As new drivers, either currently learning to drive or a newly fully qualified driver, you may be wondering how to best secure your car against rolling when parked. Many driving instructors neglect to offer this advice as it’s not indicative of the driving test, so if you did have any questions about leaving your car in gear while parked, we’ll hopefully answer them here.
Why Leave a Car in Gear When Parked?
Along with using the parking brake, leaving the car in gear when parked adds an additional layer of safety to prevent the car from rolling.
Does Leaving a Car in Gear Stop it from Rolling?
Yes, leaving a car in gear does almost certainly stop it from rolling. When you leave your car parked in neutral, it disconnects the engine from the wheels, so think of it this way, when you’re driving your car, the engine turns and makes the wheels move. So if the your car were to start rolling while in gear, it would need to turn the engine too – and that makes rolling far more difficult.
Should You Leave a Car in Gear When Parked?
When parking your car on level ground, it’s generally recommended to leave your car in gear, though cars have become so reliable that providing you keep your car maintained to the legal safety standard, using the parking brake alone should be sufficient.
Should You Leave a Car in Gear When Parked on a Hill?
Although a properly maintained car should remain secured by the parking brake alone, it’s highly recommended that you should leave a car in gear when parked on a hill. When parked on a hill, any weaknesses with the parking brake system are far more likely to emerge. Leaving a car in gear offers a secondary measure to ensure your car remains securely parked.
Should I Leave My Car in Gear or Neutral?
If you’re parked on a level surface, you can leave your car in neutral. If you’re parked on a slope, leave it in gear. Some drivers always leave their car parked in gear regardless of the surface they’re parked on.
Leaving a Car in Gear Downhill
The procedure for leaving a car parked facing downhill is as follows:
- Park your car close to the kerb
- Turn your wheels towards the kerb
- Firmly apply the parking brake
- Select reverse gear. If driving an automatic, select ‘Park’.
Leaving a Car in Gear Uphill
The procedure for leaving a car parked facing uphill is as follows:
- Park your car close to the kerb
- Turn your wheels away from the kerb
- Firmly apply the parking brake
- Select a forward gear. If driving an automatic, select ‘Park’.
Does Leaving Your Car in Gear Damage it?
Leaving your car in gear does not cause any damage. Leaving your car parked and in gear simply means a connection is formed from the engine to the wheels. Leaving your car in neutral means the connection is broken from just after the gears.
Why Should You Not Leave Your Car in Gear?
There’s no reason that you should not leave your car in gear while parked other than if you forget to press the clutch down before starting. If you do forget, the car may jolt forwards a little as you turn the ignition. Always fully depress the clutch and check your gears before starting the engine.
Leaving a Car in Gear, No Handbrake
On some cars, drivers find that the handbrake sticks when they leave the car parked with it applied. This usually occurs in wet and very cold conditions and drivers that are affected by this often park, leaving their car in gear but with the handbrake off (on level surfaces only). This does not affect most motorists and so it’s advisable to always use your handbrake when parking.
Do you have a plan to travel? Of course, that means you need to prepare a lot of things, including and especially if you have to leave your car at home for a long period of time. For you who is planning to have a long travel, here are some tips on how to store your car properly so that it will still have an excellent performance once you return.
Don’t use a handbrake
One suggestion for you is not to activate the hand-brake if you intend to leave your car at home for a long time. In this case, you can avoid the brake pads getting caught in the dusk. If that happens, it will be a hassle during your next drive. To be safe, you can use a wheel lock or prop up a tire with a stone so that the car does not move forward.
Park the car in the garage or use a cover
Whenever possible, you’re better parking your car in the garage since this would ensure safety and cleanliness. If you don’t have a garage in your house and would need to park your car outside, you can cover your car. Buy a cover with a fit size so it could overlay the whole car body. However, if the car is parked in a closed roof place, a cover is no longer needed for using it would lead moist to build up more quickly.
Pay attention to the spark plug
If you plan to leave your car for a long time, it is recommended to remove the spark plug and spray a little bit of oil to the socket before installing it back. This method prevents the cylinder head from rusting and helps to keep it moist. You can also use additives to provide a protective coating to the machine.
Clean the car
Usually, car owners don’t pay attention to the condition inside of the car when they are about to leave it for a long time. Before leaving it, however, the interior of the car must be clean to avoid the growth of bacteria on the car’s carpet, seats, and even cables inside the engine. You can also use air fresheners to maintain a nice smell inside the cabin.
The same applies to the exterior condition. To avoid your car from blisters when left for a long time, you might want to wash your car beforehand. This will prevent dirt from sticking onto the car’s body.
Fill up the tank
The fuel tank can rust if not used for a long time. An effective way to avoid this situation is to fill up the tank with high-octane gasoline. This method can prevent the tank from rusting quickly.
Also read: Maintaining Car Wiper
Check the battery
Don’t forget to check the condition of the car battery. Make sure the condition is excellent when left. Otherwise, you could also remove the battery and store it in a cool place, avoiding direct sunlight.
Car tires can deflate quickly if they are attached to the surface for too long. To avoid this, it is advised to use a jack on each wheel, thereby the car does not rest on the wheels.
Change oil and filter
It’s a good idea to change the oil and filter before leaving the car for a long time since used oil contains water vapor, metal powders, mud, and other corrosive elements.
Make sure the tire pressure is in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations before leaving your car. Fill up the right pressure can prevent the edges of the tires from cracking. Also, remember to check whether the tire valve caps are securely in place.