How to Use the L Gear in a Car?

[Eric]

The method of using the L gear in a car is: when going down a long slope, it allows the car to use the engine's power for braking, and when going up a slope, it fully utilizes the engine's torque for climbing. Situations for using the L gear include: 1. Climbing steep slopes; 2. Descending long slopes at low speeds. An automatic transmission does not require the driver to shift gears manually; the vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on the driving speed and traffic conditions. Other gears include: 1. P gear (Parking gear); 2. R gear (Reverse gear); 3. N gear (Neutral gear); 4. D gear (Drive gear); 5. S gear (Sport mode).

[Nelson]

I often use the L gear when climbing steep slopes, especially when driving on mountain roads or when the car is fully loaded. After shifting to L gear, the transmission will be locked in a low gear, and the engine will make a humming sound, but don't worry, this is normal. The most practical use is when going down steep slopes, as it allows the engine to drag the car to slow down, avoiding overheating and failure of the brakes. Remember to shift gears in advance before the slope, don't wait until you're going too fast to operate. Once, when driving a friend's old Highlander down the mountain, I used the L gear the whole way and hardly touched the brakes, which was indeed worry-free and safe. Of course, don't use it on flat roads, and especially don't suddenly shift to L gear when driving at high speeds, as it can damage the transmission.

[ElainaLynn]

As a veteran taxi driver with twenty years of experience, the L gear is a lifesaver in city traffic jams. When crawling out of a slow-moving underground garage, shifting to L1 gear and coasting slowly eliminates the need to press the accelerator. I also prefer switching to L gear when stuck in traffic on bridges to prevent the transmission from constantly shifting between 1st and 2nd gear, which causes the car to jerk. However, it's important to monitor the tachometer—once it hits 3000 RPM, ease off the pedal. Last year, while driving passengers to the airport during a heavy rainstorm, the elevated highway had fast-flowing water. I kept the car in L gear the whole time, and it remained rock-solid while several cars behind me ended up rear-ending each other. My car didn’t even slip once.

[VonKayden]

When I first bought a car, I had no idea what the L gear was, but later I discovered its use while driving on mountain roads. Actually, the L gear in an automatic transmission is equivalent to gears 1-2 in a manual transmission, where the gearbox is limited to lower gears. The most noticeable feeling is increased power but limited speed, making it suitable for situations requiring high torque. Last month, when driving my friend's CR-V up a construction site slope, it slipped in D gear but immediately climbed up after switching to L gear. Remember to stop and press the brake before shifting gears, as shifting while driving can damage the car. It's also useful for getting out of snow, being less harmful to tires than stomping on the accelerator.

[LeAlessandra]

Someone who has driven six different SUV brands tells you that the usage of L gear varies significantly. American cars usually call it L gear directly, German cars may label it as M gear with paddle shifters, and Japanese cars prefer to mark it as 2nd gear/L gear. The key is to understand the dashboard display: after engaging, it should show a fixed gear number. Once, I borrowed a used GL8 for a trip to Moganshan. When going downhill in D gear, the speed soared to 70 km/h, but switching to L gear locked it directly in 2nd gear, automatically controlling the speed to around 40 km/h. However, be aware that some models' L gear only goes up to 30 km/h, exceeding which can harm the engine.