This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
Are you one of the many drivers who opted for an automatic car, thinking it's easier to drive than a manual transmission? You're not alone. However, driving an automatic car requires more than just shifting gears; it demands a basic understanding of how the transmission works.
Published on July 23, 2019, this article aims to cover the basics of using an automatic transmission, helping you to improve your fuel economy and reduce the number of times you visit the garage.
Most vehicles with automatic transmissions have three basic gear transmissions. When you select Drive, the car will only shift through the first three gears. However, if you have a button-activated Overdrive mode, you can press it on and off while driving at constant speed to feel the effects.
Engaging Overdrive will result in a loss of RPMs and better fuel economy, but only if you don't strain the engine. The Overdrive gear is higher than a 1:1 ratio, making acceleration an uphill battle when it's engaged.
Understanding the gear selector is also crucial. Your gear selector probably has P, R, N, D, and/or (0) along with any combination of L, 1, 2, or 3. Here's what each position means:
- P: Park - selected when the vehicle is parked.
- R: Reverse - used when the driver wants to go backwards.
- N: Neutral - only used when you need to roll the car from one place to another.
- D: Drive - the drive range is selected when you wish to drive the vehicle forward.
- L, 1, 2, and 3: These modes will lock your automatic transmission into using a particular gear, helpful when you don't want the transmission to shift in response to throttle position or load.
By understanding how to use your automatic transmission, you can improve your fuel economy and reduce the number of times you visit the garage.
