MT Owners - What GEAR do you leave YOUR car in when you park?
08-03-2007, 10:40 AM
#1
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MT Owners - What GEAR do you leave YOUR car in when you park?
Hey Guys...
something just occurred to me, more out of interest than anything. So, my friend Bill who taught me how to drive stick on his 2005 330ci, out of habit, always had me park the car in 2nd gear and use the ebrake when necessary (depending on the level of gradient of the road). Now for the forward gears, I hear that 1st gear is the strongest, so do most of you put your car in 1st or 2nd when you park?
Just figured I'd ask
something just occurred to me, more out of interest than anything. So, my friend Bill who taught me how to drive stick on his 2005 330ci, out of habit, always had me park the car in 2nd gear and use the ebrake when necessary (depending on the level of gradient of the road). Now for the forward gears, I hear that 1st gear is the strongest, so do most of you put your car in 1st or 2nd when you park?
Just figured I'd ask
08-03-2007, 11:05 AM
#4
Cruising in my
1st for me.
Sometimes if I back into a parking stall and I have it in reverse... I'll leave it in reverse pull the park brake and shut the car off. Anything wrong with leaving it in reverse?
Sometimes if I back into a parking stall and I have it in reverse... I'll leave it in reverse pull the park brake and shut the car off. Anything wrong with leaving it in reverse?
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08-03-2007, 11:22 AM
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I always put the parking brake on first (I heard or read something about this preventing pressure on the transmission??) and then put the car in reverse if facing downhill or 1st if facing uphill. If I'm on a flat surface I put it in reverse after putting the parking brake on.
08-03-2007, 12:07 PM
#11
it's me, Alan Rickman.
I leave mine in Park
.. hehe
1st gear, but i've heard that putting it into 2nd gear adds a little more 'security' because it's harder for the vehicle to roll in 2nd gear..
.. hehe
1st gear, but i've heard that putting it into 2nd gear adds a little more 'security' because it's harder for the vehicle to roll in 2nd gear..
08-03-2007, 12:09 PM
#12
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08-03-2007, 12:09 PM
#13
Tri State ViP Crew
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If I'm in my driveway (flat surface) I don't put it in gear, just the E-brake. On steep hills, either up or down, I crank the E-brake up as far as it'll go ( I'm a bit paranoid) and put it in gear. Going up, 1st. Going down, reverse. Don't know if thats "right" or not, but I've been doing it with my cars for the past 4 years and no problems yet. 
Aldo
Aldo
08-03-2007, 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by NNJ07KBP
If I'm in my driveway (flat surface) I don't put it in gear, just the E-brake. On steep hills, either up or down, I crank the E-brake up as far as it'll go ( I'm a bit paranoid) and put it in gear. Going up, 1st. Going down, reverse. Don't know if thats "right" or not, but I've been doing it with my cars for the past 4 years and no problems yet.
Aldo
Aldo
08-03-2007, 01:29 PM
#15
The motor has the largest advantage the wheels in the lowest gear. This means if you leave it in second, the car will freely roll away easier than it would if left in 1st. Longer gears give the wheels more advantage over the motor. Coasting in 5th takes you much further than coasting in 4th...
With that said, I almost always leave the car in neutral with the e-brake on when I park. The only time I don't is when I really am worried about it rolling away. Then I put it in either 1st or reverse.
I think the real question should be weather you should put it in 1st or reverse if the cars nose is pointing down-hill? I imagine the motor turns over just as easy in either direction, but the timing belt tensioner is only meant to work with engine turning in one direction. I wouldn't want the timing-belt to skip a tooth because the car caused the motor to spin backwards...
Hmmmm. I never thought about this before...
This only applies to Automatic transmissions. There is no harm in leaving a manual in gear because the motor is free to spin when it's shut off. Also pressure on the gears will only be as strong as the valve springs in the cylinder head. No much at all...
With that said, I almost always leave the car in neutral with the e-brake on when I park. The only time I don't is when I really am worried about it rolling away. Then I put it in either 1st or reverse.
I think the real question should be weather you should put it in 1st or reverse if the cars nose is pointing down-hill? I imagine the motor turns over just as easy in either direction, but the timing belt tensioner is only meant to work with engine turning in one direction. I wouldn't want the timing-belt to skip a tooth because the car caused the motor to spin backwards...
Hmmmm. I never thought about this before...
Originally Posted by MurdochTL
I always put the parking brake on first (I heard or read something about this preventing pressure on the transmission??)
08-03-2007, 01:31 PM
#16
Originally Posted by mishar
Nothing really wrong, but it is better to put it in first going down and reverse going up. That way you are on a safe side if engine rotates a bit. Otherwise, if your timing belt is loose (not very likely on TL) it can jump a tooth at two and then you have a big problem. Not applicable if you are driving an old diesel. It can crank itself and go away.
08-03-2007, 01:44 PM
#17
it's me, Alan Rickman.
Originally Posted by 94eg!
The motor has the largest advantage the wheels in the lowest gear. This means if you leave it in second, the car will freely roll away easier than it would if left in 1st. Longer gears give the wheels more advantage over the motor. Coasting in 5th takes you much further than coasting in 4th...
You're right.. I thought about who said that to me and what was actually said is: "put into 2nd gear and rock it back and forth so we can get it to TDC."
-_-
listen not to me when it comes to parking your car.
08-03-2007, 05:01 PM
#20
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1st or Reverse Facing Downhill
Originally Posted by mishar
Nothing really wrong, but it is better to put it in first going down and reverse going up. That way you are on a safe side if engine rotates a bit. Otherwise, if your timing belt is loose (not very likely on TL) it can jump a tooth at two and then you have a big problem. Not applicable if you are driving an old diesel. It can crank itself and go away.
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Are you saying this is wrong?
08-03-2007, 05:35 PM
#21
Pro
Usually leave it in Reverse...only because I used to have a car that would only let you get the keys out if the car was left in Reverse. But I used to always leave it in 1st. Reverse is a little lower ratio than 1st, so it makes sense to park it there, but really IMO either one will do.
08-03-2007, 06:00 PM
#22
The DVD-A Script Guy
Originally Posted by ChicagoBurbs
Usually leave it in Reverse...only because I used to have a car that would only let you get the keys out if the car was left in Reverse. But I used to always leave it in 1st. Reverse is a little lower ratio than 1st, so it makes sense to park it there, but really IMO either one will do.
08-03-2007, 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by MurdochTL
This is from the Manual...
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Are you saying this is wrong?
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Are you saying this is wrong?
08-09-2007, 06:14 PM
#27
Racer
Originally Posted by MurdochTL
This is from the Manual...
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Are you saying this is wrong?
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If you have a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Are you saying this is wrong?
08-09-2007, 08:40 PM
#29
Burning Brakes
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I've been driving manual since 16, and I never park with my car in gear. I pull the ebrake and leave it in neutral. Maybe if I lived in a hilly area I'd think about it as secondary protection.
08-09-2007, 09:56 PM
#30
Senior Moderator
1st or Reverse. 99% of the time Reverse
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