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Auto box to neutral while waiting at the llights?
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MartinR
Joined: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 18
 
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| Auto box to neutral while waiting at the llights? |
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Silly question perhaps (especially given the engineering degree...) but years ago, in the USA and driving an auto for the first time I was told to put it in neutral at the lights (except if I found myself in the Bronx, when I was told not to actually stop at the lights... yes it was a while ago!)
I've been following this maxim in the D3, but now I'm getting Mrs R to drive an auto for the first time, and I was trying to justify this advice to myself. There's no clutch release bearings to be wearing as you sit there, it's just fluid running around in some funny shaped plates, right? There's no movement, so no frictional wear on the brakes: the only thing I can see I'm doing wrong sitting there in drive is excess pressure on the foot brake (and I hope that's not a problem!) and perhaps a marginally increased load on the transmission from engine to drive face of the torque converter - but that must be minimal at idle, right?
Thoughts? What do others actually do?
Martin
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 Wed Jul 16 2008 2:16pm |
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ronp
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Location: Lost in my own space!
Posts: 4120
 
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You will use more fuel holding it either with the EPB or footbrake.
It's more fuel efficient in Park. Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.
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Morphy Richards 7w "Dual" Food Processor
[complete with addittional bowl and changeable blades]
Only 70p at a store near you!
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 "The BEAST"
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 2:21pm |
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LT
Joined: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 1061
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Neutral with EPB on if required.
I believe that the handbook states that whilst idling, neutral should be selected.
I just hate being behind a vehicle with all its brake lights on, especially at night. So out of courtesy to similar minded drivers, I don't sit at lights with my foot on the brake.
Last edited by LT on Wed Jul 16 2008 2:24pm; edited 1 time in total
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 2:22pm |
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Bodsy
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Home, home on the range........
Posts: 5482
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If I'm in a particularly frugal frame of mind & using the command shift, then I'll sometimes go into Neutral. I think it marginally increases MPG, but not so you'd notice over a tankfull.
I generally just leave it in Drive & use the brake pedal. i don't think you'll have a problem doing that. TDV6 HSE Black, Black Wheels /MTR's(in the shed!), Black RRS front/rear LR badge (tbf) Black Leather, Black Glass, Black TowB, Shiny Tasmods, Dull Mantec, White (& Orange) Reflective D3 Sticker, Black steering wheel badge, black air intake. Optima & Traxide dual battery setup.
Need black RRS wheel centre caps.
Now with added Engel.....
We D3, therefore we are..........
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 2:23pm |
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MartinR
Joined: 27 Jan 2008
Location: Oxon
Posts: 18
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LT wrote:I just hate being behind a vehicle with all its brake lights on, especially at night. So out of courtesy to similar minded drivers, I don't sit at lights with my foot on the brake.
Ah yes, that bit goes without saying!
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 2:31pm |
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goodfella
Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Location: Salford
Posts: 18
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I pop it in neutral as well so stop drivers behind having to stare at my brake lights for a couple of minutes, however I only do it on the flat because I rarely use the EPB after it jammed on about 18 months ago. Badda bing.......How you doin'?
Java black SE, standard spec. Clean and shiny.
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 2:31pm |
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PaulP
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 760
 
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I leave it in D with my foot on the brake until the engine (and by association the transmission) gets up to operating temperature...
Once it's all nice and toastie, then I usually knock it into N at the traffic lights and just hold it on the brake.
As Bodsy says, you can just leave it permanently in D, use the footbrake and not worry about it. You aren't putting anything under any undue stress by doing this.  2006 TDV6 SE Auto Buckingham Blue
2007 Golf GT DSG
1990 Audi 90 2.2E Sport 5-cyl Tornado Red
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 2:39pm |
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NHR
Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Location: Warsaw
Posts: 785
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I usually slip it into neutral too. Don't wish to wear out the the LR long-life brake light lamps. 
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 2:46pm |
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ronp
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Location: Lost in my own space!
Posts: 4120
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 Not a very good banner on that guys website Les.
The last car that has come around the bend is mainly on the wrong side of the road!!
btw it's not a dual carriageway, and he seems to be out far too early for sight for an overtake??
It can also be imagined that the road is still twisty, going by what can be seen already.
 Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.
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Morphy Richards 7w "Dual" Food Processor
[complete with addittional bowl and changeable blades]
Only 70p at a store near you!
.
.
"The BEAST"
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 6:29pm |
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Gazzer
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Location: Guildford, Surrey **2008 TDV6 HSE**
Posts: 220
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Don't you engage a clutch to take it in & out of 'D', thereby increasing wear this way. I leave it in 'D' with the EPB on when at tfc lights.  
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 6:39pm |
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DiscoDad
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In a Lay-By!
Posts: 1650
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Didn't notice that Ron but perhaps it's there as an example of what isn't smart driving!
But then again I'm sure he could have found a better example of crap driving that that! 
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 6:41pm |
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ronp
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Location: Lost in my own space!
Posts: 4120
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Gazzer wrote:Don't you engage a clutch to take it in & out of 'D', thereby increasing wear this way. I leave it in 'D' with the EPB on when at tfc lights.
IMO you should always take it out of Drive [even Park] and use Neutral with handbrake.
The idea is that if your shunted up the rear end [oh matron!!], you won't sustain as much damage.
As in gear, the shunt can cause damage to the full drive train. Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.
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Morphy Richards 7w "Dual" Food Processor
[complete with addittional bowl and changeable blades]
Only 70p at a store near you!
.
.
"The BEAST"
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 6:48pm |
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Claud
Joined: 03 Mar 2007
Location: Surrey
Posts: 104
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As RonP said ,neutral plus EPB, in addition to the rear shunt benefit, on a dark wet nights, our LED super bright brake lights will not be dazzling other drivers from the rear. This best practice was confirmed on a recent company sponsored safe driving course.
Slight issue is you will be as slow as a manual to move off the line, diminishing the benefit of an auto and it is a bit of a faf.
I tend to leave it in drive if I know I will not be long at the lights, put it in neutral with EPB, when there a few seconds wait. 05 2.7TDV6 S AUTO Silver, Mantec plate, Leather seats, mud flaps, side steps, roof bars, Tasmods stainless sill plates, Takla jack, T-max compressor, Garmin 610
59 Series II SWB, truck cab, Bronze Green, unmodified
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 8:17pm |
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ronp
Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Location: Lost in my own space!
Posts: 4120
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Did you know that at the LRE, you get your wrists slapped for using the EPB [unless starting from a steep incline]  Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.
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Morphy Richards 7w "Dual" Food Processor
[complete with addittional bowl and changeable blades]
Only 70p at a store near you!
.
.
"The BEAST"
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| Wed Jul 16 2008 8:26pm |
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