Do I need to turn on the neutral on the machine. Do I need to include neutral in the automatic transmission at traffic lights

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

A car is no longer a luxury, but a convenient and comfortable means of transportation. At the same time, the automatic transmission control option is available not only in premium segment cars, but also in the simplest small cars, such as Daewoo Matiz, Kia Picanto, etc. Moreover, even Russian manufacturers have begun mass production of cars with robotic and automatic transmissions. The absence of a third pedal in the steering column has greatly simplified the management of vehicles, especially for people who are far from understanding how and by what means the car is driven and controlled.

How does the machine work?

And indeed, driving has become much easier. I pressed one pedal - the car went, the other - the car stopped. In the simplest version, the control of the automatic transmission is reduced to a minimum. The Drive position (Latin letter D on the selector) turns on the vehicle's forward movement mode, the Reverse position (Latin letter R) - back, the Parking position (Latin letterP) blocks the transmission of torque from the gearbox to the differential and puts the mechanism into parking mode (parking). However, even on such boxes there is a neutral gear engagement mode Neutral (Latin letter N), in connection with which many people have a question: is it necessary to turn on the neutral on the machine and why is it needed at all?

Manual transmission

To answer this question, it would be nice to figure out what the automatic gear shift option is and on what types of gearboxes it exists. In the classic version of driving a car, the driver himself decides whether to upshift or downshift. In this, he is helped by the clutch pedal, which disconnects the drive and driven shaft of the box at the time of switching to another gear, and the gearshift lever, which he translates into the position corresponding to the selected gear. Neutral gear allows you to keep the shafts disengaged without constantly depressing the clutch pedal. "But that's mechanics, but is it necessary to turn on the neutral on the machine?" you ask again.

Automatic neutral

In a classic automatic transmission (automatic transmission) shifting between gears occurs automatically, without the direct participation of the driver. This is facilitated by a special torque converter, the operation of which in a modern box depends on many factors, including how often you move the selector to the neutral control position.transmission. Almost all modern automatic transmissions (AKP) are adaptable, that is, adapting to a certain driving style of the driver. Many people ask themselves: they say, why do we need a neutral on the machine, if there are already three positions for control (D, R, P)? The answer is pretty simple. Park mode blocks the car's wheels, making it impossible to move in this mode, while neutral simply cuts off the connection between the gearbox and the wheels. In this case, the car can be rolled, towed or coasted downhill to save fuel.

Robotic gearbox

Currently, there are several varieties of automatic transmission. The interface of a robotic box is not much different from a classic torque converter. The difference is hidden inside. Gears in such a transmission are switched by a special robot for the driver when a combination of certain factors is reached while the car is moving. Do I need to include neutral on this type of machine? If it's necessary, then yes. The procedure is the same as in a conventional automatic transmission. The difference between park and neutral on automatic transmissions of any type is unchanged. In the parking lot, the car's wheels will always be blocked to prevent spontaneous rollback.

Why do you need a neutral on the machine?

Unfortunately, the car does not always move by itself. Minor breakdowns, accidents and accidents sometimes force drivers to use the services of a tow truck. You can evacuate a car in various ways.ways: by direct towing (on a flexible or rigid hitch), as well as by the method of full or partial loading. However, regardless of the method chosen, on a towed machine with an automatic transmission, it is necessary to break the direct connection between the wheels and the gearbox before towing. Otherwise, there is a real chance to damage the transmission, and the final bill for repairing your beloved swallow can increase by an order of magnitude. The answer to the question of whether it is necessary to turn on the neutral on the automatic car when towing it is clearly stated in the operating instructions for each vehicle. Important! Be sure to move the box selector to the neutral position. Otherwise, the manufacturer cancels its warranty obligations in the event of a breakdown.

About the cost of fuel

The cost of fuel sold at gas stations, unfortunately, is only growing every year. A few years ago, the government tried to link the annual increase in its value with the abolition of the transport tax. Say, let only those who use the car for its intended purpose pay for the wear of the roadway. Moreover, the more often the car would be used, the more its driver would pay, buying more gasoline, necessary for the car to start moving. The idea, in principle, is wonderful, but the implementation let us down. We wanted the best - it turned out as always. As a result, we have what we have, namely the increased cost of fuel and the same transport tax in addition. Therefore, fuel economy- an important point in the modern operation of any vehicle.

For fuel economy

And how is fuel economy related to neutral and what will happen if you turn on the neutral on the automatic transmission while driving? Suffice it to recall a good old-fashioned way about free coasting from a hill or from any gentle descent. On Soviet cars with a manual transmission, for this they simply turned off the gear, moving into neutral. On modern cars with automatic transmission, you can act accordingly, that is, move the box selector to the neutral position (but not to the "Parking" position, remember this). If you leave the "Drive" mode when driving on a slope, then the undisengaged gearbox continues to rotate the engine output shaft, maintaining medium (and sometimes quite high) revolutions of its rotation. This, accordingly, leads to excessive fuel consumption.

You can, but be very careful

Accordingly, when the direct connection between the box and the wheels is opened, that is, when switching to neutral, the engine speed drops to the minimum set (idle speed). At the same time, fuel consumption is also reduced, which leads to savings. Therefore, the question of whether it is necessary to switch the automatic transmission to the neutral position when driving downhill can be safely answered in the affirmative. The only thing to keep in mind is safety. When changing from neutral back to drive, you should carefullyswitch the box selector in order to avoid erroneous switching to the "Reverse" or "Parking" mode. At a minimum, this will lead to a serious breakdown of the transmission, and in the worst case, to a serious accident.

At traffic lights

Is it possible to include a neutral gear at a traffic light? Of course you can, but why? In this case, as in "Drive", the driver will have to keep his foot on the brake pedal to prevent the car from rolling forward or backward. It is much more convenient to move the gear selector to the "Park" position and relax the leg, allowing it to rest. Moreover, modern foreign cars offer the option of an electronic handbrake. The function is activated by pressing a button and keeps the car in place in the "Drive" mode until the moment when the driver presses the gas pedal to continue driving. In such cars, theoretically, you can not switch driving modes until the end of the route.

Traffic

Do I need to turn on the neutral in the automatic transmission at traffic lights, especially when driving in traffic jams? Theoretically, this can be done, especially if the road goes downhill, you do not plan to change lanes and do not rush anywhere. However, at the same time, you will have to constantly work on the brake pedal, stopping the car, holding it in place and, after starting to move, preventing it from accelerating especially strongly. It should also be borne in mind that in this case the car will pick up speed very slowly (the smaller the slope, theslower), and more nimble drivers will be able to wedged in front of you, forcing you to slow down again. And this style of driving is unlikely to please some of your impatient traffic jam neighbors, especially those who are behind you.

In the parking lot

Many novice drivers are also interested in the question of whether it is possible to put in neutral on the machine when parking the car? The answer to this question can be given both in the affirmative and in the negative. Answering a question with a question, you can say the following words: "Why put the car in neutral in the parking lot, because there is a" Parking "mode, which was created specifically for this?" Experienced people, especially supporters of driving on mechanics, will answer that, they say, in the "Parking" box is under load, but on a slope it generally holds the entire weight of the car on itself. For adherents of this theory, there is a positive answer. Yes, you can park the car with the gearbox in neutral, but don't forget to squeeze the handbrake so that it doesn't roll into a neighbor in the parking lot, into a ditch or onto the roadway, creating an emergency situation with a possible accident.

Leave in neutral?

The question is often asked: "There is a neutral gear in the car, why is it needed?" How to drive a car in neutral? You can definitely answer that with the neutral on, the car will not be able to go far. You can slide down the hill, coast part of the way, but in the end the speed will drop to zero andthe car will stop. These are the laws of physics and cannot be deceived. Neutral is needed only for the possibility of towing and free movement, as a rule, from an inclined plane, as well as to save fuel.