Do You Need to Keep Pressing the Accelerator in an Automatic Transmission Car?
3 Answers
In an automatic transmission car, you don't need to keep pressing the accelerator continuously. The correct way to accelerate is to gently release the accelerator when you want to increase speed. When the vehicle speed decreases, the transmission will recognize the need to shift gears. After the gear shifts up, you can press the accelerator again. It can be understood as gently releasing the accelerator each time the gear shifts up, and pressing it again to accelerate the car. Here is some related information about automatic transmissions: Introduction: As the name suggests, an automatic transmission eliminates the need for the driver to manually shift gears. The vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on the driving speed and traffic conditions. Typically, an automatic transmission car has six gear positions, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, S, and L. Principle of Operation: The engine's power is transmitted through the gearbox, which is also a key factor affecting fuel consumption. Generally, automatic transmissions consume over 10% more fuel than manual transmissions. Regardless of whether it's a manual or automatic transmission, more gears usually mean better fuel efficiency.
When I first learned to drive an automatic car, I also wondered whether I should keep pressing the accelerator all the time. Later, I realized it's completely unnecessary. Just press it once to get the car moving, and then operate flexibly according to road conditions. In city driving with frequent stops and starts, such as at red lights or in traffic jams, simply release the accelerator and let the car coast naturally—this saves fuel and reduces foot fatigue. On highways, setting cruise control makes driving much easier, and you hardly need to touch the accelerator pedal. On downhill sections, releasing the accelerator while using the brakes ensures safer and more stable driving. After developing the habit of releasing the accelerator at the right time, driving becomes much more enjoyable, fuel costs are reduced, and there’s no need to nervously keep pressing it. I feel my driving confidence has improved.
When driving an automatic car, I rarely press the accelerator all the way, mainly to save fuel. On smooth roads, releasing the accelerator and letting the car coast on inertia is the most economical way, reducing fuel consumption to the minimum. In traffic jams or at red lights, releasing the accelerator early to let the car glide avoids frequent sudden acceleration and is more efficient. After using the cruise control system, I can basically let go and just monitor the road conditions. Developing this habit can save a lot on fuel costs over a year, and my foot won’t get sore. I usually pay attention to maintaining a steady speed, only gently pressing the accelerator when accelerating, to avoid overworking the engine, which can overall extend the car’s lifespan.
