What Does Neutral Gear Mean in a Car?
2 Answers
Putting a car in neutral gear means that the transmission lever is not engaged in any forward or reverse gear position, completely disconnecting the transmission from the drive wheels. For manual transmissions, the neutral position is in the middle, while for automatic transmissions, it is marked with an "N". When the gear lever is placed in neutral, the drive wheels lose their driving force, and the connection between the engine and the drive wheels is severed. The car then relies on its own inertia to coast forward, which is known as coasting in neutral. Below is relevant information: Hazards of coasting in neutral: Car engines are electronically controlled and automatically cut off fuel when decelerating in gear. However, if the car is coasting in neutral, the engine will not cut off fuel, maintaining higher RPMs and leading to increased fuel consumption. Additionally, coasting in neutral prevents engine braking, causing the car to speed up and reducing braking effectiveness, thereby increasing driving risks. Automatic transmission cars should not coast in neutral: This is because automatic transmissions consist of hydraulic control systems and planetary gear sets. Coasting in neutral can cause the engine speed to exceed the vehicle speed, leading to insufficient oil pressure in the hydraulic lines. This increases friction, reduces lubrication, may cause wheel lock-up, and can damage the transmission.
Having driven a taxi for over 20 years, I'm extremely familiar with neutral gear. Shifting to neutral disconnects the transmission from the engine - when you press the accelerator, the engine revs but the car won't move. The most common use is shifting to neutral and pulling the handbrake at red lights, which relieves your right foot from constantly pressing the brake pedal. However, never coast downhill in neutral - modern cars with electronic fuel injection systems actually save more fuel when coasting in gear. Neutral coasting is not only dangerous but also consumes more fuel. I remember when I first started driving and didn't know better - I coasted downhill in neutral and burned out the brake pads. That's a lesson worth remembering.
