What are the effects of accidentally shifting to neutral while driving an automatic transmission car?
1 Answers
If an automatic transmission car is accidentally shifted to neutral while driving, you can directly shift back to D (Drive) without damaging the transmission. Hazards of intentionally shifting to neutral: 1. Many people believe that coasting in neutral saves fuel, which is a misconception. The idea that neutral coasting saves fuel is outdated. Modern cars mostly use fuel-injected engines, and prolonged idling consumes significantly more fuel than instantaneous fuel consumption. 2. Damage to the transmission: Automatic transmissions require lubrication during operation. When shifted to neutral, the oil pump stops supplying oil, leading to inadequate lubrication. This can cause the transmission to overheat or even result in complete failure. 3. Unsafe coasting in neutral: When a car is shifted to neutral, the forward momentum comes from inertia rather than the engine's power. In emergency situations, braking relies entirely on the braking system, which may lead to accidents.