What gear should be used when towing an automatic transmission vehicle?
2 Answers
For an automatic transmission vehicle, if all four wheels are off the ground, the gear position of the transmission does not matter during towing. If the front wheels are off the ground and the rear wheels are on the ground, the parking brake should be released, and the transmission should be placed in the N (Neutral) gear. When all four wheels of an automatic transmission vehicle are off the ground, the towing process will secure the vehicle directly, so there is no need to worry about the gear position. If the front wheels are off the ground and the rear wheels are on the ground, the transmission should be placed in N (Neutral) gear. This is because shifting into Neutral interrupts the power flow. If the engine is off and the power is interrupted, the main reducer and differential will not control the two drive shafts, allowing the vehicle to be pushed manually. If the vehicle is in P (Park) or D (Drive) gear, it normally cannot be pushed. P gear is the parking gear, and the transmission has a locking mechanism. D gear is the forward drive gear, where power is continuously output by the engine. If the vehicle is forcibly pushed by the tow truck in this state, the transmission may be damaged.
When towing an automatic transmission vehicle, always use neutral gear, which is the N position. With years of driving experience and numerous towing situations, I can confirm that using other gears can easily damage the transmission. The transmission contains many precision components. If the vehicle is towed in D or P gear, wheel rotation will drive the gears, but the oil pump won't operate, leading to insufficient lubrication, increased friction, and rapid overheating, which can quickly burn out bearings or seals. Long-distance towing poses particularly high risks. Once, when helping a friend tow his car without shifting to neutral, the transmission was completely ruined, costing nearly ten thousand in repairs. Short-distance slow pushing might be fine by chance, but neutral gear is always safer. During operation, press the brake, shift to N, engage the parking brake, turn off the engine, and then start towing. Keep the speed below 20 km/h and avoid bumps. Different vehicles may vary, so checking the owner's manual is more reliable—it's safer and saves money.
