What are the S and L gears in a car?
3 Answers
In a car, S and L stand for Sport mode and Low gear respectively. Here is some relevant information about car gears: 1. Drive: The forward gear, also known as the driving gear. 2. Neutral: The neutral gear. Use this gear when temporarily stopping (e.g., at a red light). Note that this gear indicates neutral, and to prevent the vehicle from rolling on a slope, you must keep the brake pedal pressed. 3. Reverse: The reverse gear, used when backing up. 4. Sport: Indicates sport mode. When this gear is engaged, the gears can be freely switched, but the shifting timing is delayed, keeping the engine at high RPM for a period to increase the car's power.
The S and L gears on a car are both specialized automatic transmission modes. S stands for Sport mode, which I particularly enjoy using when overtaking—it delays gear shifts to maintain higher RPMs, delivering exceptionally strong power output. L represents Low gear, most practical for mountain roads or steep slopes. It restricts the transmission to lower gears to provide high torque for climbing, and also utilizes engine braking on long descents to reduce brake wear. These two modes shouldn't be used arbitrarily; the regular D (Drive) gear suffices for daily flat-road driving. Using S mode significantly increases fuel consumption, while suddenly switching to L gear at highway speeds can harm the transmission. Remember to always brake and reduce speed before shifting gears to avoid transmission damage.
I've used the S and L gears on the automatic transmission quite a few times. The S gear is most noticeable during aggressive driving, where the engine revs up to over 4,000 RPM before shifting, providing a strong push-back sensation, but after driving ten kilometers, you can clearly see the fuel gauge drop. The L gear is more commonly used in special road conditions; starting on snowy roads prevents the car from slipping, and on long downhill sections, releasing the throttle won't cause the speed to surge. It's important to note that both these gears are auxiliary functions that give the driver more control and cannot replace the D gear for daily use. Some cars also have an M manual mode with paddle shifters, but S and L are the most basic driving mode switches.
