What do the letters on an automatic transmission mean?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission letters include P, R, N, D, L, S, and OD. Below is a detailed introduction to each gear: 1.P: Parking gear, start gear. When you park, you can shift the gear to the P position. At this time, the transmission's parking brake device will lock the output shaft, ensuring the vehicle does not move even on a slope. 2.R: Reverse gear, used when reversing. When parking or reversing into a garage, you can shift into R gear. Vehicles with a rearview camera will display the rearview image when shifted into R. 3.N: Neutral gear. Used for temporary stops (e.g., at a red light). Note that this gear is neutral; to prevent the vehicle from rolling on a slope, always keep the brake pressed. 4.D: Drive gear, also known as the driving gear. The advantage of an automatic transmission is that once you shift into D gear, your speed depends entirely on how much you press the accelerator. 5.L: Low gear. When going downhill or on a long slope, shifting into this gear limits the car to the lowest gear, allowing the engine to assist in braking. This prevents the brake pads from overheating due to prolonged braking, which could be dangerous. 6.S: Sport mode. When shifted into this gear, the transmission can switch gears freely. 7.OD: Overdrive gear, used for high-speed driving to save fuel.
As an ordinary person who has driven for many years, I often encounter beginners asking about the meaning of the letters on an automatic transmission. These letters actually represent the gear settings that control the vehicle. P stands for Park, which is the safest to engage after the car has come to a complete stop; R is for Reverse, used when backing into a parking spot or making a U-turn, and requires careful checking of the rearview mirrors; N is Neutral, allowing the wheels to rotate freely when waiting at a red light or during towing; D is Drive, the go-to gear for automatic shifting that makes driving effortless on the road. Some cars also have an S mode for Sport, which is great for overtaking or climbing hills but consumes more fuel; L stands for Low, used when descending steep slopes to protect the braking system. The biggest fear when driving an automatic is accidentally shifting into the wrong gear and causing an accident, such as ensuring there are no obstacles before switching from P to D. In city traffic jams, keeping the car in D is the most practical, as there's no need to frequently shift to N, which helps reduce transmission wear.
