Gear selection on parking on gradients...

[cacatous]

I know I should know this and I am having a blonde moment but...

What gear should I select when parked on a gradient?

Is it First Gear pointing downhill and reverse pointing up?

[The Banker]

Other way round

[cacatous]

Really?

[kojak69]

You sound You must be still having a blonde moment. If you park on a hill facing uphill, it wants 2 be in first. If you are pointing down hill, then put it in reverse.

[cacatous]

Thanks!

[kojak69]

You are welcome.

[julesby]

dont forget to point wheels into kerb aswell

[cacatous]

Reeto!

[ridds]

Other way around peeps.

First facing down hill
Reverse Facing up hill

Driving an engine over backwards with timing chains is a big no no. With no oil pressure to hold chain taught with tensioners there is the potential to jump teeth. You'll get no more resitance putting it the other way around either.

[cacatous]

I see thanks!

[Julian64]

Anyone care to explain the difference between forward and reverse in these situations . Call me a blonde but there really shouldn't be any difference whether you are in forward or reverse, the only thing stopping the car is the compression of the engine.

Either I, or you lot should hang your heads in shame.

[mudstud]

According to my old man - the car should be in the lowest ratio gear so maximum effort required to move the car the smallest distance. This is normally reverse for uphill and downhill. However can see the argument that an engine should not be turned backwards. Fortunatly in Lincolnshire not a big issue!

[satman]

Keep a couple of small blocks of wood in the boot???

[kojak69]

I think one or two have lost the plot. We're talking about parking the car on a hill.

[cacatous]

I am confused...

[Plotloss]

Oh I'm sorry, I seem to have stumbled into the abject confusion thread.

Park on level ground and walk up the hill...

[jeremyc]

Julian64 said:

Anyone care to explain the difference between forward and reverse in these situations . Call me a blonde but there really shouldn't be any difference whether you are in forward or reverse, the only thing stopping the car is the compression of the engine.

I think that the theory is if the compression of the engine is overcome and the car starts moving then it is better to have the engine turning the correct way.

[FourWheelDrift]

I agree with this.

ridds said:

First facing down hill Reverse Facing up hill Driving an engine over backwards with timing chains is a big no no. With no oil pressure to hold chain taught with tensioners there is the potential to jump teeth. You'll get no more resitance putting it the other way around either.

[kojak69]

cacatous said:

I am confused...

You're confused. I am now. For some reason, others are talking about driving the engine. You are talking about parking the car on a hill.

>> Edited by kojak69 on Thursday 29th January 14:42

[FourWheelDrift]

Not "driving" as in , but driving as in turning the engine if the handbrake fails and the car should start to roll. Which it won't anyway if anyone who has ever tried to push a car in gear with the ignition off will know.

What we mean is any force acting on the gearbox and transferred to the engine when stationary. When the handbrake fails it is better if it acts on the engine/gearbox in the direction it is designed to be. For instance it is better pushing with the gear than against.

Either way it the car won't move.