Neutral for A4 Question.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
Neutral for A4 Question.
I don't think it's a problem, but I am not as technically inclined as some of you are. Is there any problem with coasting in the neutral gear when coming to a stop? Or what about while at a stop having the car in neutral? Just curious.
-Alex
-Alex
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,050
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
It makes no sense. 
Tell me your thinking on this subject
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
I used to do it a lot in my old Q45, to help improve gas mileage.
I don't think it hurt anything, but I have heard that the fluid pressure is reduced, and the clutches can wear more than usual.
I am not sure about that, but I do know that it really didn't make any difference with the mileage, so I don't do it in my current Q45, or any of my Corvettes.
I don't think it hurt anything, but I have heard that the fluid pressure is reduced, and the clutches can wear more than usual.
I am not sure about that, but I do know that it really didn't make any difference with the mileage, so I don't do it in my current Q45, or any of my Corvettes.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,060
Likes: 24,731
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Don't know that it hurts anything, but I too don't see any use in doing it. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Thousand Oaks CA.
I would think that coasting in neutral and not using the trans to slow down would put more wear on the brakes Seen people use neutral downhill in the mountains to save gas and wind up riding the hell out of the brakes
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: New Bern NC
Why would you want to? I don't see any advantage to doing so.
More wear on the brakes would be a result and unnecessary constant shifting from drive to neutral then neutral to drive couldn't be good for the tranny.
More wear on the brakes would be a result and unnecessary constant shifting from drive to neutral then neutral to drive couldn't be good for the tranny.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake City Utah
I do it on the on-ramp to the freeway when there is a light on at the bottom to enter the freeway.
I have to wait for each car ahead of me to stop then go. So....I put it in neutral and coast down and in the mean time rev my engine for fun to show off!
to the shenanagans around me.
Once I reach the bottom of the on-ramp and make it to the light, then I put it into gear, wait for the green and I am gone!
I have to wait for each car ahead of me to stop then go. So....I put it in neutral and coast down and in the mean time rev my engine for fun to show off!
to the shenanagans around me. Once I reach the bottom of the on-ramp and make it to the light, then I put it into gear, wait for the green and I am gone!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The purists will say that coasting is a bad driving practice because the car is not fully under comtrol when its not in gear.
I'd say the box was designed to idle in drive. Can't see it can harm anything other than the increased wear of all the additional shifting on the shifter mechanism.
I'd say the box was designed to idle in drive. Can't see it can harm anything other than the increased wear of all the additional shifting on the shifter mechanism.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 924
Likes: 0
From: Macedon NY
I've never had any tranny probs doing it. and where I live, even with any vehicle, if you get caught on slippery roads (like in a quick snow shower), putting it into neutral to help with braking might just save your as-! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 297
From: Sarasota Florida
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
If neutral shift done routinely, I imagine over time there would be excess wear on your shifter and linkage, etc., then again, maybe not.
Cheers
Last edited by PierEagle; Jan 9, 2008 at 04:15 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
If you shift into neutral while you are rolling up to a stop, all your stopping power comes from the brakes, ergo increased brake wear. Leaving it in gear, foot off the gas until you stop, and the motor helps to slow you resulting in less brake wear over time. After you are stopped, shifting into neutral shouldn't hurt anything unless a.) you hit the gas when the light turns green while still in neutral and the guy behind you plays bumper tag, or b.) you accidently shift to reverse and hit the gas. (I've seen that happen a few times).
Cheers
Cheers
The OP has never said why he does this. What is the reasoning?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
If you shift into neutral while you are rolling up to a stop, all your stopping power comes from the brakes, ergo, increased brake wear. By leaving it in gear, foot off the gas until you stop, the motor helps to slow/stop you resulting in less brake wear over time. After you are stopped, shifting into neutral shouldn't hurt anything unless a.) you hit the gas when the light turns green while still in neutral and the guy behind you plays bumper tag, or b.) you accidently shift to reverse and hit the gas. (I've seen that happen a few times).
If neutral shift done routinely, I imagine over time there would be excess wear on your shifter and linkage, etc., then again, maybe not.
Cheers
If neutral shift done routinely, I imagine over time there would be excess wear on your shifter and linkage, etc., then again, maybe not.
Cheers
.If your referring to me, I just brought it up because I was riding with a coworker to lunch and he does this in his car. Didn't seem like an issue for him, but as stated earlier, I am not technically inclined like most here which I is why I started the thread. But my eyes are opened now
-Alex
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
If your referring to me, I just brought it up because I was riding with a coworker to lunch and he does this in his car. Didn't seem like an issue for him, but as stated earlier, I am not technically inclined like most here which I is why I started the thread. But my eyes are opened now
-Alex
-Alex
