Should an automatic transmission car be warmed up in P or N gear?
4 Answers
An automatic transmission car should be warmed up in P gear. The method for warming up the car is as follows: 1. Start the vehicle and keep the air conditioning turned off; 2. Let the car idle for 1 minute to warm up; 3. Drive slowly after the engine runs smoothly; 4. Once the temperature gauge rises by 1 to 2 bars, you can drive normally and use the air conditioning. The steps for parking an automatic transmission car are: 1. Start the engine, press the foot brake, and shift to D gear; 2. Release the handbrake and foot brake, then press the accelerator to start moving; 3. Press the brake to stop the car; 4. Shift from D gear to N gear and tighten the handbrake; 5. Press the foot brake and shift from N gear to P gear; 6. Release the foot brake, turn off the power, and remove the key.
When I first started learning to drive, I was also confused about which gear to use for warming up the car, so here’s some advice from a beginner. Warming up the engine allows it to heat up while idling, especially after a cold start in winter, so the lubricating oil can circulate and prevent part wear. For automatic transmission cars, the P (Park) gear completely locks the transmission, while the N (Neutral) gear allows the car to be pushed. I recommend using P gear for warming up as it’s the safest—if you forget to engage the handbrake or the ground is uneven in N gear, the car might roll. I once almost rolled backward on a slope, which was scary. Don’t warm up for too long; 30 seconds is enough for modern cars. While in P gear, lightly tap the accelerator to check if the tachometer stabilizes. Overall, P gear is worry-free and reliable—beginners should start forming this habit. Also, driving feels smoother after warming up in cold weather, reducing shaky starts. Remember, safety comes first—don’t take unnecessary risks.
I've been driving for years, and warming up the car is as familiar to me as the lines on my palm. Normally, I warm up the car in P (Park) gear, which locks the transmission in place; warming up in N (Neutral) gear is also possible, but you must pull the handbrake tight, otherwise the car might slide away on even a slight slope. The core of warming up is to raise the engine temperature to lubricate the internals, which is especially important in cold weather. In practice, you can also try N gear in a garage or on flat ground, but I've tried it a few times and felt unsafe—if you get distracted and forget the details, things can go wrong. Modern engine technology has improved, so a short idle after starting is sufficient, done within 30 seconds, no need to wait for minutes. Warming up in P gear also allows you to check the dashboard warning lights, killing two birds with one stone. From an environmental perspective, a short warm-up saves fuel and reduces pollution; maintenance advice is to stick with P gear—it's convenient and quick. Overall experience: P gear is the gold standard.
Picking up and dropping off the kids to school, warming up the car is a daily chore for me. Regarding gear selection, I follow my husband's advice to use P (Park) gear—it's the most stable. Neutral (N) gear requires an additional handbrake pull, and it's easy to forget when the kids are noisy getting in the car. Warming up the car protects the engine from wear, especially when it's cold and the engine is stiff—it needs to warm up. My garage has a flat surface, but for safety, I only use P gear, idling for a minute or two before driving off. The kids are more comfortable in a warm car and less likely to get sick, which gives me peace of mind. Some say using N gear saves a bit of fuel, but I think the small savings aren't worth the risk—family safety comes first. Parking firmly in P gear to start is simple and requires no extra thought. Remember to schedule regular maintenance checks to keep the engine healthy and the drive smooth.
