putting automatic transmision in neutral and "drifting" to sav

[66 mustang]

am I wrong about this? I was always told it was not healthy for your car to put an automatic transmission into neutral and let the vehicle drift with the engine on or off to save gas.

[Evil Rick]

You're right, it's not good for the car.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Care to elaborate? What's the harm, exactly? Apart from accidentally putting it in reverse halfway down the hill.

[Jeff]

Google is your friend:

 

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/news/coasting-in-neutral-fuel-economy

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Okay, but that didn't say anything about it being harmful. Also, thanks.

[Evil Rick]

Care to elaborate? What's the harm, exactly? Apart from accidentally putting it in reverse halfway down the hill.

You are shifting a car from gear into neutral and back more often than necessary. A normal automatic transmission is not designed for that. It's going to put an added strain on your transmission which will eventually lead to problems much earlier in the vehicle's life.

[KarpetRydOFunk]

Care to elaborate? What's the harm, exactly? Apart from accidentally putting it in reverse halfway down the hill.

You are shifting a car from gear into neutral and back more often than necessary. A normal automatic transmission is not designed for that. It's going to put an added strain on your transmission which will eventually lead to problems much earlier in the vehicle's life.

 

Okay, cool. I don't actually drive an automatic, but it's good information for future reference. Not that I'd do something like that. It sounds like extra work. I just take my foot off the pedal and let gravity kick in.