[sunmoon]

i am wondering whether i should change gear to neutral at stop lights because if I just keep holding the brake down the car still wants to move ahead.

does it save petrol to shift to neutral in an automatic car?

or, will it damage the gear train if one was to shift to neutral and back out to drive everytime the car stopped at a stop light?

is it really economical?

[youngnottheold1]

I brake.... maybe you should get your brakes checked out...

[Xiaoba1tu]

I like having my foot on the brake at the lights. Never had to use the neutral gear before. :/
Not sure about the saving petrol bit.

I know that it's better to let the car stop to a full before you change the gears.
I think it's easier to keep your foot on the brake for me, I guess it's up to personal preference and habit.

[charzzy]

I keep my foot on the brake........

[sunmoon]

but keeping the gear engaged in drive uses up more petrol than in neutral right?

[MPowerKai]

but keeping the gear engaged in drive uses up more petrol than in neutral right?

You'd save pennies at most.

[Born: 1985]

The only time I put my car into neutral on the streets is if I'm waiting for a train to pass...otherwise, if it's just red lights I just keep my foot on the brake. Too much of a hassle to switch back and forth, plus red lights don't stay long enough for that either.
Like Ray said ^, I don't think you'd save much $ on neutral.

[viper2788]

but keeping the gear engaged in drive uses up more petrol than in neutral right?

i dont really think so since rpm should always be steady when at a stop, whether youre in drive or neutral. however, i remember once when i was VERY low of gas on the highway, i would switch to neutral when goin downhill... because even if you take your foot of the gas, you'll notice that the rpm wont drop as long as the car is moving. im really not sure if i saved any gas there at all.. but theoretically i like to believe so lol.

[awdark]

Don't you use more gas when you put the car in neutral because it idles at a higher RPM rather than a break mode? I was under that assumption that the car goes into a semi-gas saving state when you hold the break.

[kuku]

Don't you use more gas when you put the car in neutral because it idles at a higher RPM rather than a break mode? I was under that assumption that the car goes into a semi-gas saving state when you hold the break.

Oh yea, in neutral, the RPMS idle higher.

[sunmoon]

well, that is eactly the point

in neutral the rpms are higher because the engine is "freewheeling" - it isn't engaged to the gear train so it has nothing to push.

in drive the rpms are lower because the engine is pushing something.

the question is whether in neutral (rpms higher) the engine is using more or less pertol than in drive (rpms lower, engine pushing something). it sounds so far that the engine is using the same petrol consumption. but i don't really know..

[v8subie]

insignificant change.

[Chioster]

I just hold the brakes because it is more convenient to me cause I can move at any time without reaching for the gearstick.

[FusionGT2]

If you're driving an automatic and shift your car into neutral, I heard that your car works harder to keep it on idle, therefore using up more gas. No idea if this is true or not, since I drive stick.

[lilpucal0v3r]

i acutally put it on park o.o

^does that kill gas? ive been doing that for a really long time

[kelvin6]

Actually I used to do that very often, but stopped after I realized it has some odd effects on my transmission. Namely electrical issues when shifting constantly... apparently it can wear out the gear selector switch (or Neutral safety switch). The automatic tranny is not anticipating you to shift in and out every block or so... and wearing out this switch won't be fun, as it can leave u stranded (due to it failing) or other issues. The issue with my car was that switching it and out was causing the shifter to not fully engage sometimes and cause the car to go into a limp home mode (3rd gear locked in).

Its a good idea to put it in neutral when you anticipate a long stop, to prevent the transmission fluid from heating up and overheating (which reduces the life of the fluid). But don't try to put it in neutral to 'coast' to a stop. That will waste gas as the engine tries to keep itself from stalling, by idling and not using the natural motion force of the wheels spinning (to ultimately spin the engine) to keep it running (which in theory uses no gas).

[831012]

I shift into neutral when I'm on a flat road because I'm too lazy to press the brakes lol. It's kind of become a habit =/ and when I'm on a slope, and its a long wait, I put it into park because I'm lazy like that.

[ihigh]

i only shift neutral when im on a flat and i have to find something in the car at a light, if not i hold down the brake

saving petrol? its minimal at most...from what i hear from mechanics

[LaydeeMel]

I only put it in neutral when i'm bored or at a really long light and the grounds pretty flat, else i'll get screwed and roll somewhere.

[joongie;love]

I just use the breaks, im too lazzyyy