Driving a car with an automatic transmission has several benefits over the manual gearbox, mainly in terms of convenience.
Stick shift does allow the driver to change gears when they see fit, but modern automatics have more gears and provide a smoother and even more fuel-efficient ride.
Most automatic owners know how to operate the gear lever – Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive. However, “3”, “2” and “L” positions are almost never used, to the extent that drivers forget what they’re for.
The “L” on gear shift stands for Low, a low gear mode that prevents the transmission from shifting up beyond the first or second gear.
Not to be confused with low range, “L” gear mode has several useful applications. In this guide, we’ll explore how low gear mode works and what it can be used for.
What does L mean on a Car?
The L on your gear shifter indicates the Low gear. It’s the equivalent of first gear in a manual transmission vehicle, depending on what car you drive.
In L, the transmission doesn’t shift into the higher gears, but it stays in the lowest gear for more engine power without speed.
You will experience extra torque power and control as the engine harnesses itself. As you push the accelerator pedal down, the engine sends pure force to the wheels, but this extra power doesn’t translate to speed.
Low gear isn’t commonly used because the engine can shift itself into first when it’s needed. However, there are times when you want to manually put the car in first gear.
Making It Easy
When you’re driving a car with an automatic transmission, you’ll notice several letters and numbers on the gear shift. These symbols indicate different gears that the car can be in, and they can be confusing for new drivers.
To help you understand what each one means, we’ve put together a quick guide explaining the most common symbols:
D – Drive: This is the default position for most cars. When your car is in “D,” it means that you’re in drive mode and can begin moving forward.
N – Neutral: If you want to take a break from driving or need to coast downhill, you can put your car into neutral. Just be sure to shift back into “D” before you start accelerating again.
R – Reverse: You’ll only use this gear when backing up. It’s easy to remember because “R” is for “reverse.”
P – Park: Use this position when you’re parked and want to make sure your car doesn’t roll away. You should also engage the parking brake whenever you park.
L – Low Gear: This position is typically used for towing or driving on steep inclines.
S – Sport: Puts the car into a lower gear so you can have more power and control when accelerating.
M – Manual: This position allows you to shift gears manually, giving you more control over your car’s speed.
‘+/-‘ – These symbols indicate whether you should shift up or down. When they’re right next to each other, it means to shift to the next higher or lower gear. If there’s a minus sign (-) in front of the plus sign, it means you should shift down.
Understanding Engine Braking
To better understand the purpose of the low gear mode, we need to learn what engine braking is.
When you’re driving downhill, if you set your car into neutral, it will act as a sleigh and accelerate uncontrollably.
You can counter this by applying brakes, but they can quickly overheat and lose all braking power. You should never drive downhill while in neutral!
Engine braking occurs when you release the throttle, but the vehicle continues to accelerate. As the throttle valve is closed almost completely, a strong vacuum is created that saps a lot of the potential energy and creates the engine-braking effect.
In other words, when you press the gas pedal, the engine raises RPM and this rotational speed is transferred to the gearbox, and onto the wheels.
When you’re driving downhill, the wheels want to spin faster than the engine, which is prevented by engine braking. By placing a manual gear level in 2nd gear, most cars will maintain a descending speed of 30mph, with no input on the brake pedal.
What happens when the “D” or drive mode is selected depends on the technology inside the vehicle. Modern cars have intelligent systems that know when the vehicle is going downhill and engage hill descent to assist to help the driver retain control.
Older automatic transmission will continue to upshift as you continue to accelerate, which means the engine will never get to help you with braking.
To force an automatic to brake with the engine, you need to drive in a lower gear and prevent the transmission from shifting up while you’re descending. This is done by using the gear lever settings below Drive – “3”, “2”, and “L”.
Is Engine Braking Safe?
One of the most dangerous misconceptions in the automotive world is thinking that engine braking will damage the engine.
Engine braking will not cause any damage to the engine, and even if it did, it’s far better to harm the engine, than to burn out brakes your brakes and accelerate uncontrollably.
But I’ll say it one more time to clarify: engine braking will not harm your engine. Your primary way of controlling the car on a descent should be through engine braking, with brakes applied before sharp corners.
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve driven downhill and smelt burning brakes coming from other cars, while I hadn’t touched my brake pedal at all.
It may be scary the first time you try engine braking, as the engine will rev up high and make a lot of noise.
This is completely normal and nothing to worry about – the engine is consuming a very low amount of fuel, and despite the high RPM, it’s actually preventing the vehicle from accelerating.
Why Knowing These Is Important
Well, first off, it’s good to know what all the symbols and numbers on your car mean. But more importantly, understanding the different gears can help you drive more efficiently and safely.
For example, if you’re driving in stop-and-go traffic, you’ll want to be in a lower gear so your car doesn’t have to work as hard. Or if you’re going down a steep hill, you’ll need to be in a low gear, so you don’t overwork your brakes.
Knowing when to shift gears is a skill that takes practice to master. But once you get the hang of it, it’ll become second nature. So don’t be afraid to experiment with the different settings next time you’re behind the wheel.
How to Shift Into L Gear
If you want to put the vehicle into the Low gear, you will follow these steps.
- While in Drive, take your foot off of the gas pedal and allow your car to slow down to at least 20 mph.
- Resume a steady speed as you move the shifter to the L gear
- If the RPMs spike too high, you will need to slow down further.
When you are ready to allow the automatic transmission to work on its own again, you can shift out of the L gear. Here are the steps to follow.
- While the car is in L gear, accelerate until you get the RPMs up to 3,000.
- Switch the shifter back to the D gear to activate Drive mode.
If you shift the transmission from a high speed into the lowest gear, you could cause permanent damage to the transmission and engine.
You should always be traveling at low speeds when activating first gear. When in doubt, it’s best to read the owner’s manual to find out how slow you should be going while using the L gear.
When to Use the ‘L’ Position
Generally speaking, lower gears are there for greater power delivery when accelerating or climbing hills, while higher gears are there for better fuel economy, lower noise and less engine wear at higher speeds.
This applies regardless of how many gears the transmission has. But importantly, lower gears can also be used for slowing down.
Low, which prioritizes use of the transmission’s lower gears, can be valuable when descending steep hills, as it keeps the engine spinning faster despite not having your foot on the gas.
That allows for more engine braking — meaning the effort needed to spin the engine helps slow the car down rather than using the brakes (which can cause them to heat up and fade).
In the early days of automatics, this was likely the primary purpose of the Low position.
However, Low could also be useful when climbing steep hills or powering through sand or deep snow.
Because shifting to a higher gear (which the transmission might otherwise want to do) could tax the engine, causing you to slow down and lose precious momentum.
Tips and Tricks: Using the “L” on a Gear Shift
#1. Optimal Use in Hilly Terrains.
Utilize “L” mode when navigating steep inclines or declines. It enhances vehicle control and engine braking, which is beneficial for maintaining a safe speed without over-relying on your brakes when going downhill.
#2. Towing and Carrying Heavy Loads.
Shifting into “L” can provide additional power and torque when towing or hauling heavy loads, making it easier to start moving and maintain control, especially on inclines.
#3. Enhanced Engine Braking.
Use the “L” gear for added engine braking when descending long, steep grades. This can help prevent brake overheating and wear while providing better speed control.
#4. Slow-Speed Maneuvering.
In situations requiring precise control at low speeds, such as parking or navigating through tight spaces, the “L” gear can offer finer command over your vehicle’s movements.
#5. Avoid Unnecessary Use.
While “L” gear can be beneficial in specific scenarios, using it unnecessarily can lead to increased fuel consumption and engine wear. Only engage “L” when the driving conditions warrant its advantages.
By mastering the use of “L” on your gear shift, you can take advantage of the specialized benefits it offers.
What are the alternatives to the low gear?
So now you know what does L mean on a car! But most recent cars don’t have an ‘L’ mode on the car gearshift. On automatic transmissions, the following features have replaced the low gear.
#1. Manual mode.
Drivers can shift gears manually in manual mode (the ‘M’ setting on the gear selector), either using the gear selector or a set of steering-wheel paddles.
#2. Tow/Haul mode.
Use of the tow/haul mode is meant for trailer towing. You can switch it on a dashboard button or lever; an indicator light will normally show on the instrument panel.
The setting pauses the transmission’s shifts to increase engine revs, adding more power and preventing transmission damage from too many shifts.
When you are not towing, it also functions in mountainous terrain by using engine brakes to aid over steep descents.
#3. Hill descent control.
When used with hill descent control, the Tow/Haul Mode holds the transmission in a low gear and applies the brakes to prevent the wheels from locking up while descending a hill.
#4. Terrain management.
Many SUVs like Range Rover, Jeep, Ford, and other carmakers provide a terrain management system.
It uses low ratios and brakes to improve the vehicle’s traction, even if it’s not a transmission feature. You can select the mode of operation from options for sand, snow, or mud on most systems.
#5. O/D off.
You can find this mode in some vintage cars. It prevents the transmission from shifting into the highest cruising gear or gears.
History of Low Gear’ L’ In Cars
According to the National Museums Of American History, the automatic transmission is considered the most significant automotive invention of the 20th century.
Driving before the invention was an uphill task as one had to control the brakes, clutch, and throttle levers while steering.
Since the 1940s, low gear was a requirement for automatic cars since brakes were not as good as they are now.
The engines were also not as powerful as today’s cars, so engaging low gear would have been the only way to increase torque for those uphill tasks.
The modern adaptation of the L gear
In recent times, most drivers do not even know the use of the low gear as they rarely engage it. It is also only present in some car models.
Some car models shift to low gear automatically while you are slowing down to park or in traffic.
However, it is crucial to know when to engage low gear as misusing it could damage your car’s transmission.
Is it good to drive in low gear?
It is helpful when ascending or descending hills, towing, or driving in extreme weather. L mode is not something you would want to utilize when driving daily.
You will have to at least drive in third gear if you wish to accelerate to highway speed.
Doesn’t the Car Shift into Low Gear Automatically?
Yes, your car regularly uses the low gear without any input from you. When the vehicle is first started and you go to pull out, it will be in the Low gear.
It also passes back through low gear as you stop the vehicle or pull back out at a stop sign or red light. Low gear is needed for these instances or the wheels would spin uncontrollably as you take off.
Instead, the engine transmits just the right amount of power to the wheels for the current situation.
If you have an automatic transmission in your vehicle, there’s no reason to shift into low gear for these situations.
Instead, allow the engine and transmission to work together as designed to provide the best power for the moment.
Can I drive in low gear in the snow?
You must drive in low gear in the snow because it is more challenging than a typical season without snow. Low gear permits you to maintain control of the car while the additional torque softly accelerates your car.
Do you know in some countries including India the alphabet L is displayed on the front or rear window glass in some cars?
As strange as it may sound, in India and in some countries, if you are learning to drive a car or have only a learner’s or beginner’s license, people put the alphabet L on the front or rear glass of the car.
It warns fellow commuters that the person driving is new to driving or learning. So be cautious and drive safely when passing through these cars. So the word L of the cars has a completely different meaning in India.
FAQs.
When should you drive in low gear?
It would be best to drive in low gear when you approach a steep hill and are about to drive down the hill. The low gear ensures the restriction of the quantity of fuel injected into a car’s engine, which helps to boost torque as the engine’s speed is decreased.
As you drive, there are tendencies that you may likely go through a bad spot on your journey; the low gear enables your vehicle’s engine to power and to overcome difficult driving circumstances or bad road conditions.
Should I drive in low gear in the snow?
It is quite difficult driving in snow compared to a typical season without snow; hence, it is recommended that you drive in low gear if you have to drive your car in the snow. Low gear helps your vehicle accelerate gently with the extra torque and enables you to keep the vehicle in control.
It would help if you had enough control over your car as you drive in the snow to avoid unforeseen hazards, and maintain enough space between your car and another car in front, thereby preventing you from an accident.
What is the purpose of low gear in a car?
Low gear is responsible for enabling the reduction of your car’s engine fuel consumption level, thereby reducing engine speed and increasing torque.
It is designed to help you drive over obstacles such as poor road conditions, steep hills, or a long downgrade that requires a minimum speed level with good balance.
When should I use L gear?
Whenever you approach a steep hill or a rough road that requires you to drive slowly and carefully, the most suitable gear position for that situation is the L gear. It helps reduce the amount of fuel consumed by your engine as you drive and helps to increase torque.
You should drive on L gear if you have to drive down a steep hill or on a bad road instead of your normal D – Drive position or any other gear. You may also want to find out what does S means on the gear shift and when to use S gear in an automatic car.
Which gear is best for driving uphill?
Low gear is best for driving uphill. The reason is that while driving uphill, your car needs more force and a sufficient level of balance to climb uphill, and the low gear is designed to provide the required level of power and balance needed for this purpose.
If you decide to drive uphill with D, your car’s engine may stop along the way, and you may experience a situation where your car rolls back down the hill.
Therefore, low gear gives your engine the capacity to break and move with balance as you drive uphill. Driving on D3 can also enable you to drive uphill because it includes low gear functionality.
If you are asking for D3 meaning or “What does 3 mean on a car?” It is simply the third gear that combines the first, second, and third gears in its operation.
What happens if you shift from 5th gear to 1st?
It is dangerous to shift at once from 5th gear to 1st. If you manage to shift from 5th gear to 1st (which rarely occurs), you would seriously damage your car’s transmission, clutch, and engine.
The shift could also lock up the vehicle’s wheels, which can quickly make you lose control, and the end could be a crash.
It is best to shift down from a high gear to a lower gear close to it and down to the lowest instead of a swift movement from the highest to the lowest. Trying to shift your car’s gear from the highest to the lowest at once could make gear shifting hard to engage.
Can you shift from L to D while driving?
Yes, you can. However, if you shift from L to D while driving at high speed, you could damage your car’s transmission.
It is best to shift from L to D at a low speed while driving. Suppose you just moved down a steep hill to a plain leveled road; you could slow down a bit and shift the gear from L to D without any glitches.
Also, note that the O/D button helps your car shift to “overdrive,” and whenever you want to return from overdrive, you could turn O/D off.
Final Words
You may be endangering your car’s components and yourself if you drive on a particular gear throughout on a plain leveled road, on a steep hill, and so on. Different gear levels have been designed for diverse driving experiences.
It is likely that you wouldn’t have to ask, “What does L mean on a car” having read this piece of information. You need to ensure that you shift your car’s gear to the necessary position suitable for every situation as you drive.
It would enable you to enjoy your vehicle throughout its lifespan instead of unexpected breakdowns and repairs.