What does D1 gear mean?
2 Answers
D1 gear means fixed gear. Under normal road conditions, you can drive using the D gear all the time. However, there are several situations where you should not keep the gear in D, which are: 1. Driving on mountainous roads. When driving on mountainous roads, you should choose the appropriate time to shift to a lower gear. 2. Climbing a slope. When climbing a slope, you should shift to a low gear. 3. Excessive speed. If the speed is too fast and exceeds the maximum speed of the gear you want to shift down to, downshifting at this time can cause significant damage to the automatic transmission, easily burning the friction plates in the transmission. Moreover, many automatic transmission vehicles have a self-protection mode, making this operation impossible to achieve. In such cases, you need to use the brakes to reduce the speed before shifting to the appropriate gear.
I've been driving for almost 20 years and I'm very familiar with the D1 gear in automatic transmissions. It's basically used in steep places, like climbing a big hill or going down a steep slope. Switching to D1 makes the car engage first gear, with the engine working harder, providing stable driving. Unlike the usual D gear where automatic shifting can easily cause slipping or rolling, D1 is especially useful on slippery roads or in icy and snowy conditions, reducing the risk of tire slippage. I live in a mountainous city and often encounter steep slopes when going out. Using D1 frequently hasn't increased transmission wear at all, as long as it's not engaged for too long, and it even extends its lifespan a bit. Different car models might have slightly different names, like some older cars labeling it as L gear or 1st gear, but the principle is similar—both rely on limiting RPM to enhance control. I recommend beginners practice before starting out, trying to switch from D to D1 in an empty lot to get familiar with the feeling and avoid mistakes. Once you develop the habit, driving becomes safer and more fuel-efficient, especially in hilly areas.
