a silly question about the transmission

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by JCL

No benefit to putting an automatic transmission in neutral or park at a traffic light. It is also less safe, since it eliminates the opportunity to move in the event of a pending collision. There is a miniscule amount of heat created by the torque converter at idle, easily handled by the cooler. Bulk, don't think of the torque converter as a clutch. It is a fluid drive, as opposed to a mechanical drive. When there is insufficient pressure (ie at idle) the drive is not engaged. Nothing is wearing. Your are turning one part of the torque converter, and that creates a slight drag, which lowers your rpm just enough (in your case) to feel a vibration. Adjust the idle and that will go away. The clutch packs in the torque converter that were mentioned above are not part of the drive at idle, they are lock-up clutches only used at higher road speeds, nothing to do with sitting at idle.

With a manual transmission, you should be in neutral at a traffic light. Sitting with your foot on the clutch will get you a fail in a driver's license exam, because it is considered that if your foot slips off the clutch you will shoot out into traffic. More importantly, when you have your foot on the clutch for an extended period of time you are abusing the throw-out bearing. Blktoptvl, I read the whole thread before someone (you) mentioned the throwout bearing, I couldn't believe it. Seems manual transmissions are a dying breed, lol.

No one mentions the throw out bearing, because those that know how to drive, don't destroy them. Most of us don't even change the clutch till 150k miles. And quite a few of us, can still shift without a clutch. lol. Yes manuals are a dying breed, which is a shame. I am looking for a 3.0 X5 on stick though. So hopefully I will get my first manual SAV. Keeping the 4.8 though.