How to Use D/S Gear?
3 Answers
Both D gear and S gear in a car are forward gears. Use D gear for normal driving, and S gear can be used for overtaking and acceleration. More information about the gears is as follows: P: Parking gear, start gear. Prevents the car from rolling. R: Reverse gear. Used when reversing. N: Neutral gear. Used for temporary parking. D: Drive gear, forward gear. The transmission automatically shifts between 1st to 5th gears based on speed and throttle conditions. S: Sport mode. When this gear is engaged, the gears can be freely switched, but it increases fuel consumption. L: Low gear. The transmission stays in 1st gear and does not upshift, providing some braking function when going downhill, and can be used in situations like slopes.
When driving an automatic transmission car, I usually just use the D (Drive) gear, which is the normal driving mode. When I need to overtake or climb a hill, I shift to the S (Sport) gear by gently pushing the gear lever backward. There's no need to press the brake when shifting gears while the car is moving. In S mode, the car responds faster, and pressing the accelerator gives a more aggressive acceleration, making the drive much more exciting. However, don’t keep the S mode on all the time—it runs at higher RPMs, significantly increasing fuel consumption and risking engine overheating. I recommend using it only when needed, such as for highway overtaking or mountain road climbs, and limiting it to a few minutes. For daily commutes, the D mode is more than enough—it’s fuel-efficient and smooth, and you don’t even need to shift gears when stopping at traffic lights. I’ve seen people constantly using S mode in the city for fun, only to end up burning three extra liters per 100 kilometers—what a waste!
My automatic transmission car has been running for almost five years, and the D gear is for daily use, requiring little attention. When I need rapid acceleration, such as overtaking, I simply shift to the S gear, and the engine immediately revs up, making the car surge forward like it's been given a boost. Once on the highway when I wanted to overtake a large truck, the D gear felt sluggish, but shifting to S gear and stepping on the gas made it zip right past. The operation is super simple—just press the transmission button while driving. However, for everyday errands or picking up the kids, I stick to D gear to save fuel, as using S gear can increase the fuel consumption by 2-3 liters according to the dashboard display. I generally only use S gear on long slopes or open roads, switching back after a few minutes. Remember, keeping it in S gear for too long is bad for the car and costly—once the transmission temperature gets too high, the warning light will flash. I’ve seen new drivers who didn’t understand this and kept driving in S gear, only to end up stranded and needing a tow.
