Does going into neutral wear down tranny?

[ankit]

I searched but have yet to find an answer. When driving, like most others on the site, I neutral when going down hills or to stop signs/lights. I haven't gotten the courage to turn the car off when it is in motion just yet, but I was wondering if going in and out of neutral while the vehicle is running has negative effects on the transmission.


On a side note: I have had the courage to turn the car off if I'm the first person stopped at a traffic light.

[SVOboy]

Auto? Stick?

[DifferentPointofView]

I'm thinking he's talking about an auto tranny. I thought about this too, and I think the only thing it would wear down is probably the shifter itself. from going back in forth between drive and neutral would wear the spots in between each gear you can pick on an automatic (can't think of what their called off the top of my head).

Because an automatic is controlled/shifted by fluid power, there is very little, if no wear at all from shifting, because it's engaged and disengaged by transmission fluid. I think that most of the time when transmissions go out or slip, is due to dirty transmission fluid. People always remember the 3000 mile oil "rule", but not the tranny one. you need your tranny fluid changed every 12000 miles or so, depending on the vehicle and the type of driving you do, along with the tranny fluid filter. Some people might just do an analysis, and change the filter if the fluid is still good.

You won't get wear on your TRANNY for shifting into neutral, just after maybe 130,000 miles, you might have some play in your shifter. Mine has some, but it feels regular, and I've got over 130,000 on mine. Also, when you change your tranny fluid, make sure to adjust the bands if it's that type of tranny.

[metroschultz]

As DPoV said, Your tranny uses fluid pressure to shift and thus the only wear you may encounter is on your shifter at its pivots.
However. !Caveat!
Shifting an Auto Trans into gear while rolling at speed over ~ 15MPH is likely to cause internal damage.
Reason.
When you shift into Drive from Neutral, the trans Automatically (it thinks you are stopped) shifts to its lowest gear.
Most trannys shift out of low gear before 15MPH
So
Low gear while rolling at speed will cause an over revving condition which could do damage to you internals.
Think 5spd trans shift to 1st while traveling @ 50MPH
BOOYAH, BANG, OOPS
when I drive my wifes car, an auto, I shift to N when coming to a stop or if I'm cruising through the neighborhood.
When I'm on the highway and using P&G I don't take it out of gear.
I don't have the money to replace her trans right now.
I know my glides are shorter but so is my wallet.
I did knock it out of gear a few times while on the highway and the resulting slam of the harsh engagement told me this was a BAD thing to do. The trans did respond quickly by shifting immediately to OD but it was still enough of a jolt to let me know I was wrong.
I am certain there are trannys out there that will engage the correct gear for the speed. They will be newer units that are completely electronically controlled with far better TCU programming than I have at my disposal.
So that said.
Use your own judgement. (you're intelligent)
Don't let me dictate how you drive. (or anyone else)
Listen to your car. (she knows what she wants)
Drive Safely. (DUH)
Abba goo dai
S.

[hondaworkshop]

As I noted from the scangague, the civic auto will burn ~.25GPH in neutral, but if coasting in gear over 15mph, the wheels will keep the engine pumping while burning .00GPH... but there will be drag from the engine which will cause some deceleration compared to neutral.

I've decided it cancels out either way, since at the bottom of the hill in gear you'd have to use a little more fuel to get back to the speed you'd have been if coasting in neutral, but you have not had to bother with shifting, etc.

With that said, I'd like to know if anyone has an idea rule of thumb for when to sometimes use neutral in an auto and when to not bother.

The Honda auto will return to the proper gear when going from N to D, from what I've seen.

[ankit]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Auto? Stick?

Auto, sorry I should have cleared that up in the first post.

[ankit]

DPoV, what you are saying is that the shifter (in the interior of the vehicle) would wear down at the notches, but no transmission damage?

Metroschultz, I'm 99% that my 2006 goes into the correct gear because it does not jerk or anything if I shift from neutral to drive at speeds above 15 mph. The only thing is that I have to shift about one second before I want to use the accelerator because that is the time it takes to shift.

[DifferentPointofView]

yea, pretty much. It's really just the places between each gear that gets worn down.

I've decided it cancels out either way, since at the bottom of the hill in gear you'd have to use a little more fuel to get back to the speed you'd have been if coasting in neutral, but you have not had to bother with shifting, etc.

I don't know why, and I don't know how come, but I slow down when I put it into neutral. If I'm going 55 at the top of a hill, at the bottom I will be going over 65 while in gear, but only hit 60 while in neutral. Both tests I have done on the same hill. It makes me wonder whether my engine uses the same amount of fuel whether it's in neutral or in gear

[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.

[metroschultz]

Originally Posted by ankit

DPoV, what you are saying is that the shifter (in the interior of the vehicle) would wear down at the notches, but no transmission damage?

Metroschultz, I'm 99% that my 2006 goes into the correct gear because it does not jerk or anything if I shift from neutral to drive at speeds above 15 mph. The only thing is that I have to shift about one second before I want to use the accelerator because that is the time it takes to shift.

That's good. Like i said you have to do what works for you and your car will tell you what won't work for her.
My car is older so I can't shift in&out on the highway.
your car is newer and benefits from better programming.
Don't worry about the detent wearing out. they are very stout pieces and you're not power-shifting for extreme reasons.
S.