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It really won't hurt the transmission. On a modern trans, it won't let you hurt it by shifting manually to the wrong gear, or from neutral to drive (in fact, many cars won't let you go back to drive from neutral at speed). It's not really necessary, but you can do it. Why would you want to?
It can also be used as a gas saving technique. If conserving momentum is the goal, engine braking is counter to that. Shifting to neutral in order to coast as far as possible won't hurt anything.
when you let off the gas at speed in an automatic, the torque converter breaks 'hydraulic connection'(for lack of a better term) and you will coast just as far as in neutral.
when you let off the gas at speed in an automatic, the torque converter breaks 'hydraulic connection'(for lack of a better term) and you will coast just as far as in neutral.
No you won't, letting off the gas allows for engine braking, if the converter "broke"connection" as you suggest, there would be no engine braking.
For Frank and Dave, it depends on the design of the car. The automatic in my Volkswagen will not provide engine braking unless you're in the "manual" mode of the transmission, if not, it will allow the transmission to freewheel and allow speed to increase w/o any braking effect. It is however somewhat more "limited" than the car being in neutral, so there is SOME rolling resistance, but not effectively engine braking.
I put my truck in neutral on a down grade a few weeks ago. The rpm's remained the same as it was in gear. The cluster says I am not burning any fuel thou when turning 2000 on a 80 mph downhill. I have been driving at 55 these days anyway but I hate riding the brakes on a downhill grade.
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