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In what situation will you need to use low gears?
I was just sitting in my Mazda waiting for my mom to finish grocery shopping, and I realized I have no idea what the “L” gear is really useful for. I assume it stands for “low,” right? In what situation will you need to use low gears?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re glad you asked! And yes, you’re correct. The “L” gear in an automatic transmission is short for “low gear.”
You generally use a low gear when you want the engine producing more power, but less speed. Staying in a low gear allows the engine to rev up higher, but the speed is capped because that power isn’t all going to the wheels.
Most cars with automatic transmissions have at least one low gear, while some have two or even more. And some cars—perhaps your Mazda, even—have “paddle shifters” that let you drive a car with an automatic transmission but select the gears manually.
Here are some of the instances where using low gears will be useful:
- Freeing the car after getting stuck in snow
- Getting through rough weather in general
- Off-road conditions, like gravel, dirt, grass, or muddy roads
- Towing
- Going up a steep incline, or driving down a long, steep incline
If your car has them, it’s a good idea to take some time to learn
how to use paddle shifters
. You might even abandon driving the car in automatic mode once you master the art of driving in manual mode. You get better control over the car, and let’s be honest: it makes driving more fun.You should think about putting your
car insurance
premiums into low gear, too. Jerry
can help you save hundreds of dollars per year on your Mazda car insurance costs
without sacrificing the quality of your coverage!All you need to do is download the app, and you’ll see quotes in as little as 45 seconds. Jerry will do all the hard work for you to fill out paperwork, and you’ll never (ever) have to worry about spam calls.
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- Gregory R.
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