damage engine to start in reverse?

squareballoon

Sooo, this is more a question to settle an argument. I share a car with my husband. Our drive is on a very slight slope. He says reversing the car into the drive is better. He says it puts more pressure on the engine if you start and reverse immediately up a slight slope than if you drive forwards out.
Is this true?

lau1247

engine will have to rotate in the same direction either way..

The only thing I can think of is that the gear ratio may be different between the forward gear (1st) and reverse gear.. you need to investigate further on this because each car is different in terms of gear ratio..

I consider both gear to be low gear (i.e. high torque in order to get it moving), so i don't think it make much difference..

-Chris-

I'd say it's much of a muchness. Either you have to reverse up the drive when you get home or when you're leaving the house. The stress on the engine is the same. I don't know if the fact that the engine is cold when you're leaving the house would make a significant difference.

mikewest

I would reckon it would be more of a safety issue in that reversing in and driving out is considered safer in most situations. As for extra pressure on the engine putting it in reverse first thing after starting there is shag all difference between the loading in first or reverse and the easiest way to do damage to the engine after starting is to rev the hell out of of it in any gear or neutral before the oil has warmed up a bit and circulated fully.

Max Power1

lau1247 wrote: »

engine will have to rotate in the same direction either way..

The only thing I can think of is that the gear ratio may be different between the forward gear (1st) and reverse gear.. you need to investigate further on this because each car is different in terms of gear ratio..

I consider both gear to be low gear (i.e. high torque in order to get it moving), so i don't think it make much difference..

in 99.9% of road legal cars reverse is the lowest gear.

Unless it is up a steep hill or you are burning the clutch when reversing it makes no difference tbf.

panda_cub

My instructor told me that its more economical to reverse into a parking space and drive out of it, rather than the other way around... because when you reverse into the space the engine is still warm from driving, whereas if you reverse out, you are starting the car by reversing on a cold engine which uses more fuel.

Just an interesting aside Sorry it doesn't back up your side of the argument though!

**Timbuk2**

panda_cub wrote: »

My instructor told me that its more economical to reverse into a parking space and drive out of it, rather than the other way around... because when you reverse into the space the engine is still warm from driving, whereas if you reverse out, you are starting the car by reversing on a cold engine which uses more fuel.

Just an interesting aside Sorry it doesn't back up your side of the argument though!

That's true, but I doubt it would add up to much fuel saving. I usually reverse into car parking spaces for visibility purposes when coming out. The only times I drive into a parking space is if I am shopping, as I need easy access to the boot.

squareballoon

thanks everyone. I reverse into almost all parking spaces but don't like reversing into our drive because we're on a corner. It's safer to reverse out of.
I really appreciate the quick replies.

MascotDec85

squareballoon wrote: »

thanks everyone. I reverse into almost all parking spaces but don't like reversing into our drive because we're on a corner. It's safer to reverse out of.
I really appreciate the quick replies.

As a matter of safety it's better practice to reverse into your driveway than out of it

Max Power1

squareballoon wrote: »

thanks everyone. I reverse into almost all parking spaces but don't like reversing into our drive because we're on a corner. It's safer to reverse out of.
I really appreciate the quick replies.

:eek:

shouldnt be reversing out onto a corner tbh

2yung2adm

squareballoon wrote: »

thanks everyone. I reverse into almost all parking spaces but don't like reversing into our drive because we're on a corner. It's safer to reverse out of.
I really appreciate the quick replies.

It is often illegal,often unlawfull, perhaps even dangerous to reverse from a non public place onto a public road.
You can be prosecuted for it and in most civil cases you will be held liable if you were commiting the offence of reversing on to a public road contrary to the regulations..
This regulation was not written into law just for the sake of it.It is there for the safety of other road users and to prevent accidents.
*
Section 12 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 has reference

SEC12.

(1) Before reversing, a driver shall ensure that to so reverse would not endanger other traffic or pedestrians.
(2) A driver shall not reverse onto a major road from another road.
(3) A driver shall not reverse from a place adjacent to a public road onto a public road save where it is clear to the driver that to so reverse would not endanger other traffic or pedestrians.


If you reverse out and an accident occurs a judge will as the question "would the accident have occurred it the driver had driven out rather than reversing out"
If you cannot argue that the other driver was in breach of sections 51(a) 52 or 53 Road Traffic Act. (dangerous driving;careless driving; driving without due care and attention) you will fail.
You have stated that you are on a corner and I think that says enough.
But to answer your question it is more economical to reverse into the parking space as your engine is warm and more efficient.

squareballoon

When I say it's on a corner I mean more at a corner. It's just off centre of a t junction in a quiet housing estate. when I'm reversing out I can see both up the road and to the side whereas if I'm reversing in I am looking back towards the front door and not up the road to traffic from there.
like this

challengemaster

You should be able to observe everything around you when reversing. It's the point of the reverse around a corner in the test.

As for the damage to the engine... they're not made from styrofoam.... it's not going to fall apart if you reverse in it when it's cold.

2yung2adm

again you are regulated by Sec 12 (1) of the quoted act and this creates a specific offence where the evidence does not justify a Sec 51(a) Sec 52 or sec 53 offence, Dangerous driving careless or driving without due care or attention.
12. (1) Before reversing, a driver shall ensure that to so reverse would not endanger other traffic or pedestrians.

You can be summonsed under this section as such: "whereas before reversing you failed to ensure....." "Contrary to Sec 12(1) RTA ...."