First, Reverse, or Something Else?

[Chrisco]

So, here's a little brain teaser for you all:

Now, like me, I'm sure most of you who have been driving manual transmission vehicles have at one time or another been instructed how to properly park your vehicle on a hill. So, here's a little scenario for you.

Pretend for a moment that you need to park your manual transmission vehicle, but the parking/emergency brake has failed and you have no steering wheel lock.

Question 1:

If you park facing uphill on a steep incline, which gear do you park in? Why?

Question 2:

If you park facing downhill on a steep decline, which gear do you park in? Why?

Answer each question with a thorough explanation of why you chose that gear. Take a moment to think before you answer, you might be surprised by your own, and other peoples', reasoning.

Click to read more...

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

5th every time

 

[SirMarco]

I just walk out and let it roll down the hill. As i walk away I act like I saw nothing, did nothing and know nothing.

 

[Mook]

W/ the Z, the parking brake was toast for basically my entire ownership w/ it. I would always leave it in 1st no matter the scenario.

I have no reason as to why, I just always did

 

[Turk]

If facing downhill, I'd put it in reverse to hopefully have the transmission keep the car in place, if facing downhill backwards I'd keep the car in first for the same reason. In reality, I probably wouldn't take the car anywhere but the dealer to get that fixed asap.

 

[Chrisco]

Answer each question with a thorough explanation of why you chose that gear. Take a moment to think before you answer, you might be surprised by your own, and other peoples', reasoning.

Maybe this should have been at the beginning of the post :doh:

 

[Mook]

I have no explanation for my answer. I would drive, find a parking spot, then just put the car in 1st.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Id pick 5th because of the lower mechanical advantage. I'd also cut the wheels into whatever is near. I got a brick in my trunk for such occasions.

 

[Turk]

Id pick 5th because of the lower mechanical advantage. I'd also cut the wheels into whatever is near. I got a brick in my trunk for such occasions.

I'm not sure I understand. Wouldn't the car be more likely to roll forward in 5th than a lower gear?

 

[Chrisco]

Id pick 5th because of the lower mechanical advantage. I'd also cut the wheels into whatever is near. I got a brick in my trunk for such occasions.

If you park in 5th, wouldn't that actually have the opposite of your desired effect? Instead of the engine normally driving a small gear, driving a big gear, you now have gravity driving a big gear, driving a small gear; making the vehicle easier to roll.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Wouldn't it spin the engine much slower allowing the compression to hold it in place longer? If I had a hill nearby I'd try first and 5th.

 

[Turk]

Wouldn't it spin the engine much slower allowing the compression to hold it in place longer? If I had a hill nearby I'd try first and 5th.

Exactly, the motor would have to spin many more times in first gear as opposed to fifth gear to go the same difference.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I never leave my car in gear. When I go to the mountains I just relied on a brick and my parking brake.

 

[Chrisco]

If facing downhill, I'd put it in reverse to hopefully have the transmission keep the car in place, if facing downhill backwards I'd keep the car in first for the same reason. In reality, I probably wouldn't take the car anywhere but the dealer to get that fixed asap.

Why would putting the car in reverse, when facing downhill, keep it from rolling any moreso than putting it in first when facing downhill?

 

[Turk]

Why would putting the car in reverse, when facing downhill, keep it from rolling any moreso than putting it in first when facing downhill?

Hhhmmm. I dunno, I was thinking that there'd be more resistance since it's the opposite way the gear is supposed to turn.

 

[Chrisco]

Hhhmmm. I dunno, I was thinking that there'd be more resistance since it's the opposite way the gear is supposed to turn.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

This is assuming your clutch is in good working order also.


I'm changing my vote to "I'd park in a ditch"

 

[CrunkMaro]

3rd in a 5speed, 4th in a 6 speed.
cause i said so.


although in reality, i'd probably spend my time fixing the parking brake rather than trying to figure out what gear i can put it in on a hill.

 

[hellraiser319]

I'd say what ever gear matches the direction, as if/when it does roll, it doesn't spin the engine the wrong way, and tire to the curb. I refuse to have a nonfunctional parking brake so the scenario isn't often used with me. The occasions I had a manual car in the install bay, it was always first, but there was little to no grade.

 

[KagA152]

reverse

i know somebody that puts his automagic in neutral and applies the parking brake. ive never heard of a pawl breaking, but i understand his concern because that nice clunk you get when parked on a hill

 

[Epi]

I was always taught to leave it in reverse due to reverse being straight cut gears is most vehicles at the time. if facing up or downhill , turn wheels to the curb so the vehicle will roll off the road if it moves.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I guess in reverse it would be less likely to pop out of gear.....


So what's the damn answer chris?

 

[10sec]

First, every time, unless it's backwards, then Reverse. Putting it in a gear that will turn the motor the opposite direction is crazy. I would never do that, because the motor WILL turn if the hill is steep enough

How about just parking sideways? Leave that bitch in N

Ninja Edit.

 

[Outlaw]

Why would putting the car in reverse, when facing downhill, keep it from rolling any moreso than putting it in first when facing downhill?

It woulden't really make a difference, unless the gear ratio is different between first gear and reverse (not really much lol). I've actually tried this quite a bit because my driveway is very steep, and alot of my manual transmission cars have had weaker parking brakes. If parked downhill I always put the car in first because 1) It's got the highest gear ratio, so will be hardest to spin the engine (as previously stated) and 2) because if the car does roll, the engine will spin in the direction it normally operates in. Same reason for reverse if parked uphill, the gear is about as tall as first (give or take), and if the car does roll, the engine will spin in is normal direction. (winding back an engine is bad IMO lol)

With automatic transmission vehicles, I put the vehicle in neutral, apply the parking brake, release regular brake to be sure the vehicle will not roll, and then put the vehicle in park. (To reduce wear and the possibility of "park lock" on the transmission)

Just my .02 explained as best I can.

 

[E]

Steep Incline:
I use reverse gear for reasons already stated.

Steep Decline:
I use 2nd gear for the simple reason that (to me) it's easier to push it out of gear when you get back in and less of a reach. (Ya i can be that lazy)
I don't think that ratio of gears between 1st and 2nd makes too much of a difference because the pressure in the cylinders will still stop the car from moving.

In both cases i would turn the wheel away from the street with or without steering lock