What are the damages of stalling in neutral gear to the car?
2 Answers
Generally, stalling the engine in neutral gear does not cause any harm to the engine. For manual transmission cars, it is common practice to stall the engine in neutral gear. However, for automatic transmission cars, it is usually necessary to shift into P (Park) before stalling; otherwise, the car key may not be removable after stalling. Below is a related introduction to stalling in neutral gear: 1. Stalling in neutral gear poses no problem to the car. Stalling should only be done in N (Neutral) or P (Park) gears; stalling in D (Drive) or R (Reverse) gears can damage the transmission. When in neutral gear, it is essential to ensure the car is on a flat surface to prevent rolling. 2. The correct method for parking and stalling is to first shift from the driving gear to N gear, stay in N gear for 0.5-1 second, then directly shift to P gear, and finally engage the handbrake. 3. When stalling in neutral gear and then shifting, there is no need to switch gears twice consecutively. The action should be smooth, as each gear has a notch. Although the shift passes through R gear, it does not mean shifting into R gear.
I often think about the habit of coasting in neutral and shutting off the engine while driving, especially when stopping at a red light in an automatic transmission car to save fuel. From a mechanical perspective, coasting in neutral and shutting off the engine may damage the transmission because once the engine stops, the transmission oil pump ceases to operate, leading to insufficient lubrication that accelerates wear on components such as planetary gears or clutch plates. Frequent restarts also place a heavy burden on the starting system—the starter motor may experience repeated high loads, shortening its lifespan and increasing maintenance costs. Additionally, during a cold start, friction between the pistons and cylinders intensifies, and although fuel consumption decreases slightly, more pollutants are emitted, which is harmful to the environment. Over time, the vehicle's overall performance may decline, manifesting as jerky acceleration or difficulty starting. It is advisable to minimize coasting in neutral and prioritize safe driving.
