In car driving, different gear selections not only affect the driving experience, but also directly affect the performance and fuel consumption of the vehicle. Most automatic transmission cars have an S gear, and some cars do not have the letter S, but they can choose the driving mode, as long as the sport mode is selected, it is equivalent to an S gear. Most people go around the world in D gear, and some old drivers will switch to S gear in different situations to adapt to different road conditions. One of the biggest features of the S gear is that the car will be more powerful, the acceleration performance will be stronger, and the throttle will be more sensitive and responsive. Therefore, some people are willing to use this gear to drive, so will it hurt the car to drive with S gear often? Today we will talk about the impact of gear selection on the vehicle.
First of all, we should know why the S gear becomes stronger?
The S gear is a sporty mode, and you can tell by the name that it will be very powerful. When the car engages in S gear, the gearbox's shifting logic changes, and the gearbox computer delays the shift. Suppose the engine used to be upshifting at 2000 rpm, but now it takes 2500 rpm to upshift, so that the engine always runs in a higher speed range, and the natural power will increase. It's easier to understand the analogy of a manual transmission car, even if your car has a small displacement, and you only change gears at 2500 or 3000 rpm every time, the power of the car will be quite good. Because no matter at low speed or high speed, the engine has been in a state of high torque and high power, of course, the power will be significantly enhanced.
In addition to delaying gear shifts, the engine computer also adjusts the response speed of the throttle, which opens quickly when the throttle is lightly pressed, increasing the air intake and allowing the engine to maintain a more stable output at high speeds, further improving the power performance. This is also the reason why the car feels more aggressive, the throttle opens and closes faster, and the engine revs faster when you press the accelerator, making the car feel lighter. In short, the vehicle's computer system will do whatever it takes to adjust multiple parameters to suit the more intense driving demands
So will the strong power output be bad for the car?
Long-term use of S gear must have an impact on the vehicle. First of all, fuel consumption will increase, which is the most intuitive feeling. The engine and gearbox have not changed, and the driving power has become stronger, which is all due to high fuel consumption. Only by burning more oil can we produce more energy and have strong power. As the saying goes, there is no meat car, as long as you are willing to step on the accelerator, the power of the car is not bad. Second, running at high rpm causes increased load on the engine and transmission, which accelerates their wear. If you put on the S gear and refuel vigorously when the car is cool, the wear and tear of the engine and gearbox will be greater. In addition, prolonged high-speed operation can also increase engine temperatures, which in turn can affect the normal life of the engine. However, the biggest impact is on fuel consumption, which is not too much for wear and tear.
Why do some old drivers often use S gear?
Each gear has its own unique role, and the S gear has an irreplaceable role in specific situations. For example, when a vehicle is climbing or overtaking, engaging in S gear can quickly increase power delivery, making it easier to climb hills and allowing for faster overtaking. Especially when overtaking, if you can't overtake for a long time, there will be a certain danger. It is necessary to put in the S gear to quickly overtake, or to avoid danger. In addition, due to the high engine speed, the S gear can also remove carbon deposits in the engine to a certain extent, helping to keep the engine in good condition. Therefore, in situations where a strong power output is required, we can use the S gear appropriately.
To sum up, as long as the S gear is designed, it must have its role, and different gears are suitable for different driving environments and needs. Under normal circumstances, you can use D gear all the time, which not only has enough power, but also maintains high fuel economy. When you need strong power, you can directly engage the S gear, and you can send out strong power at any time. In the case of D gear, you can directly hang into the S gear, no need to step on the brake or release the throttle, and you can hang in and out at any time.
For car owners who pursue performance and driving pleasure, using S gear at the right time can undoubtedly bring a better driving experience, like a manual transmission, switching at any time, and also adding a little sense of participation to driving an automatic transmission. Therefore, it is not recommended to use S gear all the time on urban roads, and there are many traffic lights in the vehicle, which can not give full play to the maximum performance of the car, but makes the fuel consumption very high. It should be flexibly switched according to the actual driving situation, and use it only when it should be used, so that you can enjoy the fun of driving while taking into account fuel economy.
Source: Autopedia