Driving automatics ?

Pssst

Usually drive manuals...whats the correct and common practice if waiting at lights/a period of time? leave it in drive or snick it into neutral and and would either situation be more detrimental than the other?

ta

movilogo

Put in in Park mode.

Little_John

I usually just sit with my foot on the brake unless it has a hold mode where it will automatically balance the car on the clutch until you hit the go pedal

Inactive

Drive, neutral or park, doesn't really matter which, with handbrake applied.

Hintza

movilogo wrote: »

Put in in Park mode.

The problem with that is it is the furthest setting away from Drive and in my view too much hassle especially for short change lights for longer waits it might be an option.

If flat I tend to nudge the lever forward into Neutral if on a hill I tend to leave it Drive.

I think the experts will say that Park or Neutral is the correct procedure to minimise wear.

The only issue you might have is if the brake lights are constantly on which can/will annoy those behind you.

Geriatric

There is no problem for short periods and it does no wear anything out.
The auto tranmission fluid in the torque converter would overheat if it was left in drive with the brake on for long periods.

Pete268

I drive an automatic and if stopping at lights other than for a very brief period, I put the handbrake on and knock it into neutral.

I don't put it into park, as to return the gearstick to 'drive' it has to 'pass through' the reverse position which briefly lights up the reversing lights on my car and no doubt gets the driver behind me slightly apprehensive!!

Peter

Shoshannah

I drive an automatic. I would recommend leaving it in neutral with handbrake on, as you would a manual car. Putting it into park involves going through all the gears including reverse, which scares the person behind you when they see your reverse lights come on!

I am very lazy and sit in drive with the brakes on. Please note the brakes on autos wear out very quickly. I had a caliper seize up yesterday, stopped as soon as I felt something wrong but too late - lunched the disc, looking at a huge bill.

vikingaero

I don't use Park unless I stop the engine.

Best and quickest method is to push it forward in Neutral whether still on the brakes or using the handbrake. When you're in Neutral drive load is taken off the transmission and also saves fuel. When it's time to go again you can move from N to D very quickly and not hold up traffic behind you.

BevS97_2

vikingaero wrote: »

I don't use Park unless I stop the engine.

Best and quickest method is to push it forward in Neutral whether still on the brakes or using the handbrake. When you're in Neutral drive load is taken off the transmission and also saves fuel. When it's time to go again you can move from N to D very quickly and not hold up traffic behind you.

I've been driving automatics for over 20 years, I've never put the car into neutral at anytime, I put my foot on the brake, nothing more. The only time I touch the gearstick is to put it in Reverse, or into Park when I am done driving.

All this into Neutral and using the handbrake malarky is something drivers of manuals do to keep their hands busy. Automatic drivers just use the brake.

Inactive

BevS97 wrote: »

All this into Neutral and using the handbrake malarky is something drivers of manuals do to keep their hands busy. Automatic drivers just use the brake.

The OP asked for the " correct " way.;)