Can the car move when stepping on the throttle in neutral?
2 Answers
Stepping on the throttle in neutral will not make the car move; it will only move when the gear is engaged. Neutral typically refers to the state where the vehicle's gear lever is not placed in any forward or reverse gear, completely disconnecting the transmission from the drive wheels. For manual transmissions, the neutral position is in the middle, while for automatic transmissions, it is indicated by the 'N' symbol. The throttle, also known as the accelerator or throttle valve, is a control device that regulates the engine's power (thrust). In piston aircraft engines, the throttle controls the carburetor's throttle valve opening to regulate the cylinder's filling amount, thereby determining the engine's output power. In gas turbine engines, the throttle controls the metered fuel flow of the fuel regulator, thus determining the thrust produced by the engine.
After repairing cars for so many years, I've encountered many beginners asking about this. When you press the accelerator in neutral, the car absolutely won't move. The reason is simple: neutral means the transmission isn't connected to the wheels, the engine just spins freely, burning fuel without doing any work. High revs in neutral can damage the engine, like increasing bearing wear or even causing cylinder scoring. Develop good driving habits - don't play with the accelerator in neutral to protect your car's lifespan and save money. By the way, some veteran drivers think this is how to warm up a car in winter - wrong! Warming up in neutral is completely ineffective, the engine temperature won't rise properly and it just wastes fuel. The correct method is to start in neutral, gently press the accelerator to warm up for dozens of seconds, then start driving. In short, pressing the accelerator in neutral is a losing proposition - the car doesn't move an inch while wasting your money.
