Automatic transmission cars are one of the best inventions of the 21st century. The perks? Safety, comfort, and ease of use. Drivers love it, and there are good justifications for that.
Nevertheless, driving an automatic car has its drawbacks. There are some critical aspects that every driver should acknowledge and avoid while driving an auto transmission vehicle.
In today’s post, we’re discussing the six things to avoid while driving an automatic transmission car.
Coasting Downhill While in Neutral Mode
Some auto transmission vehicle drivers have the wrong impression that coasting downhill while in neutral mode reduces the consumption of fuel. It doesn’t. It’s a myth.
Coasting in neutral keeps the engine idle, similar to when your car is on the road but not moving. The gases consumed are basically the same, so you’re not actually saving fuel.
The negative consequences of keeping your gear in neutral while coasting downhill are:
- Reduced control over your car
- Your reaction time might lag
Shifting Gears While Your Car is Still Moving
Whenever you plan on switching from “Drive” to “Reverse” mode or vice versa, ensure that you are at a complete stop.
The reasons are simple: by shifting gears while your car is still moving, you’re wearing out your car’s transmission because you’re using the very same transmission to stop the car (instead of using the brakes). Repairing your car’s transmission is quite expensive.
Never Use Neutral Mode While Waiting for Stoplights
You might believe that putting the gear in neutral while waiting for stoplights is beneficial in terms of saving fuel and giving your car “fewer headaches” and stress.
Here is the truth: if you always put your car in neutral while waiting for traffic or while waiting for stoplights, you can put more wear and tear on your car’s transmission.
Also, if you forget to shift gears again when the light turns green, the revving of your engine will cause even more damage while also wasting fuel.
Launching Your Vehicle
To launch your vehicle means to suddenly accelerate it while it’s still in neutral mode. The next move is the changing of the gears, so the car will immediately start while often producing noise. Many hipsters do it. New drivers sometimes do it due to inexperience. You should never do it.
By launching your car, you’re basically damaging your car’s main components. This practice can also cause clutches or slippage, putting yourself and others in danger. The last disadvantage is that your belt and gears will be negatively affected by the friction you’re creating.
Gearing to Park without Completely Stopping
Don’t gear to park without completely stopping. This is the worse mistake you can do, as you can damage or destroy the “locking pin”, an element that’s essential for your engine because it helps it run. Some cars with automatic transmissions won’t even allow it, which is a good thing.
Hard Driving While the Engine is Cold
During the winter season, the oil thickens, and its movement is slowed down. Just simply give your fuel a few minutes to successfully reach the transmission and the other parts.
Safety First, Car’s Preservation Second
Take these tips into consideration and protect yourself and your car by improving your driving sessions as much as you can. Don’t put yourself and other people in danger, keep your car’s pieces intact, and drive safe!
Becky Holton is an education expert and successful blogger who writes about education technology tips. She likes to read literature and to drive fast cars. She enjoys her work at xpertwriters.com. Find her on Google or Twitter.
“Automatic transmission cars are one of the best inventions of the 21st century. The perks? Safety, comfort, and ease of use. Drivers love it, and there are good justifications for that.”
Umm, I’m pretty sure that vehicles with auto transmissions would be an invention of the 20th century. I’ve owned cars with automatic transmissions from the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.
Other than the first sentence, it was a good article. Great info on what not to do for a novice driver, and a good reminder for more experienced drivers. I know that if I’m in a hurry and going from reverse to drive, it is hard coming to a complete stop before shifting into drive.