P vs N + handbrake in auto

DaveMacD

Remember my mum forgot to put the car into park (a few years ago, she went shopping herself, miles away from home). She called my dad when the car wouldn't start, and he had to drive out to help her. Took a long time for us to stop winding her up about that one

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iolanthe07 wrote: »

I always go into N at traffic lights (P on a steep hill) and put the handbrake on. This stops the brake lights dazzling the driver behind. It also saves wear on the transmission.

Er no, actually you're increasing the wear on the transmission. Keep it in D.

Kilty_2

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Er no, actually you're increasing the wear on the transmission. Keep it in D.

How does using N + handbrake increase wear on the transmission?

Surely it's the same as doing so in a manual car?!

I've never driven an auto

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It increases wear through the action of changing from D to N, and then back. Changing gear in an automatic is in no way similar to doing the same in a manual box.

vikingaero

Repairing a gear selector is cheaper than replacing or repairing a whole gearbox.

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Holding a vehicle at a standstill in D is absolutely no different to accelerating the vehicle in D, and produces no more or no less wear.

iolanthe07

Holding a vehicle at a standstill in D is absolutely no different to accelerating the vehicle in D, and produces no more or no less wear.

So would you use the handbrake to hold the car against D then? Otherwise you're in danger of dazzling the driver behind. Also my handbook advises going into N when stopped at lights, so I think I will stick with the manufacturer's advice.

vikingaero

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Holding a vehicle at a standstill in D is absolutely no different to accelerating the vehicle in D, and produces no more or no less wear.

Except the transmission is still providing drive which will accelerate the wear on the valve body. As the owner of 3 automatics I'll follow the advice in the handbooks rather than a troll on MSE.

DirectDebacle

Driving technique for auto box:

P - When vehicle left unattended. Apply handbrake select P
R - Obvious
N - Select when starting vehicle. Avoids possibility of vehicle 'jumping' backwards when passing through reverse gate. May lessen the load when engine turning over.
D - Select for normal driving conditions. In stop/start traffic keep in D and apply handbrake when stationary. When 3rd vehicle in front of you starts to move apply footbrake and release handbrake. You are ready to go.

Never had a problem with an auto using this technique and a couple of them had done over 200k miles.

Maybe the mnfr handbook is recommending selecting 'N' as a driving technique rather than a wear and tear reduction requirement.

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vikingaero wrote: »

Except the transmission is still providing drive which will accelerate the wear on the valve body. As the owner of 3 automatics I'll follow the advice in the handbooks rather than a troll on MSE.

Ah right, so I'm a troll? I've owned automatics for years and have worked on mine on a few occasions. I wouldn't mind betting your "handbooks" also state that gearbox oil is a lifetime fill. Mine does, and its !!!!!!!!.

The transmission isn't providing drive, because only the TC is turning. The driven wheels aren't turning.

Tell me, what's the difference between standing still in D, and accelerating in D? Because the same forces are in play. And how is it that at 236,000 miles my gearbox still works perfectly, after sitting in D for many many hours?