To all the manual drivers...

[Crew4991]

In gear with the emergency brake pulled is how I learned and have always parked my manuals.


I do have a question for everyone:
If parking on a hill with the rear end higher in elevation than the front with wheels turned toward the curb; using my logic, should the "parked in gear" in this case be reverse?
Or does it not matter?

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[mookieit]

What is wrong with starting the car in gear? The clutch has to be engaged.

I don’t think anything is wrong, but since I am not used to the car being in gear, when I start the car and simply let go of the clutch like it is in neutral, all hell breaks loose.

All in all, until I am confident I will remember the car is in gear before I start the car, I don’t think it is a good idea to leave the car in gear Unless I am parked on a hill, where then I do park in gear for extra precaution

 

[Tripp051420]

I don’t think anything is wrong, but since I am not used to the car being in gear, when I start the car and simply let go of the clutch like it is in neutral, all hell breaks loose

I was loading the trunk of my mustang with groceries one day. It was hot so I asked my wife to start my car and turn the AC on. I was parked downhill so my car was in reverse with parking brake on. She started the car and let off the clutch. Mustang lurched back at me right into my leg. My wife doesn’t start my car anymore…

 

[D Bergstrom]

Always in gear with emergency brake since my first manual vehicle when I was 16. First I have ever heard that leaving a manual in gear while parked can cause damage. Nope, don’t believe that at all.

Automatic vehicle, always to neutral first, then e brake, foot off brake once e brake catches, then park. Figure then the weight of the vehicle is being supported by the brake and not the trans. Learned that about 15 years ago and been doing ever since.

Doug

 

[ORRadtech]

I learned to drive a manual transmission in 1970 on my dad's old "three-on-the-tree" Ford pick-up. I was taught to put it in gear, set the parking brake and point the front wheels toward the curb.
It's what I was taught and it's what I do to this day when driving a stick, with the exception of not being as diligent about turning the front wheels.

 

[NightmareMoon]

In gear with the emergency brake pulled is how I learned and have always parked my manuals.


I do have a question for everyone:
If parking on a hill with the rear end higher in elevation than the front with wheels turned toward the curb; using my logic, should the "parked in gear" in this case be reverse?
Or does it not matter?

Does not matter (much). I guess there could be a slight difference, but engine compression will resist rotating both directions.

 

[Bobn57]

At work I back into level parking space. Leave in reverse with parking brake on
At home driveway is slightly pitched. Pull in stang nose first with trans in first then parking brake.

 

[Kobi Addiction]

E-Brake only. I avoid putting it in gear unless I feel I need to due to a heavy slope in the parking lot.

 

[526 HRSE]

Always been the same. Brake on and in gear. I've only not had manual cars three times in my life, a 72 Camaro and two work trucks. Roughly 10 manuals 3 automatics. (not counting family cars)

 

[Free Spirit]

This should be an easy discussion...For those driving manual transmissions, when you park, do leave in gear and pull the brake of leave in neutral with the E brake? I have driven manuals most of my like and when parking, I put the car in first and pulled the brake. Now I have seen that doing that could damage the transmission. Makes sense. Now I'm curious if I am not alone with my parking habits...if needed can I change them...that is the big question...

It won't cause damage. I always park in gear with brake on. Hell my car was hit and forced backwards 20 ft while in first gear and no damage was caused. But if you want to avoid stress when parking

Park car
Put in neutral
Let roll a tiny bit
Pull ebrake
Put into gear
It will be in gear with 0 stress on the transmission unless the ebrake fails but that's the entire point. But if you don't want to wear the transmission you might as well park it and never drive it again

 

[Duece McCracken]

Always in gear with emergency brake since my first manual vehicle when I was 16. First I have ever heard that leaving a manual in gear while parked can cause damage. Nope, don’t believe that at all.

Automatic vehicle, always to neutral first, then e brake, foot off brake once e brake catches, then park. Figure then the weight of the vehicle is being supported by the brake and not the trans. Learned that about 15 years ago and been doing ever since.

Doug

I also park autotradgics this way. Get the load off the drivetrain before shifting to park.

Especially with commercial vehicles and any kind of slope.

Driving a box truck around with my boss who was very anal about applying the parking brake lead to a lot of sass.

So I'd come to a stop, shift to neutral, apply parking brake, take my foot off the brake, Do a very loud Vegas Card Dealer hand clap, then shift to park. Every single time.

 

[3pdl]

i don't understand concern about the stress to the transmission. transmissions are designed to transmit forces. my mild corncern is what it's transmitting the force to. left in gear, the weight of the car pushes against the compression in the cylinders that have all valves closed with the main and rod bearings with no oil pressure caught in between.
that said i always park with the parking brake applied and then left in gear. a roll away has known possible consequences. leaving it in gear, not so much.

 

[brfdrums]

It won't cause damage. I always park in gear with brake on. Hell my car was hit and forced backwards 20 ft while in first gear and no damage was caused. But if you want to avoid stress when parking

Park car
Put in neutral
Let roll a tiny bit
Pull ebrake
Put into gear
It will be in gear with 0 stress on the transmission unless the ebrake fails but that's the entire point. But if you don't want to wear the transmission you might as well park it and never drive it again

Im not asking if it causes damage or how to do it...just if I wasn't the only one who did it. I don't know if you fully read the post...

 

[CBETPTA]

In gear and parking brake on. If on incline, wheel should be turned so that if brake and gearing doesn’t stop car movement, the curb, if there is one, will

 

[wingnutt]

second gear, brake on… used to be a reason to never park in first, but dammed if I can remember why

It's what I was taught and it's what I do to this day when driving a stick, with the exception of not being as diligent about turning the front wheels.

…and that will get you a ticket in sandy eggo. Every. Dam. Time

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