Does going into neutral wear down tranny?

[PlaysWithMatches]

The transmission in the Civic has been a bit of adjustment for me. The "Grade-Logic Control" confused me for a while, since my car was engine braking by itself. So, I use neutral on some hills.

[Thymeclock]

DON'T DO IT!

About 30 years ago I burned out the clutches in my A/T by coasting this way. The problem doesn't come from throwing it out of gear, it's that you can't shift back into gear without incurring damage (unless you coast to a full stop, then put it back into drive.)

It was a very expensive lesson that I never forgot.

[PlaysWithMatches]

Originally Posted by Thmeclock

DON'T DO IT!

About 30 years ago I burned out the clutches in my A/T by coasting this way. The problem doesn't come from throwing it out of gear, it's that you can't shift back into gear without incurring damage (unless you coast to a full stop, then put it back into drive.)

It was a very expensive lesson that I never forgot.

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but that was an older transmission. Many of the newer transmissions are electronically controlled, and don't just throw themselves into the lowest gear when moved from "N" to "D."

[roflwaffle]

My 20yo automatic will even rev match automatically. If I try to bump up the revs myself I get a sloppier engagement from N to D.

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by Ryland

check your owners manual, I would say the section on towing the car in neutral, because it's going to tell you how fast you should have it going out of gear, as some tell you not to tow over 30mph with the drive wheels on the ground.

everyone always aludes to 'towing anf your owners manual' which has NOTHING to do with coasting w/ engine on. Unless your are being towed with your engine on!!!!!!

I have owned 2 cars in the last 9 years : 1997 toyota Avalon & 2002 Infiniti Q45.
I costed extensively in both of these car. sold the Avalon at 215,000miles and the Infiniti currently has 185,000miles. I never had a transmission problem with either car.

[Thymeclock]

Originally Posted by PlaysWithMatches

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but that was an older transmission. Many of the newer transmissions are electronically controlled, and don't just throw themselves into the lowest gear when moved from "N" to "D."

Unless your transmission was specifically designed with the option to be shifted, (as some are) we don't know for certain what the consequences might be. I wouldn't want to find out the hard way, as I once did.

OTOH, it can be done effectively with a manual tranny - so that's the best option for utilizing coasting.

[PlaysWithMatches]

Originally Posted by Thmeclock

Unless your transmission was specifically designed with the option to be shifted, (as some are) we don't know for certain what the consequences might be. I wouldn't want to find out the hard way, as I once did.

OTOH, it can be done effectively with a manual tranny - so that's the best option for utilizing coasting.

I wouldn't want to find out the hard way, I can't say I blame you for that. However, with a transmission like mine, it's really not a big deal.

My 20yo automatic will even rev match automatically. If I try to bump up the revs myself I get a sloppier engagement from N to D.

Interesting. What car is that?

[roflwaffle]

It's the first one under my user pic.

[Jethro]

I should just shift my transfer case into Neutral. HA!
The one thing I would like to get for the truck is free-wheeling hubs.
Dodge has a 'great' idea that I can engage / disengage 4wd from the cab with the pull of a lever. However, the front axle shafts are ALWAYS spinning. UGH!

[ShadeTreeMech]

I can't figure out what ya'll are talking about. I've towed cars miles and miles just by putting them into neutral, no problems. I neutral coast constantly in all my vehicles, sometimes even switching off the engine. So long as I start the engine before reengaging drive, I've never had a problem.