What is the correct way to use the D gear plus and minus?
1 Answers
D gear plus and minus refer to the manual mode in an automatic transmission. Here are the relevant introductions about D gear: 1. In manual mode: Upshifting requires meeting the speed and engine RPM requirements, but downshifting does not. When driving at low speed in 2nd gear, shifting to 3rd gear is possible, but the speed and engine RPM may not be sufficient to shift to 4th gear. When in 2nd gear with excessively high engine RPM, the transmission will automatically upshift. When in a higher gear with relatively low speed, the transmission will automatically downshift. 2. Specific situations for switching from automatic to manual mode: Long downhill slopes - manual mode can be used during long descents by keeping the gear in a low position and using engine braking to control speed, which reduces brake usage and prevents overheating. Descending in manual mode's low gears (3rd gear and below) is much more comfortable than using D gear, as it avoids frequent and prolonged brake usage while maintaining stable speed and ensuring driving safety. 3. Steep uphill climbs: For example, when stopping and starting frequently on steep slopes. In this case, limit the gear to 1st to handle frequent steep slope starts. This operation actually protects the transmission as well. For mountainous roads with significant gradient changes, manual mode can be used to limit gears to 2nd or 3rd, ensuring sufficient low-end torque for more powerful climbing. Similarly, when descending such roads, gears can be limited to 3rd or 4th to control speed using engine braking.
