Auto tranny question: Does anyone else do this?

[Martinjmpr]

I learned to drive on an automatic (76 Ford Torino wagon) and have driven quite a few of them. But I've only owned two AT vehicles, the 99 Subaru Outback wagon I had from 2003 - 2007 and my current 99 4Runner. In practical terms, I suppose I could also add my wife's 2006 Grand Vitara since, when we're going someplace in her vehicle, I normally drive.

Anyway, one thing I've never liked about autos is the way they "pull" (want to move forward) when at a stop. For one thing, I worry that if I don't keep enough pressure on the brake, I will roll into the intersection or into the vehicle in front of me. On my MT vehicles I got used to rolling up to a stop, then sometimes taking my foot off the brake with the tranny in neutral, if it was flat enough.

So in both my Subaru, the wife's GV, and now in my 4runner, all of which have floor-mounted shifters, I've gotten into the habit (especially if it's a long light or slow moving traffic) of moving the shifter into N rather than keeping it in D.

Does anyone else do this? Seems to me the tranny is usually set up to allow it easily (you generally don't have to depress the button or move the shift lever laterally to go between N and D, like you do when going to any other gears.) Is there a possibility this practice could harm the transmission?

Seems to me that the only possibility of harm would be if I had the tranny in N and then suddenly wanted to take off, so I revved the engine and then remembered to put it back in D - the "neutral drop." But apart from that, I can't think of any harm that could come from this practice. Then again, I don't know that much about automatic transmissions either.

 

[heeltoe989]

I learned to drive on an automatic (76 Ford Torino wagon) and have driven quite a few of them. But I've only owned two AT vehicles, the 99 Subaru Outback wagon I had from 2003 - 2007 and my current 99 4Runner. In practical terms, I suppose I could also add my wife's 2006 Grand Vitara since, when we're going someplace in her vehicle, I normally drive.

Anyway, one thing I've never liked about autos is the way they "pull" (want to move forward) when at a stop. For one thing, I worry that if I don't keep enough pressure on the brake, I will roll into the intersection or into the vehicle in front of me. On my MT vehicles I got used to rolling up to a stop, then sometimes taking my foot off the brake with the tranny in neutral, if it was flat enough.

So in both my Subaru, the wife's GV, and now in my 4runner, all of which have floor-mounted shifters, I've gotten into the habit (especially if it's a long light or slow moving traffic) of moving the shifter into N rather than keeping it in D.

Does anyone else do this? Seems to me the tranny is usually set up to allow it easily (you generally don't have to depress the button or move the shift lever laterally to go between N and D, like you do when going to any other gears.) Is there a possibility this practice could harm the transmission?

Seems to me that the only possibility of harm would be if I had the tranny in N and then suddenly wanted to take off, so I revved the engine and then remembered to put it back in D - the "neutral drop." But apart from that, I can't think of any harm that could come from this practice. Then again, I don't know that much about automatic transmissions either.

I've done that for years and never had any issues other than sometimes forgetting its in neutral and reving the engine which I just wait and then put it back into gear.....I think its better for the tranny as you are taking load off of it by putting it into neutral for long lights and not holding it while in gear.

also if somebody rear ends you your not likely to mash the gas and go shooting through the intersection and get t-boned.

 

[Rallyroo]

Anyway, one thing I've never liked about autos is the way they "pull" (want to move forward) when at a stop. For one thing, I worry that if I don't keep enough pressure on the brake, I will roll into the intersection or into the vehicle in front of me.

I know what you mean.

I recently got my first automatic vehicle, a 80-series Land Cruiser. It's a secondary vehicle so the Cruiser will only get used on trips off the beaten path.

I still attempt to step on the non-existing clutch. I'm still trying to get used to downshifting on an automatic. Driving an automatic in the mountains is weird!

Driving in traffic is weird too because instead of rolling slowly in neutral in a manual transmission car the automatics roll too quickly in D even when my foot is off the accelerator.

 

[kletzenklueffer]

My concern is being able to move quickly should the need arrive, like somone about to rear end you or headed for you from the side. The immediate reaction would be to hit the gas, and less likely to manipulate the shifter.

It may not amount to saving you anything, but I have seen someone with their brakes locked up, coming towards me and just hit the gas and steered to the median to avoid getting hit. In this case, they came to a stop next to me, and stopped before hitting the car ahead of me. It wasn't really a decision as much as instinctive.

I'd rather had had it in gear than not.

When I pull to a stop, I kind of wedge my heel into the floor mat so it's semi concious to hold the brake.

 

[Superu]

My concern is being able to move quickly should the need arrive, like somone about to rear end you or headed for you from the side. The immediate reaction would be to hit the gas, and less likely to manipulate the shifter.

It may not amount to saving you anything, but I have seen someone with their brakes locked up, coming towards me and just hit the gas and steered to the median to avoid getting hit. In this case, they came to a stop next to me, and stopped before hitting the car ahead of me. It wasn't really a decision as much as instinctive.

I'd rather had had it in gear than not.

When I pull to a stop, I kind of wedge my heel into the floor mat so it's semi concious to hold the brake.

X2

Would much rather have the ability to instinctively hit the gas and move than have to reach for the shifter to try to get moving quickly.

What we really need is the auto stop/start feature I had on my Honda Insight and that BMW is introducing in the Euro spec 1 series. Saves gas and cuts pollution too! :ylsmoke:

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero:My Jeep JK has that, especially in 4wd-lo, you can crawl uphill or downhill at a snails pace, just don't touch the brake pedal, but

It "holds" at a stop light too, in 2wd !!

:victory::smiley_drive::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[ntsqd]

When you're stopped, but in gear with an auto trans the Torque Converter is doing the slipping. For those that aren't familiar with their inner workings, picture two house fans placed facing each other and up close. Turn one on and watch what the other one does.

Torque Converters work exactly the same way, only with something thicker than air. When they are slipping they are shearing the trans fluid, which builds heat in the fluid that is dumped into the radiator via the trans cooler. Even if it is not trying to creep forward it is still shearing the trans fluid. The lack of creep just means that the combo of the idle speed and the tuning of the converter's vane geometry means that there isn't enough torque transferred to try to move the vehicle.

Engines with long duration cams in them are worse for wanting to creep into the intersection. With those engines you almost have no choice but to put the trans in 'N'. A friend who has such an engine makes it a practice to leave his hand on the shifter where it is ready to drop the trans into gear in a fraction of a second.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero:Thats absolutely right,I have a Long Duration cam in my 3.8 liter v6Jeep JK

The time duration between rotational transfer of movement from valve/lifters to combustion chamber ignition, is so LONG, I have time to have lunch, before the jeep moves away from the stop sign !!

Excuse me for this minor attempt at humor !!

:snorkel::snorkel: JIMBO

 

[Pskhaat]

A long cam can really open up the breathing inertia and thus the lower-end torque...makes sense.