I disagree with my 1972 Plymouth owner's manual

[Dibbons]

Found parts of the owner's manual for my 72 Satellite Sebring Plus and I quote:

STARTING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION "The engine will start with the selector lever in the Neutral or Park positions. However, to eliminate having to pass through the Reverse position it is a good practice to always start in Neutral." (page 16)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR RANGES
"N" NEUTRAL "Shift to neutral when car is standing for prolonged periods with the engine running. Engine should be started in this range."

Does/did anyone actually do that?

 

[Hemi Rebel]

Nobody does, but it wouldnt hurt. The part about idling for long periods pertains mainly to police cars that sit and idle extensively. Trans fluid does not flow in park, this is why we check the level in neutral. Cops would sit and idle waiting for say, a speeder, and then when they get one they slam it in drive from park. Do that enough and they had a lot of trans failures.

 

[idrivemopar]

I start and run my car in Neutral when its been sitting for a while because when its in neutral, the pump circulates the fluid, where it does not circulate when in Park. Kinda makes sense if it sitting idling for a while to keep the fluid moving in neutral.

 

[WP29440SE]

you get the highest pump pressure in neutral when starting the car, so yes I do that. if I am sitting at a stoplight that I know will be red forever , I slip it in neutral to take the load off the trans.