What is the purpose of neutral gear?

[MaliaFitz]

Neutral gear can be used for towing, waiting at red lights, coasting in neutral, and more. Both automatic and manual transmission cars have a neutral gear. Below is a detailed introduction about manual transmission cars: Overview: A manual transmission car is a vehicle that uses a manual shift mechanical transmission (also known as manual transmission, MT) to adjust the speed. In other words, the driver must manually move the gear lever to change the gear engagement position inside the transmission, altering the gear ratio to achieve speed adjustment. Principle: The power input shaft is connected to the clutch, and the power transmitted from the clutch is directly passed to the gear set through the input shaft. The gear set consists of gears of different diameters, and different gear ratios result in entirely different power transmission effects. The gear shifting during normal driving refers to changing the gear ratio.

[John]

I've always been interested in car mechanics. The main function of neutral gear is to completely disconnect the engine from the wheels. In manual transmission vehicles, when in neutral, the car won't move forward or backward, allowing the engine to run independently. For example, when starting the engine while parked, you must shift to neutral first to prevent sudden movement; at red lights, briefly shifting to neutral with the foot brake reduces clutch wear and fuel consumption. However, prolonged coasting in neutral can increase risks as the engine loses braking control over the wheels. This design simplifies driving operations, giving us more flexible vehicle control in specific scenarios.

[Theresa]

I've been driving for over a decade, and neutral gear has been quite useful in my daily driving. I most frequently use it when parking, such as shifting to neutral and pulling the handbrake at traffic lights to relax my legs; or switching to neutral when washing the car, allowing the vehicle to move slowly. It helps protect the transmission by avoiding prolonged clutch engagement while stationary, which can cause fatigue or damage. Although shifting to neutral in automatic cars may not save fuel, it's a labor-saving option in manual transmissions. Just remember not to rely solely on neutral gear when parking on slopes—always use the brake to ensure safety.