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Should I leave a ma...
 
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Should I leave a manual tranny in neutral or first gear at a traffic light?

  

1
Topic starter

Hey I looked but couldn’t find a post for it so I’ll just ask. Wondering what you guys do in a standard/manual car when you come to a stoplight for some time. Do you put it in first or neutral? Seems like everyone different but wondering what wears less 


I was taught to put it in gear the reason is if you get rear ended you won't end up on the other side of the intersection. Mostly a safety thing for me.


@oscar86 please copy + paste your response as ‘Your Answer’ below, thanks.


5 Answers
5

Well, if you leave it in gear with the clutch in, you'll eventually wear out what's called a throw out bearing - and your left leg (or clutch hand). It's not like an automatic with pumps and pressurized fluid and such where changing neutral/drive/neutral could cause extra wear.

 

 


Sooooo neutral?


It's a good habit.


4

I put it in neutral, though I picked up that habit from driving VW bugs that had lousy carbon throwout bearings that would wear down quickly.


4

Put it in neutral, let off the clutch and save your throwout bearing.  When it wears out, you'll have to remove the transmission to replace it.


2

Put it in neutral and apply the parking brake (so you don’t roll away).


I think for modern cars with electronic parking brake, pressing braking pedal is better option. if you are not on an inclined road.


@g-t But if for whatever reason, you let go off the brake pedal, and you’re in neutral, AND you’re on a slope..


2

I’m a spoiled auto driver and my leg gets sore in manuals so I use neutral 


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