

FYI, some older BMW M3s also has a easter egg mode where it will do a neutral drop.
More about it here: http://www.bimmercenter.com/article_002_easteregg.html

**zoedragon** · 11-24-04, 12:22 PM

Oh so that's when idiots like to burn rubber by peeling out when they go, that would be called a neutral drop? I've never done anything like that, nor have I ever felt like I needed or wanted to.

So are transmission coolers just for enthusiasts who like to rev their engines and other [strange] performance behavior? Are they really necessary to prolong the life of a car of a slow-poke driver who rarely "floors it" (like me)?

11-23-04, 10:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Idling at a stoplight Maybe you car buffs can answer this for me. When I'm at a stoplight that I know is going to take a long time to turn, I'll shift my automatic into Neutral while I wait. This is because I don't want the car to be pushing for so long during the red light. On the other hand is all that shifting bad for the automatic transmission? Should I not bother? What's best for the long-term condition of my car? Also, which uses more gas, idling the engine in Neutral or idling it in Drive? __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-23-04, 02:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
socio13 Active Member Joined: Dec 2003 Location: 91762 Posts: 128	If your car had a manual transmission you would not have to worry about this. __________________ Failure is not an option - it is a privilege reserved for those who do not try hard enough.

11-23-04, 02:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	I know, but until I move someplace where I don't have to sit in 45 minutes of heavy traffic every day I'm going to drive an automatic. I used to come home irritated when I drove a stick under the same conditions. Some2, thanks for the great info! Now I know not to bother shifting at the light. I'll just be wearing parts out faster. My car has a pretty good cooling system so I don't think I need to worry about that. Thanks again! __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-24-04, 10:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
ak Cal Poly Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: LA Posts: 605	^ Tranny coolers are GREAT, unless you live in a really cold climate. Why? The ATF (Automatic Fluid Transmission) needs to be in a certain temperature range or else it might damage the tranny, too. It's like engine oil, if it's TOO cold it's not doing any good. In LA, I guess a tranny cooler is fine Positive qualities about tranny coolers: -Extended life -Smoother shifting -Less frequent tranny flushes -Can save you money! A $75 tranny cooler can extend your life by 10,000+ miles. Cheaper than replacing a tranny ($2k+) __________________ If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Education is the progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

11-24-04, 12:22 PM	#10 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Oh so that's when idiots like to burn rubber by peeling out when they go, that would be called a neutral drop? I've never done anything like that, nor have I ever felt like I needed or wanted to. So are transmission coolers just for enthusiasts who like to rev their engines and other [strange] performance behavior? Are they really necessary to prolong the life of a car of a slow-poke driver who rarely "floors it" (like me)? __________________ - Affordable website design found here -

11-23-04, 08:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
shoes Newcomer Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 13	always use the e-brake.. i don;t know why though, all i can say is that whenever i park my car on a hill and don't use the e-brake, it does that awkward roll back a little bit thing that just feels like its tensioning the untensionables.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search