What are the consequences of shifting to N gear while driving?
2 Answers
Shifting to N gear while driving can result in transmission damage, reduced safety, and increased fuel consumption. Transmission damage: Since automatic transmissions require lubrication, shifting to N gear while driving prevents the oil pump from supplying oil normally for lubrication, causing the internal components of the transmission to overheat and leading to complete failure. Reduced safety: Coasting in neutral significantly compromises safety. In fact, a vehicle's forward movement relies on the torque generated by the engine. Higher gears produce less torque, resulting in delayed throttle response and slower acceleration. Increased fuel consumption: Coasting in neutral does not save fuel; sometimes it even consumes more. In fuel-injected engines, the amount of fuel injection is determined by the computer program. When coasting in neutral, the computer puts the vehicle into idle mode, and the engine continues to inject fuel.
I accidentally shifted into neutral once while driving, and the engine RPM suddenly surged with a terrifying roar, making it feel like the car was out of control. The key issue was losing engine braking, which noticeably increased the braking distance, especially on slopes where the car accelerated downhill faster, raising the risk of rear-end collisions. Repeatedly doing this can also severely damage the transmission because the lubrication system doesn’t work in neutral, increasing friction between parts—repairs can cost thousands. Additionally, if you need to accelerate in an emergency, shifting back to Drive (D) has a delay, leaving no time to react. Now, I’ve made it a habit to only shift gears when the car is completely stopped, ensuring driving safety and avoiding unnecessary trouble.