To Put into Neturel or Not?

[ACerf]

I have been putting the 48RE into neturel when I have to wait at a stop light. I was reading an article in Highways Magazine where they tell you not to do this. They claim that this puts to much wear on the clutches when going from neturel to dirve. It does not bother it from drive to neturel, that makes sense! I have been doing this to keep the heat down in the transmission, and I got into the habit when I am towing my fiver.

Do you guys think this is a good habit or a bad one??

 

[DHayden]

I'm no auto expert but have had a few friends that have said it's bad putting it in neutral, especially coasting down hills. They say the pressures don't stay high enough in neutral and puts undo wear on things. I'm sure a few experts will chime in soon enough.

 

[NSperduto]

Hmmm, this is the first I've heard of anyone putting an automatic into neutral at a stop light.



and the scientific reasoning for that is ?

 

[TCrawley]

Not a good idea unless your reaction time is superhuman. You never no when you need to stand on it.

 

[banshee]

I used to do it all the time on my 01 with the built automatic in heavy traffic. It helped keep the transmission temps down when sitting at lights for a long time. If I knew I would be sitting there for a while I would usually always kick it into neutral instead of letting the motor hammer away at the tighter TC. With a stock TC you may see some difference, but the tighter the converter the more difference it makes. The transmission came apart after over 40k miles to replace the input shaft, and the clutches look fine.



John

 

[ACerf]

Originally posted by NSperduto

Hmmm, this is the first I've heard of anyone putting an automatic into neutral at a stop light.



and the scientific reasoning for that is ?

Since I got my X-monitor I had noticed a considerable drop in Trans Temp and EGT's when I put the transmission in neturel at the Light.

But maybe it isn't enough to concern myself.

 

[klenger]

Are the temps any higher when stopped and in gear compared to driving it? If not, why bother.

 

[R.M.THOMPSON]

Way higher,neutral temps 200 plus (usually shift to "N" at 200") so can't tell how far far it would go ! Although, temps stay in 160 range out of drive,even on a hot day. I thought the pump keeps the fluid in circulation in everything but park.

 

[akshadow]

I have been doing this when in hot weather, city driving, it seems to also reduce boost to 0 which I have been assuming also means less fuel consumption? The temps are lower when at idle in gear than driving but sure do go down when put into neutral.

ron

Originally posted by klenger

Are the temps any higher when stopped and in gear compared to driving it? If not, why bother.

 

[ACerf]

The EGT's drop the most when in netural, 200-300 degrees. The Trans temp drops about 20-30 degrees on an average. The turbo boost does go to 0. I have also gotten into the habit of waiting to shut down the engine when the EGT's drop down to 300- degrees, I do this practice in "Park" of course. I know that the X-monitor has a feature that I could get where it will not let you shut it down until 300 degrees is achived. But I didn't feel I needed it.