Parking Direction
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2012
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Parking Direction
I have an XLT Ecoboost Screw HD on order. Due to the length, the truck will have to be parked outside. Since our driveway has an incline, I'm wondering if it makes any difference which direction the front end is pointed (up, down).
I know that in the winter (MN), pointing it downhill will remove the need shift from reverse to drive when the transmission is cold. That won't be as convenient for plugging in the engine block heater, but not a big deal.
Any thoughts?
I know that in the winter (MN), pointing it downhill will remove the need shift from reverse to drive when the transmission is cold. That won't be as convenient for plugging in the engine block heater, but not a big deal.
Any thoughts?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,873
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From: Phx, AZ
I don't think either direction is better or worse. I do recommend using the park brake. Set it before you take your foot off the service brake. Keep the stress of the tranny and the shift linkage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,449
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From: Fort Pierce, Fl
Some say front up hill which keeps the oil in the deep part of the pan where the pick up tube is. Makes sense if it is a real steep incline. Other wise I don't think it really matters. Good advice on the park brake to keep the stress off the tranny.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Jamestown, ND
There was a Car Talk puzzler related to this; Every time this guy left town on business for a week or more he parked his car in his driveway. He would invariably return home to find the car's battery dead. The shop could not find a problem. What was going on? His driveway was very steep and he parked the car pointing uphill, the car was on such an incline that the under hood light (controlled by a mercury-type switch) would turn on and gradually drain the battery. It was not enough draw to kill the battery overnight but after a week - dead. The easiest solution was to park the car pointing down hill.
hehe, I'm guessing this is not a likely problem these days but thought you might enjoy the story.
hehe, I'm guessing this is not a likely problem these days but thought you might enjoy the story.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Sioux Falls Area
ditto on the parking brake. the best way i've found is to hold the service brake, then set the parking brake, and put the vehicle in neutral and release the service brakes to verify that the parking brake holds the vehicle ... then put it in park.
guaranteed no torque bind on the shifter linkage if you do it this way, as the parking paul never has any stress on it what-so-ever.
as for direction .... eeeh ....
also, if you read any owners manual of any make or model of vehicle, they always say to engage the parking brake always before leaving the vehicle, and to never trust the parking brake, or transmission to hold the vehicle. parking brakes seem to be one of those "use it or lose it" items.... or in my case, use it and lose it anyway. i've never had a vehicle that the parking brake worked right after about 3 years..... just the nature of the environment around here i'm afraid.
guaranteed no torque bind on the shifter linkage if you do it this way, as the parking paul never has any stress on it what-so-ever.
as for direction .... eeeh ....
also, if you read any owners manual of any make or model of vehicle, they always say to engage the parking brake always before leaving the vehicle, and to never trust the parking brake, or transmission to hold the vehicle. parking brakes seem to be one of those "use it or lose it" items.... or in my case, use it and lose it anyway. i've never had a vehicle that the parking brake worked right after about 3 years..... just the nature of the environment around here i'm afraid.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
I don't think the direction that one parks is consequential. I do like the points about the brakes and strain on the shift linkage though.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: 46th State
I also don't think which way the truck is parked makes any difference. I have never liked steep driveways. Especially in climates that have lots of snow and ice.
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Laughing Gas
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My folks had an old late 70's Fairmont with its POS C3 transmission that would get hung up in park quite often if parked on an incline and didn't have its parking brake engaged before being shifted into park.
Honestly, I would never trust any transmission to hold a car in place by leaving it in gear or putting it in park on anything but a completely flat surface. A former roommate of mine found that out the hard way once when he couldn't find his car at the top of the driveway. It had popped out of gear, rolled down my driveway into the neighbor's yard across the street during the night. Fortunately their yard has a slight incline to it otherwise it may have hit their house! Needless to say he never parked witout the parkingn brake again.
Honestly, I would never trust any transmission to hold a car in place by leaving it in gear or putting it in park on anything but a completely flat surface. A former roommate of mine found that out the hard way once when he couldn't find his car at the top of the driveway. It had popped out of gear, rolled down my driveway into the neighbor's yard across the street during the night. Fortunately their yard has a slight incline to it otherwise it may have hit their house! Needless to say he never parked witout the parkingn brake again.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
btw: On an incline, set the parking brake FIRST, before putting the shift lever into Park. Otherwise you'll have to YANK the shift lever out of Park. Sooner or later, this action will snap off the parking pawl inside the trans.
Not pleasant.
Resident smarta$$
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Oaks,PA
Right, thats what I was asking. If it freezes you're kinda screwed, no?
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