How to Do a Burnout With an Automatic Transmission
by C. Taylor
Burnouts are used to warm up a vehicle's tires before a race. They are also used to simply show off. Burnouts can be a spectacular display of melting rubber, which produces a cloud of white smoke. Burnouts are easily achieved in manual transmissions, because you have the opportunity to rev the engine to high rpms before dropping the clutch. Automatic transmissions do not have the same luxury, so you will need to use a few tricks, especially if the vehicle in under-powered.
Step 1
Pour generous amounts of water on the pavement. If you have a low-horsepower vehicle, you can also douse the area with oil to reduce traction.
Step 2
Position your vehicle so that only your drive wheels are in the water or oil. This might entail backing into the puddle with a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, or driving forward with a front-wheel-drive vehicle.
Step 3
Turn off any traction control in your vehicle. This will usually require pressing a button on your dash, but consult your owner's manual for vehicle-specific instructions.
Step 4
Pull the emergency brake, if you have a front-wheel drive. Do not do this if you have rear-wheel drive. The emergency brake is typically connected only with the rear wheels, so it will benefit front-wheel drive vehicles when performing a burnout, but hinder rear-wheel drive vehicles.
Step 5
Press the brake pedal with your left foot, and shift the car into "drive."
Step 6
Press the gas with your right foot, while still holding the brake with your left foot. Bring the rpm up to approximately 4,000.
Step 7
Release the brake. The torque from the high rpm, coupled with the reduced traction, should break the tires loose. Once traction is lost, it is easy to maintain the burnout with high rpm. To escape the burnout, just let off the gas.
Tips
- You can also face uphill and roll backwards while following the above procedure. This should only be required if your vehicle is severely under-powered.
Things You'll Need
- Water
- Oil
Warnings
- Make certain there are no obstructions in front of your vehicle when performing a burnout. If traction is found, the vehicle will rapidly accelerate.
- This is a dangerous maneuver. Make sure you have taken all the necessary safety precautions.
Writer Bio
C. Taylor embarked on a professional writing career in 2009 and frequently writes about technology, science, business, finance, martial arts and the great outdoors. He writes for both online and offline publications, including the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Samsung, Radio Shack, Motley Fool, Chron, Synonym and more. He received a Master of Science degree in wildlife biology from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences at College of Charleston. He also holds minors in statistics, physics and visual arts.
