When should you use neutral in an automatic car?

If Your Vehicle is Stuck
In the instance that your vehicle stalls or is stuck, you might need to give your vehicle a push to move it. Before pushing the car, you should always place it in neutral. If you find yourself in this situation, make sure there are at least two people involved.
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When should you put an automatic car into neutral?

N - Neutral: If you're stopping at lights or in traffic for a couple of seconds, you should put the car in Neutral. Just be sure to use the brake/handbrake too to avoid rolling. D - Drive: Used to go forwards, the car will automatically switch to second, then third and so on providing you're moving fast enough.
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Should I shift to neutral with an automatic transmission?

Never put your vehicle in neutral at traffic lights

Shifting to neutral at the traffic light to save fuel is pure folly. In any case, stop lights only last a few minutes thus any savings on fuel would be quite negligible.
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When should you switch to neutral?

The neutral gear should primarily be used during emergencies and mechanical failure. If you find your vehicle stuck or pedals not working, neutral would be a safe decision.
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Can you leave an automatic car in neutral?

Putting an Automatic Car into Neutral While Driving

It's not a good idea to put your automatic car into neutral while driving. This is called coasting and it means you'll lose the benefit of engine braking.
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7 Things You Shouldn't Do In an Automatic Transmission Car



Can you switch to neutral while driving automatic?

You can switch to neutral while driving in both an automatic and a manual car. In an automatic, simply move your gearshift to the neutral position. In a manual, you only need to push the clutch and put the stick to the neutral position.
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Is it better to keep car in neutral or park?

Very bad idea for safety reasons. The best and safest method is to place the transmission in park and set the parking brake. When shifting into drive the transmission will not engage the clutches passing over reverse. Even manual transmission cars need to be left in gear with the parking brake applied when parked.
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Should I put car in park or neutral?

If you happen to be stopped for an extended period of time, you may want to consider leaving your car in neutral and engaging the parking brake, or just leave it in drive. It's up to you. However, leaving your car in park should mostly be reserved for parking, but it's not totally wrong to do so.
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Is it better to idle in park or neutral?

Keeping an automatic transmission in Drive puts an extra load on it, which drains fuel. In neutral, it's resting -- or at least as close to rest as an automatic ever gets. This shift is even more important when the air conditioner is running, so the engine doesn't have to strain so hard while idling.
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Does putting an automatic in neutral save gas?

The amount of fuel used is minimal, to keep the engine at idle rpm, but it does result in significantly lower fuel-economy figures while in neutral. However, there is a time when putting a car in neutral and coasting will return greater fuel efficiency—although it requires the driver to plan ahead.
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How do automatic cars save fuel?

10 tricks to save you fuel when driving an automatic car [UPDATED...
  1. Keep your momentum. ...
  2. Don't keep your foot on the brake. ...
  3. Tyres properly inflated. ...
  4. Don't drive angry. ...
  5. Stay cool while cruising on the highway. ...
  6. Transmission. ...
  7. Make fewer trips. ...
  8. It's all about maintenance.
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Is it OK to idle car with AC on?

It's not a great practice. But setting my environmental preferences aside, you can let any car idle with the AC on for a long time without doing any harm. As long as the cooling system is working properly, you should be able to sit in any modern car you buy and let it idle indefinitely.
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What happens if you switch from drive to neutral?

If the throttle is truly stuck, shifting into neutral will prevent the car from accelerating. If you're like most sufferers of unintended acceleration—you're just aiming for the brake and missing—then the same is true. You won't be able to accelerate no matter how hard you hit the gas if the car is in neutral.
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Is it bad to put your car in neutral while driving downhill?

A: That depends. The engine isn't braking the car going downhill if the transmission is in Neutral, so economy would seem to be high. But if you think the engine is still using fuel while coasting downhill in gear, you're laboring under a misconception.
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Is switching from drive to neutral bad?

It's never a good idea to shift your vehicle into gear, whether from “Neutral” or “Park”, when the engine is idling fast. Shifting into “Drive” or “Reverse” can cause a sudden, jarring movement on the transmission which increases the stress on the transmission bands and clutch plates.
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How do you drive uphill without rolling back automatic?

Preventing Rolling with an Automatic Transmission. Keep your foot on brake. If you are waiting for a traffic light to change, continue keeping your foot on the brake to prevent your car from rolling. Holding the brake pedal down will ensure that you're at a complete stop and prevent you from rolling backwards.
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What does the plus and minus mean on an automatic car?

“The plus/minus is your up shift and your downshift,” said T.J. Male, operations manager for Stanley Driving School. Many drivers own the technology that transforms their transmission from an automatic to a standard but don't know it.
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Does sitting in the car with the AC on waste gas?

When you're taking full advantage of your vehicle's air conditioner on a hot day in San Francisco traffic, you may wonder, does car AC use gas? Yes: The alternator, which is powered by the engine, is what provides energy to the air conditioner. The engine runs on fuel, meaning you are using up gas when you run the AC.
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What happens if you leave your car running overnight?

Leaving your car running overnight (probably) won't hurt it

It's a myth that idling is better for your car and, since 1990, it's also a car maintenance myth that stopping and starting your car will do harm. Stop, start, or idle your car as much as you see fit and it won't wear down significantly.
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Is it OK to let car idle for 10 minutes?

Myth: Idling Your Engine For Just A Few Minutes Won't Harm The Environment. Fact: Whether you're warming up your car's engine in your driveway or are at standstill stuck in rush-hour traffic, idling your engine for just 10 minutes releases one pound of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
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What speed is most fuel-efficient?

The Energy Saving Trust says that the most efficient speed you can travel in a car in terms of achieving the best fuel economy is 55-65mph. Any faster, though, and the fuel efficiency decreases rapidly. For example, driving at 85mph uses 40% more fuel than at 70mph (oh, and it's illegal too).
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Which gear is most fuel-efficient?

All cars are designed to start at the lowest gear, as that's where you get the most power for acceleration, but driving at the highest gear will increase fuel economy. Fuel consumption will increase when you stay long at lower gears. Driving slow at the highest gear will also increase fuel consumption.
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What RPM is most fuel-efficient?

Between 1,300 and 1,500 RPM is the most fuel-efficient engine speed, or what some would call the “sweet spot.” When you're driving on the highway, aerodynamics become a key factor in the work required to move the truck. You have two options to lower the workload: improve the truck's aerodynamics, or slow down.
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