Is this bad for my car?

[Parabola]

I drive an Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD

I always leave my car parked in gear.

As I pull up the last couple of metres to my house, I brake and push clutch in, come to a stop, knock the car into 2nd gear (clutch still pressed), then turn the engine off.

Just realised, this might be a bit lazy, and not good for the car?

[mnkiboy]

I don't see why it would cause any problems. I always leave mine in 1st gear when parked.

[kambites]

I can't imagine what harm it could do?

[Parabola]

It's more the switching the engine off when in gear, I'm thinking about,
rather than leaving it parked in gear.

[illmonkey]

Parabola said:

It's more the switching the engine off when in gear, I'm thinking about,
rather than leaving it parked in gear.

But its not in gear, the clutch is stopping that.

[devnull]

Wait, what? Think about it mechanically..

If the clutch is depressed when the car is in gear and you turn off the engine, then the engine stops with the gearbox disconnected. So no, it wouldn't

[Ozzie Osmond]

Makes absolutely no difference whatsoever.

Saabs used to have to be in gear in order to remove the ignition key, which was located near the handbrake and locked the gear lever as part of the vehicle security.

[P I Staker]

Dont do that, you'll damage the flux capacitor.

[Superhoop]

Are you putting the hand brake on too, or just leaaving it in 2nd gear?

Is the car parked on a slope, when you're leaving it in gear?

The only reason i ask, is it haas been known for the weight of the car to turn the engine over, and pushing the tensioner back, the slack in the belt can then cause it to jump on start up.

There is one or two models that I know of, that had an additional guide plate added to the timing belt covers to prevent it occurring

Having siad that, i guess it also depends on whether your engine runs a belt or a chain

[mattnunn]

Most cold climates negate the use of handbrakes altogether because they get frozen on so you have to leave car in gear. Hence saabs of a certain era having that daft interlock between clutch and ignition.

[Parabola]

Sound. Cheers for the replies.

Superhoop said:

Are you putting the hand brake on too, or just leaaving it in 2nd gear?

Is the car parked on a slope, when you're leaving it in gear?

Having siad that, i guess it also depends on whether your engine runs a belt or a chain

Hand brake always on too, normally park on the flat. Alfa has timing belt.
My first couple of cars were MGBs, think that's where the 'park in gear' habit came from.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Parabola said:

My first couple of cars were MGBs, think that's where the 'park in gear' habit came from.

Do you still put a tin under your car to catch the dripping oil as well?