What do the S and L gears mean in an automatic transmission car?
2 Answers
In an automatic transmission car, the S gear stands for Sport mode, and the L gear stands for Low gear. When the S gear is engaged, the transmission can shift freely, but the shift timing is delayed, keeping the engine at high revs for a period to increase the car's power, which is often used when overtaking. The L gear is engaged when going downhill or on long slopes, allowing the car to use engine braking during descent. This prevents the driver from having to press the brakes for extended periods, avoiding the risk of overheating the brake pads. An automatic transmission generally refers to a car's automatic gear-shifting mechanism, where the control system of the automatic transmission selects the appropriate gear based on the engine's speed and load during driving.
I remember being quite curious about the S and L gears when I first drove an automatic transmission car. The S gear is actually the sport mode, which is equivalent to putting the car into a more active state. At this time, the throttle response becomes particularly sensitive, and the engine speed is also pulled higher, which is especially useful for overtaking. It feels like the power is always at your fingertips. However, using it for a long time will significantly increase fuel consumption. The L gear is the low gear, which is particularly practical when climbing steep slopes or going down long slopes, such as on mountain roads or long ramps in underground parking lots. It can rely on the engine to hold the speed without having to constantly step on the brake to slow down. Once on a rainy day, I used the L gear to stabilize the speed on a mountain road, which was much safer than using the regular gear.
