Hi,

Is it good or bad to release transmission to N while waiting on the road, for example red light?
Or driving on long downhill I take it to N.
Is it harmfull?

 

It wont have an effect one way or another. But why bother?

 

Stop pretending you bought a manual.

 

There is no advantage to go to N. If anything that downhill scenario will actually net better fuel economy if left in D. The difference is minuscule, but why bother. In an emergency situation sitting at a red light, you look up and see headlight bearing down on you, you can just release the brake and stab the gas and try to avoid being rear-ended, but now you would have to put you foot on the brake, shift from N to D and them release the brake to finally smash the gas. I know it doesn't sound much different, but there is no real reason that I am aware of that this would be a good idea.

 

Ok
Thank you

 

A friend of mine has a father that does what you are doing - he feels he will wear the transmission out leaving it in gear at a stop light. He's an old timer that was told that when he was learning how to drive back in the 1940's - so maybe back then it was supposed t be a good idea.

 

Any proficient motorcyclist will leave the bike in first gear and watch the rear view mirror when stopped at a light. I do the same thing when driving a car, too. I takes only one texting motorist...

 

I learned this riding bikes. In gear, eye on the clowns behind you, escape route in mind. I do it in the car now.

 

Oh man. The video footage I could show you from cases I've worked on . . .

 

I've had two near-misses. One when I was about 20 at a stop light just after midnight, the other when I was 60 stopped in a line of mid-day traffic with a dump truck directly in front of me. In both cases, being pointed toward an escape route, watching the mirrors and being in gear saved the day. I guess 40-years between incidents isn't so bad...