What does the P in automatic transmission mean?
3 Answers
P stands for Parking—the parking gear, where P is the abbreviation. After parking, it is necessary to engage the P gear to prevent the vehicle from rolling, especially when parking on a slope. The general method to engage P gear is to press the brake pedal and wait until the vehicle comes to a complete stop before shifting or using the electronic button for models equipped with one. Automatic transmissions have the following gears: 1. P gear: Represents the parking gear. When parking the vehicle, shift into P gear, including when shutting off the engine or during prolonged idling. 2. R gear: Represents the reverse gear. Shift into R gear when reversing the vehicle. 3. N gear: Represents the neutral gear, which is the same as the neutral gear in manual transmissions. It can be used for short-term parking. 4. D gear: Represents the drive gear. When shifted into this gear, the vehicle moves forward. In this gear, the transmission automatically shifts between 1st and the highest gear based on the vehicle's speed and throttle conditions. 5. S gear: Represents the sport mode. When shifted into this gear, the transmission delays shifting, keeping the gear at higher RPMs for longer to increase vehicle power, though this naturally consumes more fuel.
The P gear on an automatic transmission is the parking gear. I always shift into this gear after parking because it locks the transmission, preventing the car from rolling away. Especially when parking on a slope, just shifting into P gear isn't enough - you need to use the handbrake together for reliability. I remember one time when I parked in an underground mall parking lot, I shifted into P gear but forgot to engage the handbrake. When I got out of the car, I noticed it had rolled forward about half a meter, which scared me so much that I immediately jumped back in. Before starting the car, it's also important to make sure the gear is in P position, otherwise some car models won't even start. I never shift into P gear when waiting at a red light - if you get rear-ended, the transmission might get damaged, and that's much more expensive to repair than a bumper. Also, when using an automatic car wash, the staff will tell you to shift into N gear - don't foolishly leave it in P gear and get out of the car.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I believe the most crucial function of the P (Park) gear is safety. It locks the transmission to secure the vehicle, but it's important to note that when parking on a slope, you should first press the brake to come to a complete stop, then shift to N (Neutral) and engage the handbrake firmly, before finally shifting to P. This prevents excessive strain on the locking mechanism. I've seen many beginners hastily shift to P before the car has fully stopped, causing the transmission to make clunking noises. Doing this repeatedly can damage the internal gears. Also, when towing the car, it must be in N gear. Towing with P engaged can completely wreck the transmission. In fact, every automatic transmission owner should develop good habits: press the brake and shift to P before starting the car, engage the handbrake before shifting to P when parking, and use the handbrake in conjunction with P for long-term parking.
