Can an automatic transmission car be shifted into neutral while waiting at a red light?
2 Answers
An automatic transmission car can be shifted into neutral when waiting at a red light for more than 30 seconds, otherwise, just step on the brake. Precautions for shifting gears in an automatic transmission car: 1. Do not step on the accelerator pedal when shifting gears; 2. Do not immediately step hard on the accelerator pedal after shifting into gear; 3. The vehicle can only be started in P or N gear; 4. To remove the gear lever from P gear, the brake must be pressed; 5. Do not shift into N gear to coast while driving; 6. Do not push into P gear while the car is moving; 7. When changing the direction of travel, switching between D and R gears must be done after the vehicle has come to a complete stop; 8. Placing the gear in N while driving prevents the oil pump from supplying oil normally for lubrication, which can cause the temperature of internal transmission components to rise and result in damage.
As a seasoned driver who frequently navigates city streets, I've found that shifting an automatic transmission into neutral at red lights is a completely viable habit. This significantly reduces engine load, minimizes vehicle vibration, and makes for a much more comfortable drive, especially in heavy traffic or at long traffic lights. I've noticed that each time I shift to neutral, there's a slight reduction in fuel consumption. While not a dramatic drop, the accumulated savings over time can add up to substantial fuel cost savings. Of course, I must remind myself and others never to do this on steep slopes, as shifting to neutral could lead to dangerous vehicle rollback—I once witnessed a friend nearly getting into an accident because of this. On flat roads, however, this practice is perfectly safe and won't damage the transmission. Having driven automatic vehicles for over a decade, I've never needed transmission repairs due to this habit. In fact, combining this technique with air conditioning use in summer proves even more effective at reducing fuel consumption.
