Do You Need to Press the Brake When Shifting from S to D Gear?

[LaSarah]

Shifting from S gear to D gear does not require pressing the brake, and the same applies when shifting from D gear to S gear. Most automatic transmission models have an L gear or M gear on the transmission. L, M, and D gears belong to the same gear position, indicating acceleration. Shifting from S to D gear already reduces speed, and braking at this time can cause some wear and tear on the transmission. You can directly move the lever to complete the gear shift. Automatic transmission cars generally use uppercase English letters to represent gear positions. When the car is at different speeds, you need to "shift gears," meaning selecting different gear combinations to output power. Below is a detailed introduction to each gear position: P gear: Parking means "stopping." It is the parking gear, used when parking. When you reach your destination or need to park for a long time, shift the lever into this position. Note: You must ensure the vehicle is completely stopped before shifting into P gear. Shifting into P gear before the vehicle is fully stopped can cause partial mechanical damage to the automatic transmission. When in P gear, the wheels are mechanically locked, preventing the vehicle from moving forward or backward. Therefore, you must shift into P gear when parking on a slope. Additionally, during short stops (such as at traffic lights), it is best not to shift into P gear to avoid severe damage to the entire transmission in case of a rear-end collision. R gear: Reverse means "turning back." Whether it's a manual or automatic transmission, R is the reverse gear. Shifting into R gear makes the car move backward. You can only shift into this gear when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling. Never use R gear when the car is moving forward, and pay special attention to accelerator control when reversing. N gear: Neutral means "in the middle," also known as the neutral gear. At traffic lights, you can shift into this gear and press the brake. If the waiting time is longer, it is recommended to pull the handbrake, allowing your foot to leave the brake pedal for a short rest. Many people have a misconception that shifting into N gear while coasting downhill or at high speed can save fuel. This is a serious mistake. Not only does it not save fuel, but it can also damage the transmission. S gear: Sport means "sport" in cars, indicating the sport gear. When shifting into this gear, the transmission delays gear shifts to provide more power, generally used when overtaking. M gear: Manual means "hand control" in cars, indicating the manual mode. Similar to manual transmission cars, it requires manual gear shifting. L gear: Low means "low speed" in cars, indicating the low-speed forward gear. When shifting into this gear, the transmission only operates in low gear (equivalent to first gear in manual transmissions) and does not automatically shift to other gears based on speed changes. This gear is generally used when climbing or descending slopes. In low gear, the driving wheels output more torque, providing sufficient power to climb steep slopes. Prolonged braking can cause the brake pads to overheat and reduce braking effectiveness, which is very dangerous on long or steep descents. In such cases, you can shift into L gear, using the engine's low speed to restrain the vehicle's movement, eliminating the need for constant braking. D gear: Drive means "driving." Shifting into this gear and pressing the accelerator allows the car to move. In this gear, the transmission automatically shifts based on speed and accelerator conditions. At traffic lights, you can stay in D gear and press the brake. If the waiting time is short, this is fine, but if it is longer, it can raise the transmission oil temperature and degrade the oil quality.