Does coasting in neutral gear damage the engine of a manual transmission car?
1 Answers
It affects the engine's lifespan because coasting in neutral while the vehicle is moving forward means the engine is in an idle state. The engine's oil pump then shifts to a low-speed operation mode. If this condition persists for too long, the protective functions of the engine such as lubrication, cooling, and sealing will weaken, thereby accelerating the wear and aging of the engine. Why is coasting in neutral, a fuel-saving technique, prohibited by law? When a car is driving at high speed and encounters an emergency, the driver must quickly release the accelerator and step on the brake pedal to perform an emergency stop. If the car is in normal operation at this time, the wheels and all transmission systems are tightly connected to the engine, and the engine speed slows down, creating a braking force on the car that is running on inertia. If the car has already been shifted to neutral while driving, stepping on the emergency brake will disconnect the chassis transmission system from the engine, and without the assistance of engine braking, not only will the braking effect be poor (especially for overloaded vehicles), but the vehicle will also lose balance and skid sideways. Ultimately, the driver may cause an accident due to the inability to control the car.
