Any benefit to shifting into neutral when sitting at a long light or other peiords of extended idle time? Seems like it would wear less on the trans, and possibly slightly less gas consumption?

 

it doesnt help anything

 

Yeah, I wouldn't see how it would really help unless maybe you're letting it run for 10 hours in which case you could just shut it off and save all wear and tear and gas consumption on it.

 

The benefit is not having to hold the brake down.

 

Unless of course you are on a hill/

 

I am not sure on the Z, but the Lexus manual for 300GS, I used to have one, says that if you stop for more than minuet, you will need to put the car in neutral. Not doing so will heat up wires and cables.

Regds

 

Don't automatics use a torque converter? So there is virtually no wear and tear at idle... So unless you have to just scratch your brake foot or something... don't bother.

 

And who makes the Lexus?

I bet a TSB or Recall was issued by Toyota on that little gem - wires that can potentially burn up?

 

Would you screw up anything if you left the gear in Neutral and shifted to Drive without stepping on the brake?

 

No... just dont start to drive off then throw it in reverse..

 

Example: RR crossing, while waiting put it in park. If your at a standstill due to accident up ahead, neutral is OK with foot on the brake. Etc.

 

Based on everything I know you're correct...throwing the AT into neutral at a light isn't worth the bother.

 

I don't bother putting it into N unless I know I'm going to be stopped for an extended period of time and I couldn't turn the engine off or if I just want to take my foot off the brake.

Neutral comes in handy when you need to move the car and you don't want the tranny connected to the engine. (i.e. pushing the car, being towed, automated car wash, etc.) When the car is in Park, the tranny locks the drivetrain unless you are stepping on the brake. Most ATs have a manual shift lock release just in case stepping on the brake doesn't release the lock.

 

your trans oil temp will run slightly lower in neutral... but this is only from my experience with another vehicle (SUV) at 110F ambient air. TOT increases from 83C to 104C while idling in drive (but the engine idle speed is also increasing at this time). but it spikes to 110C right after shifting from drive to neutral because the engine rpm bumps up right at the shift. so i'm not sure if it's better to leave it in drive and let it level out at a higher temp, or shift to neutral but it hits a spike in temp. it levels off to a lower temp (95C) in neutral.

 

No, Automatics are designed for you to be able to do this...The car will exhibit a little forward momentum when doing so....But no harm to tranny at all. Of course, you'd want to keep the foot on the brake if you were going down a hill or in traffic, for obvious reasons.