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View Full Version : Tiptronic:Do you use "N" ?



KiwiTT
21-03-2004, 11:05 PM
I have been reading a couple of posts lately and some people have said using the "N"position is bad for you car and others have said it is not.

What is the answer ?

In the meantime I will get the transmission serviced every 10,000km or less.

Brind
21-03-2004, 11:13 PM
I don't personally.
If you get stuck in traffic in the uk you may as well just turn off your engine. :(
Other than that, it creeps so slow that you may as well just hold the brake in 'D'.

vr4ever
22-03-2004, 08:24 AM
I have been reading a couple of posts lately and some people have said using the "N"position is bad for you car and others have said it is not.

What is the answer ?

In the meantime I will get the transmission serviced every 10,000km or less.

Always leave in D to prolong the lifespan of your torque converter !
If u go D to N and N to D..you will disintegrate your gearbox in no time and life span will be shortened by at least 50% !!! :sad3:

vr4ever
22-03-2004, 08:27 AM
I don't personally.
If you get stuck in traffic in the uk you may as well just turn off your engine. :(
Other than that, it creeps so slow that you may as well just hold the brake in 'D'.
If you think traffic jams in the UK is bad...wait till u see those in Bangkok Thailand !!!
I think walking is much faster in reaching your destination anytime of the day !
But guess what..those with auto box there also leave their auto trans in D if they have to wait for a long time..guess they know how to prolong the life of their precious autoboxes !!! :-D

zedy1
22-03-2004, 09:48 AM
if you leac=ve the box in d while stationary aent you putting stress on the torque converter

vr4ever
22-03-2004, 09:55 AM
if you leac=ve the box in d while stationary aent you putting stress on the torque converter


It is proven that if u move from D to N and N to D..it puts more stress than leaving it in D..that's quoted by many gearbox specialists out there !

KiwiTT
22-03-2004, 10:09 PM
See my confusion.

Mo, your opinion is respected here and I am inclined to lean your way. I generally leave it in D, while driving a in small hops and Nwhen stopped for a long time.

Roadrunner
23-03-2004, 12:43 AM
If u go D to N and N to D..you will disintegrate your gearbox in no time and life span will be shortened by at least 50%

Nah, not as serious as that. Leaving the stick in "D" is reckoned to be less stressful on the torque converter, but it's a pain in the ass the keep your foot on the brake, or keep hauling up the handbrake, or being alert enough not to drive into the car in front :rolleyes: ;)

However, from the RoSPA website here (http://www.rospa.com/drivertraining/factsheets/pdf/automatic.pdf):
"When stationary in traffic, even for many minutes, it is not necessary to move the gear lever into neutral because the torque converter absorbs the engine's propulsion force but does not transmit it all to the gearbox. No wear is taking place. In fact, more wear will take place if you engage neutral then engage a drive gear when it is possible to move off. Most gearboxes will automatically select first gear when the vehicle becomes stationary."

I select "N" if I'm stuck in traffic and, having driven this particular auto box for almost 80,000 miles, it hasn't disintegrated yet!

Brian

Brind
23-03-2004, 12:51 AM
I think it's also a lazyness thing to leave it in 'D' since owning an auto I've become a complete slob :-D
If you leave it in 'D' you simply lift your foot from the brake and then you move off, whereas if you choose 'P' or 'N' you have to look down and make sure you have put it into the correct position and then move on which takes much longer.

If you change out of gear it also makes it easier to do a 'DaveAkers' and select 'R' by accident and squash anything behind you. ;) :-D

vr4ever
23-03-2004, 08:32 AM
Nah, not as serious as that. Leaving the stick in "D" is reckoned to be less stressful on the torque converter, but it's a pain in the ass the keep your foot on the brake, or keep hauling up the handbrake, or being alert enough not to drive into the car in front :rolleyes: ;)

However, from the RoSPA website here (http://www.rospa.com/drivertraining/factsheets/pdf/automatic.pdf):
"When stationary in traffic, even for many minutes, it is not necessary to move the gear lever into neutral because the torque converter absorbs the engine's propulsion force but does not transmit it all to the gearbox. No wear is taking place. In fact, more wear will take place if you engage neutral then engage a drive gear when it is possible to move off. Most gearboxes will automatically select first gear when the vehicle becomes stationary."

I select "N" if I'm stuck in traffic and, having driven this particular auto box for almost 80,000 miles, it hasn't disintegrated yet!

Brian

No I 'm not saying that doing D to N and N to D will spoil your autobox overnight !
What I'm saying is if you continue doing that..it will all adds up to finish up your box sooner that anticipated !
It's been proven..people driving the same cars, same miledge, but having different driving habits with autotrans..one moving D to N and N to D..and the other simply leaving it to D and the later outlasted the former with autobox lifespan !
It's a matter of luck my friend..some owners encounter gearbox wear even at 20000 miles or 40000 miles for those unlucky ones and some only have problems at 100000 miles !
But if we are just cautious enough to leave it at D at most times, change ATF fluids and filters regularly... and if possible..fix an ATF cooler...then you'll be keeping gearbox wear at bay and at the same time...extending the life of your autotrans ! :-D

Pescha
23-03-2004, 10:06 AM
I only put my girl into 'D' or 'P/N' when I'm stuck in a fast food drive thru. And seriously in New Zealand compared to overseas traffic is minimal. And in reality how many people actually keep changing their automatic shift stick that frequently, geeez if I did I think I woud prefer a manual. Plus what if you use the manual side of the tiptronic, what then? HELLLLLLLLPPPPP I getting real confused now!!! And isn't technology suppose to minimise all these possibly down falls!?

Cheers,
Pescha!
(P.S Maybe if people did this gear changing in their autos all the time, does that mean they like playing with their sticks?) HEHE couldn't resist, trying to make this thread a little lighter HAHA!!!

vr4ever
23-03-2004, 03:04 PM
I only put my girl into 'D' or 'P/N' when I'm stuck in a fast food drive thru. And seriously in New Zealand compared to overseas traffic is minimal. And in reality how many people actually keep changing their automatic shift stick that frequently, geeez if I did I think I woud prefer a manual. Plus what if you use the manual side of the tiptronic, what then? HELLLLLLLLPPPPP I getting real confused now!!! And isn't technology suppose to minimise all these possibly down falls!?

Cheers,
Pescha!
(P.S Maybe if people did this gear changing in their autos all the time, does that mean they like playing with their sticks?) HEHE couldn't resist, trying to make this thread a little lighter HAHA!!!

You'll be surprised that there are drivers who play with their gearsticks from D to N and N to D for the sick of "fun" while waitng at traffic lights !
Well..it sure is fun...but when your torque converter goes kaput...then we'll see whether is it anymore fun !!! :-D
End of the day...leave your autotrans to D and you'll be fine all the way...