[Shop-talk] Automatic Transmission Question

[Jeff Scarbrough]

"Without brakes, an AT car wants to creep forward, so by holding it
stopped something has to be wearing (clutches, bands?)."

Nothing's wearing, but as stated above, you risk overheating the
transmission fluid in the torque converter if you do it long enough
(which may be hours).

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 3:51 PM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> re: "... Think the shock-loading on the trans and drivetrain parts shifting in and out of gear at stop lights is harder on things than just leaving it in gear ..."
>
> Isn't the transmission going to drop into low(est) gear at a stop, then upshift through all 3/4/5/6/8/9/10 gears when you accelerate anyway? I usually put the AT into park at a stop (and have for years with no issues--but I don't drive an AT all that much).  I see a LOT of cars with at least one brake light burnt out--you used to get a fix-it ticket for that, but not anymore apparently--and always figured it's due to people standing on the brakes through every stop light (and tailgating and riding the brakes a lot, too). At worst, I figure I'm using the shifting rods a bit more, and with a torque converter it's not like dumping a clutch (which is pretty rough on a drivetrain). Without brakes, an AT car wants to creep forward, so by holding it stopped something has to be wearing (clutches, bands?).
>
> Anyway, interesting topic. If there's solid evidence that shifting into park or neutral is truly bad, I will change my habit. I always put my Healeys in neutral at a stop; standing on the clutch prematurely wears the graphite release 'bearing,' and if my foot were to slip with cross traffic or someone in a crosswalk ...
>
> Bob
>
> ps. I presume everybody here knows the proper technique for parking an AT car on a hill, right (brake on, transmission in neutral, parking brake on, transmission in park)?
>
>
> On 6/8/2021 11:18 AM, jem at milleredp.com wrote:
>
> Quick question, I have a buddy that drives his automatic transmission like
> a manual.  He shifts going up and down hill, even shifts into neutral at
> stop lights.
>
>
> I often hold a slushbox in a lower gear going uphill, or coming downhill for engine braking.
>
> As for the people who shift into neutral at stop lights: I often wonder who taught them to drive.  Think the shock-loading on the trans and drivetrain parts shifting in and out of gear at stop lights is harder on things than just leaving it in gear, assuming you're not doing it for half an hour or otherwise in a situation (using torque-converter slip to hold you in position on a hill) that would overheat the thing.
>
> John.
>
>
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