When to Use Neutral Gear?
2 Answers
Neutral gear is used when the vehicle is temporarily stopped, but the brake must be applied on slopes. It is also used during traffic jams when the vehicle is idling or when manually pushing the car due to a malfunction. Some drivers shift to neutral to save fuel while driving at high speeds or going downhill, but this can easily damage the transmission. This is because the transmission output shaft rotates at high speed while the engine idles, leading to insufficient oil supply from the pump, poor lubrication, and potential transmission failure. In case of sudden failures in the fuel system or accelerator pedal, promptly shift to neutral and use the brake pedal and handbrake to slow down and stop the vehicle, preventing loss of control due to unintended acceleration.
Hey, I see this question asked by many people! Having driven for over a decade, I mainly use the N gear when waiting while parked, such as at red lights for more than 30 seconds or before entering an automatic car wash line. Remember to always engage the handbrake properly when using it, otherwise the car may roll on slopes; you must also switch to N gear when towing to prevent damage to the transmission. Never shift to N gear while driving to coast and save fuel—it increases braking distance, which is dangerous, and can harm the engine. I've encountered situations where novices coasted in N gear on the highway and lost control—it was terrifying! For daily maintenance, regularly check the transmission fluid to ensure smooth gear shifts. In short, use N gear only when the car is stationary but the engine is running, and developing good habits makes driving safer.
