Is it okay to shift to P gear after the car is turned off?
2 Answers
For automatic transmission vehicles, it is possible to shift to P gear after turning off the engine. However, many car models are factory-set to require shifting to P gear before the engine can be turned off; otherwise, the engine won't shut down. For automatic transmission cars, when parking and turning off the engine, the principle is to ensure that the handbrake is engaged, and it must be engaged before shifting to P gear. Here is an introduction about parking: 1. Theoretical parking operation for automatic transmission: First reduce the speed to zero, then shift to neutral, engage the handbrake, and finally shift to P gear. 2. P gear (Parking): Used for parking. It utilizes a mechanical device to lock the rotating parts of the car, preventing the vehicle from moving. When the car needs to remain stationary for an extended period or before leaving the vehicle after parking, the handbrake should be engaged, and the gear lever should be moved to the "P" position. 3. Important notes: The vehicle must be completely stopped before using P gear; otherwise, the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission may be damaged. Additionally, automatic transmission vehicles are equipped with a neutral start switch, ensuring the engine can only be started in "P" or "N" gear to prevent accidental starts in other gears that could cause the car to lurch forward unexpectedly.
I've always paid attention to this detail since I started driving. Technically, you can turn off the engine before shifting to P, but I really don't recommend doing this often. When parking, the car needs the P gear to lock the transmission wheels. After the engine is off, the hydraulic assistance in the transmission is lost, so you have to use more force to shift the gear lever. Over time, this may accelerate wear on the connecting parts. More importantly, for safety reasons, I always insist on stopping the car steadily first, pulling the handbrake tight, shifting into P, and then turning off the ignition; this sequence can prevent the risk of the car slightly sliding on a slope if it stalls. Some people think it doesn't matter after the engine is off, but in fact, any operation should develop good habits to protect the car and reduce problems.
