Is It Harmful to Hold the Brake in D Gear for 5 Minutes?

[DeAshley]

Holding the brake in D gear for 5 minutes is harmful. Short periods of holding the brake in D gear are acceptable: In traffic jams, some drivers of vehicles with automatic transmissions often only press the brake pedal while keeping the gear lever in D (Drive) without shifting. If the duration is short, this is permissible. For longer stops, it's better to shift to N gear: If the stop is prolonged, it's advisable to shift to N (Neutral) and engage the parking brake. This is because when the gear lever is in D, automatic transmission vehicles typically have a slight forward creep. Holding the brake pedal for an extended period forcibly stops this movement, causing the transmission fluid temperature to rise and the fluid to degrade more quickly. This is especially detrimental when the air conditioning system is running and the engine is idling at higher speeds. For safety, drivers should use their vehicles correctly.