Help with automatic car gear L - What is it for?

[Doug]

Been driving out there for 6 years and i need to know what i am missing out on with the L option on my gear shift?


Doug

[blott]

I think you'll find it's L for low gear which is used for going up steep hills but not a lot of use in Florida where there aren't any!

[DarrenShort]

Its also used for going down steep hills - it gives extra engine braking that you would not get if in D. But as Blott says - it not a lot of use in Florida[msnsmile2]

[Doug]

Thanks been bugging me

need a villa with a steep drive way!

[DaveL]

It's also of use if you happen to be towing something heavy when you first start to move.

Dave

[jolliffee]

Yes it is used for decending the likes of Pikes Peek or othe extreem decents where you need the engine to help with keeping the speed down. We are talking a very long and steep decent or with a trailer on the back.

[Robert5988]

Some cars have L2 and L1 which restricts the gearbox to the first 3 or 2 gears.

It is particularly usefull when going up a long ascent where, when left in 'D', it would keep changing up and down the gearbox.