Can You Shift from D to S Gear While Driving an Automatic Transmission Car?
2 Answers
You can shift from D to S gear while driving an automatic transmission car. The functions of D and S gears are basically the same. The D gear is the drive gear of the car. When this gear is engaged and the accelerator is pressed, the car can move forward normally, and the automatic transmission performs gear shifting operations. The S gear, on the other hand, is the sport mode. When this gear is engaged, the automatic transmission downshifts more aggressively, the power response becomes more intense, and driving becomes more exciting. Therefore, when the car is moving forward normally, most automatic transmission models can shift directly from D to S gear. The only difference is that the transmission will perform continuous downshifts. As long as the accelerator pedal is kept pressed, the ECU will generally perform the corresponding fuel compensation automatically. For cars with manual-automatic transmission, it is better to use D gear when driving on the highway because the car usually maintains a speed of 90-120 kilometers per hour on the highway. When traffic is not heavy, operations like overtaking, rapid acceleration, or sudden deceleration are rarely needed. In such cases, using D gear makes driving safer, smoother, and more fuel-efficient. As for the S gear, it is best used when overtaking. Since overtaking on the highway often requires higher speeds, engaging the S gear allows the car to achieve greater output torque, making the overtaking process shorter and safer.
I remember driving my automatic transmission car for many years, often shifting from D to S gear on the road, such as when I wanted to overtake or climb a hill. This operation is completely safe because the transmission is designed to support dynamic shifting and will not cause damage. It is recommended to shift when the speed is stable, such as between 30 and 60 kilometers per hour, to avoid sudden throttle input at high speeds to reduce the jerky feeling. If the car is in normal condition, brief switching can enhance driving pleasure; the S gear keeps the engine in a lower gear, making it more responsive. Once on a rainy day, I switched to S gear to accelerate and overtake, and it was very smooth, no need to worry. Regular maintenance can extend the life of the transmission.
