On Parking

"Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire" (arch-duke-maxyenko) 07/17/2020 at 15:06 • Filed to: None

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So, I was glancing through my owner’s manual for the Camaro, apparently I’m supposed to shift into reverse when parking the car. Why, C hevy? I’ve always put the car into 1st when parking, but I guess that’s a bad thing??? Anyone else’s car supposed to be parked in reverse?

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:11

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Huh, I just looked up the manual cars I’ve owned and Toyota recommends 1st or Reverse while VW recommends 1st.

I always used 1st.

HammerheadFistpunch > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:12

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Seems weird to me, reverse is just 1st with an idler right?  why not just put it in first so you only strip one gear instead of 2 if something goes wrong.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:18

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My mechanic told me to park my F1 transmission in whichever gear matches the incline, 1st if I face downhill and R for uphill. In case the parking brake gave too much slack , the timing belts wouldn’t be pulled backwards.

E90M3 > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:18

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Looks like for the M3, the manual says First or Reverse. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:19

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I like the section on Parking Over Things That Burn. When we were working with the Army Corps of Engineers, they lost two trucks to fires which started when they were parked in tall grass. They sent a memo out the first time it happened. They had mandatory training for all field personnel after the second time it happened.

Aremmes > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:20

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I can’t imagine a reason other than something engineered into the transmission less likely to become damaged in R instead of 1st, but that’d require an explanation from the engineers who designed it.

IIRC Saabs required putting the shift lever in R in order to release the ignition key.

Itsmemupos > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:21

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The SS manual is the same as the Camaro. I usually put it into reverse. I’m usually too lazy to back in to a spot so its just one less step when I get back in. 

Michael > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 07/17/2020 at 15:21

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That’s the way I look at it, too.  Don’t want the tension going backwards and skipping a cam gear tooth

onlytwowheels > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:22

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My Viggen required the gear lever to b e put into reverse or it would not allow the key to be rem oved from the ignition switch .

jminer > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:23

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Never read this part of my manual and always used first.

Could be that reverse has a higher ratio than first though making it theoretically better at holding it in place.

ClassicDatsunDebate > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 15:27

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ranwhenparked > ClassicDatsunDebate 07/17/2020 at 15:38

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Standing still and sideways are also options, though. Maybe something was lost in the translation. 

BigBlock440 > HammerheadFistpunch 07/17/2020 at 16:03

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Reverse is also usually straight cut, not helical, so maybe that has something to do with it too.  Not sure about the Camaro specifically though.

ClassicDatsunDebate > ranwhenparked 07/17/2020 at 16:07

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Not if you’re a transmission, according to Chevy.

Roadkilled > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 17:15

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My understanding is that you want the car in the lowest possible gear in case the parking brake fails. If reverse has a noticeably lower ratio than first, it would hold the car better.

However, for the 2020 Camaro, 1st gear is 4.40 and reverse is 3.99. This would make 1st a better gear to park in.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > HammerheadFistpunch 07/17/2020 at 17:39

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Maybe the thought is that 2 gears creates less pressure on a single gear while parked at an angle?

stuckMTB > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/17/2020 at 18:28

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I’ve definitely been to a track day and seen that happen during an unfortunate off-track excursion by another driver (thankfully not me!)

stuckMTB > Aremmes 07/17/2020 at 18:29

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I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that reverse gears are usually straight cut with no synchros to potentially damage or aid in slipping out of gear?

SmugAardvark > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 18:37

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I wonder if the “ Parking over Things that Burn” has two meanings.

1. Obviously, yeah, you don’t want your Camaro to catch on fire.

2. The Florida Highway Patrol lost their fleet of Camaro pursuit vehicles back in the 90's after several of them burnt to a crisp, because  troopers were just siting on the side of highways in the tall grass.

Urambo Tauro > Aremmes 07/17/2020 at 18:52

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Can confirm, my brother’s ’ 91 900 requires the shifter to be in reverse before the key can be removed. I remember having to fix the mechanism .

pip bip - choose Corrour > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 19:50

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leave it in neutral

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/17/2020 at 22:20

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Reverse is usually a lower gear than 1st. The lower ratio the better protection against the engine turning over and letting it chug down a hill.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 07/18/2020 at 11:51

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I always leave my car (and truck) in 1st or reverse when parked. Makes sense to me to leave in the gear you’ll be heading in next (or opposite the direction of slope).