Can an automatic transmission car be shifted into neutral?
2 Answers
It is not advisable to shift an automatic transmission car into neutral while driving. There are mainly two reasons for this: 1. Reduced braking power: When the car is in neutral and coasting, the connection between the engine and the drive wheels is lost, and the car moves forward solely by inertia. In case of an emergency requiring braking, all the braking force must be provided by the brakes alone. However, when coasting in gear, the engine itself provides some resistance, which, combined with the brakes, shortens the braking distance. Additionally, coasting in neutral can cause the engine to stall, leading to a loss of brake booster effectiveness and reduced braking performance. 2. Increased fuel consumption: Shifting into neutral does not save fuel; in fact, it can sometimes consume more fuel, which is related to how fuel-injected engines operate. Fuel-injected engines can determine the amount of fuel injection based on computer programming. When coasting in gear, if the driver releases the accelerator, the computer will put the car into coasting mode, during which the engine does not inject fuel for a significant period. However, if neutral is selected, the computer will put the car into idle mode, and the engine continues to inject fuel. This is why coasting in neutral can sometimes consume more fuel.
As someone who drives automatic cars year-round, I've found that shifting to neutral can indeed be useful in certain situations, such as temporarily stopping at red lights to relax your foot without pressing the brake. But never do this while driving! Once on a long trip with a friend, he tried coasting downhill in neutral on the highway, and the transmission made strange noises. Upon inspection, we found insufficient lubrication had caused component wear. Neutral is designed for assisting with towing or moving the car during washing—normally, it's best to stick with Drive (D) or Park when driving. Otherwise, long-term misuse can burn out the transmission, leading to repair costs of several thousand dollars and safety risks. I recommend developing good habits and frequently checking forums for tips shared by experienced drivers.
