Why do cars vibrate more when still in comparison to when they are moving?
In: Physics
Your car likely has a part that exists between your engine and your transmission called a torque converter. Your engine and transmission aren’t directly connected by a solid rod, they’re split by the torque converter, which is full of fluid. It allows the two to slip past one another, and provide bursts of extra torque when your car needs it.
If you idle at a stoplight while still in Drive, your engine is still spinning, but your brakes have your transmission locked up. All of the force of your engine is being dissipated by your torque converter, which is slipping, and this causes a great deal of the shuddering.
Put your car in neutral when you idle. The shuddering will decrease substantially and it’s better for your torque converter. There’s a reason why you can pop your gearshift between Drive and Neutral without pressing the gearshift switch.
Latest Answers