How to Use the S Gear in Focus?
2 Answers
S gear is the sports mode of the car. In S gear sports mode, the transmission can shift freely, but the shift timing is delayed, allowing the engine to maintain high RPM for a longer time, enabling the car to travel at low gears and high RPM for an extended period, thereby achieving greater torque output and acceleration. More details about the S gear are as follows: 1. Since the S gear only delays upshifting without changing other operational aspects, it inevitably increases the transmission load and temperature in the short term, leading to accelerated wear. Therefore, try not to use the S gear for extended periods. 2. In terms of fuel consumption, because the fuel injection volume increases at high RPM, the fuel consumption in S gear mode is much higher than in normal mode. However, using the S gear also has benefits for the vehicle. Cars that frequently drive in congested urban areas tend to accumulate more carbon deposits in the engine. Therefore, using the S gear appropriately at regular intervals helps remove carbon deposits from the engine, improving fuel economy and extending engine life. 3. Generally, automatic transmission vehicles have the following gear positions: P, R, N, D, S: (1) P (Parking gear). When parking the car, the gear lever must be shifted into the P position. (2) R (Reverse gear). (3) N (Neutral gear). The N position is equivalent to neutral and can be used when starting the car, parking without leaving the vehicle, or during towing. (4) D (Drive gear). During normal driving, place the gear lever in the D position, and the car will automatically shift between forward gears. The D gear is the most commonly used gear. (5) S gear is the sports mode of the car ("S" stands for "Sport"). In S gear sports mode, the transmission can shift freely, but the shift timing is delayed, allowing the engine to maintain high RPM for a longer time, enabling the car to travel at low gears and high RPM for an extended period, thereby achieving greater torque output and acceleration. While the car is in motion, simply push the gear lever into the "S" position. This is typically used for climbing hills or rapid acceleration when overtaking.
I've been driving a Focus for several years and particularly enjoy using the S-mode to enhance driving pleasure. The operation is quite simple: just shift directly from the automatic D-position to the S-position while driving. It makes the transmission delay gear shifts, keeping the engine RPM higher for quicker acceleration response – it's exhilarating! For instance, when climbing mountain roads or overtaking on highways, switching to S-mode makes the car feel more powerful. If equipped with paddle shifters, you can even manually control the upshift and downshift points, which is especially thrilling during cornering or rapid acceleration. However, I must remind you that S-mode significantly increases fuel consumption and may accelerate component wear with prolonged use. Therefore, it's best reserved for when needed. For daily commuting, switching back to D-mode saves fuel, enhances durability, and prolongs vehicle lifespan.
