# What happens when you shift to neutral w/o the clutch. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-shift-to-neutral-w-o-the-clutch/359707 "2006-06-07T04:28:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-shift-to-neutral-w-o-the-clutch/359707/21 "2006-06-09T20:43:33Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > As long as I don’t grind the gears is there any danger to the transmission? Short answer is yes. You are putting extra strain on the snycronizers and causing premature wear. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-shift-to-neutral-w-o-the-clutch/359707/22 "2006-06-10T00:16:01Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Short answer is yes. > You are putting extra strain on the snycronizers and causing premature wear. Gotcha! Emergencies only then, it is. ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-shift-to-neutral-w-o-the-clutch/359707/23 "2006-06-10T01:52:52Z")
> [@hlanelee](#): > > It’s called floating, big trucks don’t have synchronizers, so you have to keep engine speed up with the transmission to shift. If you use a clutch in a truck, you have to double-clutch to match the engine with the tranny, so truckers generally only use the clutch to get into the first gear they use, then they float through the gear sequence that best fits the load. A lot of companies won’t hire a driver that is overly dependent on a clutch. IAATD, Most companies have the official policy that you should always use the clutch. The biggest danger when shifting without the clutch is if your RPMs are off you are crashing the gears together under a huge load. Most experienced drivers use the clutch only when stopping as you say. Since the person in charge of road tests is usually a former (experienced) driver, as long as you can drive smoothly they don’t care about you useing the clutch even if it is company policy. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-shift-to-neutral-w-o-the-clutch/359707/24 "2006-06-10T02:48:45Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > I hope this isn’t too much of a hijack, but I thought it was more appropriate here than in a separate thread. > > Also, before you start laughing, please consider that I am pretty clueless about the mechanical functioning of automobiles. Anyway, here’s the question: > > My two-year old loves to sit in my car and play with the controls. Of course, it’s not running at the time, but I’m not sure whether I should let him play with the gearshift (it’s a manual). Can he cause any damage/wear by moving it around with the engine off? Those who say don’t let children play in the car have it right. I would go even further. Don’t let the play _around_ the car. It’s very easy to dash out of the house on a quick errand and back up or even go forward without looking and with tragic results. It’s not common but it’s not nearly rare enough. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-shift-to-neutral-w-o-the-clutch/359707/25 "2006-06-10T03:00:27Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Those who say don’t let children play in the car have it right. I would go even further. Don’t let the play _around_ the car. It’s very easy to dash out of the house on a quick errand and back up or even go forward without looking and with tragic results. It’s not common but it’s not nearly rare enough. Or don’t let the kids around the car while I’M checking the mail. One time I got out of my car, walked around the front ot it, got my main, walked back around the front, and when to put it in drive only to realize it wa already there. Luckily the spot where I was stopped was just enough of a slope to keep the car steady. But it probably would have moved if something had clicked on or off. The other time, I got out of my car, checked the mail and got back in only to realize that the car wasn’t where I left it, but rather about 7 or 8 inches away and moving. :smack: :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-when-you-shift-to-neutral-w-o-the-clutch/359707.md?page=1)