Using Low Gears in Automatic Cars: Benefits, Risks, and Proper Techniques

SLEMAN, KOMPAS.com – Automatic transmission cars are equipped with a lever to adjust the car’s acceleration on certain road conditions. Like positions L, 1, 2, S and M, these are all low gear codes on automatic cars.

The automatic transmission position option above can be used when the car is driving up an incline so that the car still has a lot of torque.

When going downhill, automatic car users can also use the lower gear above so that the car’s speed can be hampered by the engine brake and main brake so that the risk of brake failure is smaller.

Also read: Understand the safe mode for automatic car transmission when overheating

However, drivers should not be careless in using low gears in automatic cars because there is a risk that the transmission could be damaged.

Hardi Wibowo, owner of Aha Motor Yogyakarta, said that the low gear on the automatic transmission can be used to go uphill and downhill, but don’t do it all the time.

“If a descent is successfully passed, or a descent is successfully passed, the driver should immediately return the position of the automatic lever to D so that acceleration can occur,” said Hardi to Kompas.com, Monday (30/10/2023).

Also read: The correct position of the automatic transmission lever when going downhill

Don’t let the engine rev too high, because according to Hardi, that could be an indication of overdrive or excessive revs.

The impact will be that the engine revs higher than it should, which can actually damage the transmission.

Not only when going uphill, Hardi also said that positions 1 and 2 on the automatic lever can be used to descend steep roads more safely.

“It’s the same as using the engine brake by moving the acceleration manually, but the driver still has to pay attention to the engine speed, if he approaches the red line, immediately increase the force on the brake pedal,” said Hardi.

Also read: Position of Automatic Car Transmission Lever When Stopping on an Uphill Road

If the road conditions are sloping, the driver should immediately move the automatic lever to position D so that acceleration can occur automatically.

“If the driver selects the position of the automatic lever manually, the acceleration will be delayed, so if you forget it it could cause the engine to sputter, the car will not speed up,” said Hardi.

So, fuel consumption can become wasteful, speed is limited, and can damage the engine if it continues.

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2023-10-30 12:31:00
#Risks #Automatic #Cars #Gears #Hilly #Roads #Kompas.com