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[amazonian]

I have often wondered how long one should leave an automatic Omega in drive for when its standing in traffic?

Do you simply put your car in drive in the morning and leave it there all day sort of thing, or what?

Also what actually is happening wear wise, in the gearbox when its left in drive ?

    

[X30XE]

Good question. I leave mine in drive unless im sat at a traffic light for more than a minute or so.  Or if there's a need to engage the handbrake (ie it's night time and you're considerate enough not to give the person behind you retinal damage with the brake lights)

I read once that changing out of drive put's more stress on the components than just leaving it in drive.    

[neil74]

As you say it depends on the situation. but more often than not ill knock it into neutral as I cant see the point of sitting there with it in drive if I'm not going anywhere.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I'd imagine it's 'good practice' to go in N or P.... not least of all you consume less fuel. But DO I? Often not, often leave it in drive. The only element to be weary of is if you leave it in drive, your foot slips off the footbrake... you go into the back of the car in front!!!

[Andy B]

..  Or if there's a need to engage the handbrake  ...

which is that ...... 

[zirk]

Probably puts more wear on the Autobox putting it in and out of Drive than leaving it alone.

Personally, I just wiggle the stick in the middle, if I really cant be arsed then just put my left foot down on the clutch peddle.

[Bigron]

I was wondering the same thing and more especially if you are on a slight upward incline in traffic, how long should you hold it in Drive? Is that likely to overheat the ATF if sustained for long?

Ron.

[BazaJT]

As far as I'm aware the idea is that you shouldn't sit in stationary traffic with your foot on the brakes[no matter how many pedals it has]as the heat can't dissipate from the disc where it's held by the pads as it can from the rest of the disc,therefore you are likely to induce warping of the disc.Taking that forward it means you should then apply handbrake and release foot brake so you should select neutral.

[Bigron]

I agree completely, about not holding the car on the footbrake, Baza - it will definitely cause disc warping and subsequent brake judder, but I was wondering about the possible downside to holding the car on an incline in Drive and without brakes applied - you know, being lazy!
Will this result in any problems long-term?

Ron.

[Andy B]

As far as I'm aware the idea is that you shouldn't sit in stationary traffic with your foot on the brakes[no matter how many pedals it has]as the heat can't dissipate from the disc where it's held by the pads as it can from the rest of the disc,therefore you are likely to induce warping of the disc.Taking that forward it means you should then apply handbrake and release foot brake so you should select neutral.

what about on the cars that use the disc's pads for the handbrake? 

[Doctor Gollum]

As far as I'm aware the idea is that you shouldn't sit in stationary traffic with your foot on the brakes[no matter how many pedals it has]as the heat can't dissipate from the disc where it's held by the pads as it can from the rest of the disc,therefore you are likely to induce warping of the disc.Taking that forward it means you should then apply handbrake and release foot brake so you should select neutral.

what about on the cars that use the disc's pads for the handbrake? 

Stick it in Park

[Sir Tigger KC]

As far as I'm aware the idea is that you shouldn't sit in stationary traffic with your foot on the brakes[no matter how many pedals it has]as the heat can't dissipate from the disc where it's held by the pads as it can from the rest of the disc,therefore you are likely to induce warping of the disc.Taking that forward it means you should then apply handbrake and release foot brake so you should select neutral.

what about on the cars that use the disc's pads for the handbrake? 

Stick it in Park

Just gently rest it up against the vehicle in front! 

[McBandy]

We leave our buses in drive and they're at it all day

[TD]

When I used to drive autos, which ive done for probably 25years+

I always used to leave it in drive (less wear on the gearbox) and used to stop a reasonable distance from the car in front and then let the car creep forward by 1/2 a wheel turn a short time after the first stop. Doing this not only saves the wear on the gearbox by not changing from D to N or P but also allows the discs to cool down reasonably equally.
If you want to stop the brake light glare from the following motorist, then simply leave in drive and apply the handbrake and release the footbrake....it isn't going to go anywhere. if your handbrake works 

[BazaJT]

Not too sure I'd leave it in drive on an incline and use the incline to stop the "creep" if that's what you mean bigron.Would that not be akin to holding a manual in the same way by holding it at the clutch biting point and wear the clutches out prematurely?