bluecherokee

I know it is recommended for some vehicles with automatic transmission not to coast downhill in neutral. With the price of gas going up again, I am tempted to play the coasting game downhills to save on fuel in 2 wd only.

Anybody know if this can be harmful to the transmission?
I own a '97 4.0 w/ auto. Thanks, Henry

djb383

IF, the engine were to die (while in neutral), is there a possibility of being startled/spooked at the loss of power steering? Just a thought.

breakthecycle128

Has yours ever just died? 125,000+ miles between my 2.5 and 4.0 and they never died while drifting in neutral (I did it all the time with the manual). Maybe I'm lucky, and of course anything could happen, so I sort of see your point. But getting to the question I don't believe that drifting in neutral creates any direct harm to the tranny, manual or standard.

phoenix901223

power steering is for women and children

buckbagger

I agree with above statement, I think the reason it is not advised is due to the fact that you will no longer be using the engine compression to slow the vehicle down in result having to use your brakes more and wearing them out faster. I have drove nothing but manuals untill my cherokee and live on a road with a very large hill and would coast down it every day to school and work and never had any problems with it dying. If you have it in 2 wheel drive I don't see any reason it work hurt either the transmission or tcase.

billfrank85

If I remember correctly, fluid isn't pumped through the transmission when you are in neutral...and since the fluid cleans, lubricates, and controls heat in an automatic transmission...neutral = no pumping = no lubrication. I may be wrong though...just remember hearing about something along those lines.

Bustedknuckle

So are lifeboats.

CJ7365

Um really...... how much gas could you possibly save by putting the trans in neutral???

NCMetalMechanic

Trans pump runs in neutral, so lubrication is not a problem, the only issue would be increased brake wear, like BuckBagger said. If you're willing to shift in and out, more power to you.

breakthecycle128

The best time to drift in neutral is when brake wear is not an issue- you can save gas by drifting to red lights and timing it so you don't have to brake- and you can travel a greater distance in N than in gear- just throwing it out there that lower RPM is not the main way to save gas by using N. I'm not claiming that it's a significant amount of gas you're saving either.. but N can be used for more efficient driving. However, I can't stand shifting in/out of neutral in an auto- one of the many reasons i miss my manual.

billfrank85

The only neutral coasting I would ever do would be in a manual transmission vehicle.

Thanks for the clear-up on automatic transmission neutral lubrication.

chefeagles

wouldnt all that shifting in and out and different speeds and rpms wear stuff out in the trans or t-converter?

BlkLarado

No harm coasting in neutral...brakes are for stopping! If you're worried about wearing out brakes slowing down, you're not being logical! That's what brakes are for. No harm being in gear as long as you're moving. Should be in neutral if you're stopped for periods of time...to leave an auto in gear at a stop builds heat in the converter and heat kills autos.

COSXJFAN

Autos provide very little, if any engine braking anyway, so brake the wear point is moot...

jcwclm

manuals usually get a couple mpg better than autos. IF you don't act like a race car driver like a lot of people do since you have the sweet shifter!