For a manual transmission, should you turn off the engine first or shift to P gear before turning it off?

[MacElijah]

For a manual transmission, you should shift to P gear before turning off the engine. P gear: Parking gear, used when the car needs to be parked for a long time. R gear: Reverse gear, used when the car needs to park or meet another vehicle. N gear: Neutral gear, used when the car needs to coast, wait at traffic lights, or be towed. D gear: Drive gear, used when the car needs to move forward, this gear is frequently used. L gear: Low gear, this gear keeps the transmission in first gear, suitable for use in congested road conditions.

[RicardoMarie]

Manual transmission cars don't have a P (Park) gear - that's a feature exclusive to automatic transmissions, so don't get confused during operation. Let me share some personal experience. The standard procedure for parking and shutting off a manual transmission car is: first brake to a complete stop, shift to neutral, engage the parking brake, then turn off the engine. Don't rush to shift gears, as this could damage the transmission. When parking on slopes, I usually engage first gear or reverse as an additional anti-roll measure for extra safety. That's the beauty of manual transmissions - simple operations that become second nature with practice. Unlike automatics which require shifting to P before shutting off to protect the gear system, manuals don't need that step - no need to complicate things. A few more practice sessions and you'll get the hang of it.

[JoshuaDella]

I've seen many car owners make mistakes when repairing cars, thinking that manual transmissions should be put into P gear like automatic transmissions before turning off the engine. This is actually a big mistake. The structure of manual transmissions is completely different and does not require a P position. The correct approach is to first ensure the car is fully stopped, shift into neutral, engage the handbrake, and then directly press the engine stop button or turn the key. Remember not to shift gears before turning off the engine to avoid mechanical impact. If you operate incorrectly for a long time, it may wear out the gear lever or clutch, increasing maintenance costs. In short, parking a manual transmission car involves three steps: stop, shift to neutral, engage the handbrake, and turn off the engine. A super practical suggestion is to regularly check the sensitivity of the handbrake, as safety is the most important. Don't be misled by automatic transmission habits.

[FinnLee]

The steps for a beginner to park a manual transmission car are not hard to remember: first, press the brake pedal all the way and hold it, shift to N (neutral), pull the handbrake all the way up, then turn off the engine and remove the key. Done. Don’t even think about the P (park) gear—manual transmissions don’t have that design. I used to make that mistake too, wasting energy. The key is parking on level ground for safety. If parking on a slope, shift to 1st gear as an extra precaution. Automatic transmissions are the ones that require shifting to P before turning off the engine—manual transmissions don’t need to follow that routine. Just practice a few times to build muscle memory, and it’ll become second nature.