Does Neutral Gear Shutdown Harm the Car?
3 Answers
Neutral gear shutdown does not harm the car. For manual transmission cars, it is generally necessary to shut down the engine in neutral gear. For automatic transmission cars, it is usually required to shift into P gear before shutting down, otherwise the car key cannot be removed after shutdown. The introduction of automatic transmission car gears is as follows: 1. P gear: Parking lock position. When the shift lever is moved into this position, the drive wheels are mechanically locked. 2. R gear: Reverse position. Move the shift lever into this position when reversing. 3. N gear: Neutral position. When the shift lever is moved into this position, the transmission does not engage any gear. 4. D gear: Driving position. When the shift lever is moved into this position, the transmission automatically shifts up and down within the engine speed range, with the shift point depending on engine load, the driver's driving style, and vehicle speed. 5. S gear: Driving position. When the shift lever is moved into this position, the transmission automatically shifts up and down within a higher engine speed range than D gear, making full use of the engine's power.
Shifting to neutral before turning off the engine does not directly harm the engine, as it is simply part of the normal shutdown process. However, the issue lies in safety—if you perform a neutral shutdown on a slope or uneven ground, the car may roll and collide with something, which can be dangerous. Engine components like the starter motor may occasionally experience additional stress, but in most cases, the wear is negligible. It is recommended to shift into Park (P) or engage the handbrake before turning off the engine to ensure the vehicle remains stable and safe. I’ve also seen some people habitually shift to neutral and turn off the engine in traffic jams to save fuel. While this may save a small amount of fuel in the short term, it could increase battery strain over time. In short, this is not a good habit. It’s best to develop safe operating practices to protect both your car and pedestrians.
As a frequent driver, I occasionally turn off the engine in neutral after stopping, and it's fine. Cars aren't as fragile as some people claim. The engine stopping just means it ceases operation, which doesn't have much impact on the mechanics. However, turning off the engine in neutral leaves the vehicle unsecured, increasing the risk of rolling. Imagine doing this on a slope—the car could roll away and cause an accident. A friend of mine once had a close call because of this. From a safety perspective, it's better to shift into P or N gear to secure the car before turning off the engine. There's no need to worry too much about harming the engine, but prioritize driving safety and avoid developing bad habits.
