Which gear should be used for continuous downhill driving in an automatic transmission car?
1 Answers
When driving downhill with an automatic transmission, you should shift from D gear to a lower gear. Some automatic transmissions have an L gear, which stands for Low gear, designed for safety purposes. When descending a long slope, the L gear utilizes engine braking to control the vehicle's speed, reducing the frequency of using the brakes and preventing brake fade caused by excessive braking, which could lead to dangerous situations. Generally, vehicles have 5 gears: P gear, R gear, N gear, D gear, and S gear. Below are the related introductions: 1. P (Parking) gear, also known as the parking gear: When the vehicle is parked and not in use, the gear is set to this position, where the wheels are mechanically locked to prevent rolling. The vehicle must be completely stopped before engaging P gear; otherwise, the mechanical parts of the automatic transmission may be damaged. 2. R (Reverse) gear: Used for reversing. Never force the gear into 'R' before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, as this can severely damage the transmission. 3. N (Neutral) gear: Used for temporary stops (e.g., at a red light). This gear indicates neutral, and to prevent the vehicle from rolling on a slope, the brake must be applied. 4. D (Drive) gear: Used for normal driving on regular roads. 5. S (Sport) mode: When engaged, the gear can be freely switched, but the shifting timing is delayed to keep the engine at higher RPMs for a period, enhancing the car's power. Using this gear will increase fuel consumption.
