difference between park and neutral on automatic?

Question

I can't  find a good answer.

Neutral lets your car roll and parking gear locks the wheels... but you already have a parking break button, so why not just leave it in neutral and click the park button? Or... why leave it in parking gear and press the parking button? Seems like they could've either removed parking gear and leave parking button OR leave neutral and parking gear but remove parking button... seems redundant!

is the engine connected to the wheels in parking? Is the engine disconnected in neutral? Why did they make it like this? What if it's winter and I want to rev my engine to warm my car up faster before the start of a drive, should I do it in neutral or parking?

Kalib Bivins · Answer

You couldn't just use google? Watch Engineering Explained? You had to ask Yahoo?

? · Answer

You're obviously not a skilled driver.

PARK and NEUTRAL are the same in that there is no power flow through the transmission in either position, with the engine running.

In NEUTRAL, the vehicle can be pushed around, or it will roll if on an incline.

In PARK, the transmission output shaft is mechanically locked, so the car can not move.

If the engine is not running, then all transmission shifter positions are NEUTRAL, and in PARK the transmission output shaft is locked, so the car can not move.  But in all the other shifter positions, the car can be pushed around and will roll on an incline.

-General automotive mechanic since 1972

? · Answer

The parking/emergency brake works on your wheel brakes - usually the rear brakes.  The parking prawl is within the transmission and locks the driveshaft from turning.  Using both when parking on  a level surface is usually not necessary, but since there is some strain on the differential, u-joints and transmission when using the transmission parking prawl on an incline it's a good idea to use both.  Also, a seldom used parking/emergency brake can rust/freeze from disuse.

Preferred sequence:  stop car but keep foot on brake pedal . . . . shift into park . . . . engage parking/emergency brake while still maintaining pressure on brake pedal . . . . . .after both parking prawl and parking brake are engaged,  release brake pedal and shut-off engine.   Doing things in that order puts the stresses of keeping the car from rolling on the parking brake rather than the parking prawl in the transmission. . . . and, using both will relieve stress on transmission in case someone taps your car while parked.

Skoda John · Answer

Park has a metal panel that locks the transmission.
It is a safety backup device live leaving a manual in gear should the parking brake fail.
Neutral is neutral.

Jeff · Answer

I'm losing my IQ reading this.

Stpaulguy · Answer

That's right, the parking brake is redundant. It used to be called an emergency brake. Technically you should place the vehicle in park AND apply the parking brake as an extra measure of safety.

thebax2006 · Answer

You shouldn't rev your motor when cold regardless of what you have the shift lever position in. Always use Park. if you're on a hill and want to use the emergency/parking brake it's not a problem. I would never put an automatic in neutral and just use the parking brake.

Joe · Answer

The engine is disconnected from the transmission in either Park or Neutral.  Park engages the "parking pawl", which locks the gears against motion.  The engine still spins the fluid clutch, in either Park or Neutral.

Use both Park, and the parking brake when leaving the car, or warming it up.  Don't "rev" the engine to warm it up: revving a cold engine is bad for it.

Pilsner Man · Answer

I only use the parking brake when on hills, otherwise, it stays off. The transmission is not connected to the engine in automatic transmissions, except when the torque converter is locked up.

difference between park and neutral on automatic?

9 Answers