Question re Automatic Transmission Driving Technique

**ale828** · March 23rd, 2006 10:05 PM

does shifting the A/T in N in traffic save me fuel or will it just be the same if i leave it at D?

**bender** · March 24th, 2006 12:08 AM

When downshifting to 2 or shifting up to D, do you need to step on the brakes first?

**Jun aka Pekto** · March 24th, 2006 02:25 AM

Originally Posted by ghosthunter

I disagree... you can always shift to 2nd or 1st gear for controlled decents on long downhills. That's what we have been doing going down from Baguio for the last few years. Vehicles we use range from Mazda3, Honda CRV, Hyundai Starex, Ford Expedition, Chevy Venture, etc.

That's true. I forgot about those because most mountain roads I travel on are really alpine expressways (4-6 lanes) where speeds are too fast for 1 and 2 to be used effectively. 1 and 2 would work great for San Francisco, although a Shiftronic would work even better.

**oldblue** · March 24th, 2006 02:59 AM

i always shift to N pag full-stop regardless kung matagal or sandaling lang mag-stop.

my problem is slow moving bumper to bumper traffic, lagi ako naka-D, break, accelerator, break, accelerator, break accelerator parati. malamang nga mapipikon na yun nasa likod ko kasi parati ilaw red lights ko.

and now I hear this high frequency sound whenever i press the brakes, mukang bibigay na brake pads ko. kailangan ko na ba palitan? my dad gave me this car mga 17,800+ km pa lang, addl. 2,000 km or 3 months later, ganito na tunog ng brakes. delikado na ba 'to?

**lakay** · March 24th, 2006 03:18 AM

Originally Posted by falken

Put it in neutral whenever you stop.

Why?

**matty** · March 24th, 2006 10:50 AM

is it safe to shift to P while in R? i heard something kanina na kakaiba, nakatapak naman ako sa brakes

**wrcastro_ph** · March 24th, 2006 11:12 AM

Sa tingin ko Ok lang yan.. as long as the car is not moving.... you can shift from R to P. Pero parang mahirap yata ang Shift to P while in R? siguro nga po ay from R to P.

**matty** · March 24th, 2006 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by wrcastro_ph

Sa tingin ko Ok lang yan.. as long as the car is not moving.... you can shift from R to P. Pero parang mahirap yata ang Shift to P while in R? siguro nga po ay from R to P.

mahirap mag shift to P while in R? di ba preho lang yun with shifting from R to P? medyo naguluhan ako dun.

**an0nim0us** · March 24th, 2006 12:13 PM

Most modern (electronic-controlled) ATs are smart enough to detect the variations in driving condition. Some even have the ability to adjust to your driving style. You want power, just step on it and the ECU will select the optimal gearing per engine speed and terrain conditions. If you are into a leasure drive, just step lightly on the gas and the ECU will know when to shift and then save on gas in return. What I'm saying is that the technology used in these ATs are good-enough for us drivers to forget about the nitty-gritty part of shifting (as oposed to manual driving) - let the technology work for you and keep that lever in 'D' all the time except when parked or in a stop for a long time.

As for the gas consumption, I really think keeping the tranny in D even when in stop will consume more gas, but as to how much more? I think it's quite negligible. A more acceptable justification not to keep it in D is that it's quire tiring to step on the brakes for a long time, and for me, that's convincing enough. The reason I got an AT is primarily for my driving comfort, so I try to make the most out of it haha.

**niky** · March 24th, 2006 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by lakay

Why?

Saves brakes, ATF, gas, oh... the list goes on. :lol:

Originally Posted by oldblue

i always shift to N pag full-stop regardless kung matagal or sandaling lang mag-stop.

my problem is slow moving bumper to bumper traffic, lagi ako naka-D, break, accelerator, break, accelerator, break accelerator parati. malamang nga mapipikon na yun nasa likod ko kasi parati ilaw red lights ko.

and now I hear this high frequency sound whenever i press the brakes, mukang bibigay na brake pads ko. kailangan ko na ba palitan? my dad gave me this car mga 17,800+ km pa lang, addl. 2,000 km or 3 months later, ganito na tunog ng brakes. delikado na ba 'to?

That's the problem with ATs and traffic. You wouldn't believe the punishment the brakes go through fighting the transmission in stop-go-stop-go traffic. In the 70k kms we had our last automatic, I had to change pads five times or so (and discs once) because of traffic and long drives.

The high frequency sounds (screeching) mean its time to change pads. Check your discs for damage, also, but in my experience, it's around 40k kms or more when you'll need to replace discs on an AT.

But if you wear down pads really quickly (less than 5k kms after your last pad change) it's possible the discs are already warped.

I'm at 35k kms on the new car already, mostly hard and fast driving... and I'm still on my first set of pads... again... I love manuals.