Auto Driving Technique's

[scotty nm35]

When I had Falcon and Commonwhore hire cars, I could see the trip computer drop by about 0.1 or 0.2 l/hr from drive to neutral.

Has to make some tiny difference as you are no longer sloshing around the fluid in the torque converter... I think this is one of the reasons why CVTs have such good fuel consumption, as they actually have a clutch pack that completely disengages whilst stationary...

In the UK people who have driving lessons in autos are taught to move the transmission into Neutral and apply the handbrake when stationary, as this is what you would do in a manual vehicle. Prevents accidents caused by people who might accidently take their foot off the brake pedal.

Also means you can't quickly get going either. I vote drive.

[PetroDola]

In Western Australia or Queensland you are taught to have it in nuetral with a manual or an auto with the handbrake applied when stationary at a set of lights.

One explanation was that it was safer than in drive or clutched with your foot on the brake in case someone hits you from behind. I guess the theory was if someone smacked you up the bum your foot would naturally come off the brake and you'd roll into the lights.

I personally thought that was a bit stupid, if you get rear ended hard enough doesnt really matter does it? Your gonna go crashing out into the intersection.. regardless of how you are braking.

I personally think its something made for idiots (the handbrake rule) as all i can see it does is prevent idiots from rolling forwards in drive and backwards in neutral.

But in regards to it being in neutral didnt know that about the clutch packs.. I'll be keeping it in drive now after reading this thread and learning more changes equals more wear.

[pixel8r]

well I cant see either way doing any harm or providing any (measurable) benefit.

which is why I say just leave it in drive and worry about more important things. If your auto is going to break, it isn't going to be because you switched to neutral and back a couple of times, nor are the clutch packs going to wear out because you left it in drive while stationary.

On the other hand, any fuel savings from putting the car in neutral would be less than 10c when it came time to refuel...and even that is being generous. Cars dont use that much fuel when idle. Its the stopping and starting that uses the fuel, not the time spent sitting stationary (unless of course you're stationary for 30 mins or something, in which case its bad for the car to be idling for that long anyway, no matter whether its in neutral or drive).

Much ado about nothing really...