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Torque converts have a designed in "Stall Speed", and do not operate at idle RPM's. YOu have to have enough RPM's to overcome the stall speed before the car can move, therefore you aren't stressing anything at idle. There is no load at idle, or there shouldn't be if all systems are preforming as designed...
Location: The Circle City. Sometimes NE of Bagdad.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by james0509
I was on the several taxis in Asia and I noticed that most drivers shift to Neutral when stopping. Is this just a habit of theirs or does it have an effect on the car? (etc gas consumption)?
Torque converts have a designed in "Stall Speed", and do not operate at idle RPM's. YOu have to have enough RPM's to overcome the stall speed before the car can move, therefore you aren't stressing anything at idle. There is no load at idle, or there shouldn't be if all systems are preforming as designed...
Most factory torque converters have a stall speed around 800 rpm. If you take your foot off the brake at idle on level ground, the car will move forward. The T.C. is partially engaged. However, I don't see any point in doing this. In fact, I would be more concerned about extra wear from shifting in and out of gear constantly.
I was on the several taxis in Asia and I noticed that most drivers shift to Neutral when stopping. Is this just a habit of theirs or does it have an effect on the car? (etc gas consumption)?
It's not likely to save gas, but it is more likely to wear out transmissions. Aisin AW had some very bad experiences with early neutral-shift models which invariably crapped out at great expense to the owner. Almost all of the neutral-shift features were defeated electronically. So, if it's not a good idea to do with computer-controlled electronics, it's probably not a great idea to do manually.
(Neutral-shift feature was an automated version of shifting into neutral at stoplights.)
I also used to see European drivers jump out of their cars when it stopped raining and take off their windshield wipers. I guess rubber was expensive. Not uncommon to see windshields with scratch marks because someone would forget and turn on the wipers without the blades.
i'd love to see that;bet it was a good laugh.
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