Which gear should be used for uphill and downhill in an automatic transmission car?
2 Answers
For uphill driving in an automatic transmission car, use the D (Drive) gear. For downhill driving, you can use the D gear, or the L (Low) gear if your car is equipped with one. Relevant information is introduced as follows: When going downhill or on long slopes, shifting to the L gear limits the car's automatic gear shifting to the lowest gear (equivalent to first gear in a manual transmission car). This allows the car to use engine braking when going downhill, preventing the driver from having to press the brake for extended periods, which could overheat the brake pads and cause danger. When driving an automatic transmission car, remember not to shift to neutral (N) before a red light or when going downhill. Instead, keep it in the forward gear (D or L) and control the speed using the gear and brakes to avoid accidents.
Looking back on my 30 years of driving, I've learned many lessons on mountain roads. When going uphill, I usually use the D gear, as the transmission automatically selects the appropriate gear, making it effortless and worry-free. However, on steep uphill slopes, I switch to L gear or S gear to keep the engine in a low gear with high RPM, providing greater torque to prevent the car from rolling back or slipping. Once in the mountains, using D gear uphill felt underpowered and nearly caused a dangerous situation, but switching to L gear made the climb effortless. Downhill is even more critical—avoid using D gear as it can cause the car to accelerate, making the brakes prone to overheating. I prefer shifting to a lower gear like L or manually downshifting to 2nd gear, using engine braking to slow down and protect the brake system, eliminating the risk of brake failure. In short, D gear is sufficient for gentle slopes in daily driving, but for steep inclines, manual intervention is a necessary safety habit. Combined with gentle throttle and brake checks, it ensures a safe journey.
