Is It Okay to Park Without Shifting to Neutral?
1 Answers
Parking without shifting to neutral is acceptable. Here are the details: Differences between automatic and manual transmissions: For automatic cars, when parking for an extended period, shift to P (Park) and engage the handbrake; for red lights lasting over 30 seconds, shift to neutral and engage the handbrake; for durations under 30 seconds, it's recommended to stay in D (Drive) and use the foot brake. For manual cars: when parking for an extended period, shift to neutral and engage the handbrake; for red lights over 30 seconds, shift to neutral and engage the handbrake; for under 30 seconds, it's advised to stay in 1st gear and press the clutch along with the foot brake. Purpose of neutral gear: Towing—when the vehicle needs to be towed for repairs or other reasons, it must be shifted to N (Neutral); temporary parking—for short stops, shifting to N is suitable, but if the wait is too long, the engine should be turned off. Coasting in neutral has long been considered a fuel-saving practice, especially among truck drivers who often use engine-off coasting in neutral to save fuel. However, for modern fuel-injected engine cars, coasting in neutral should be used with caution, and engine-off coasting in neutral is not recommended.