Things you should NOT do while driving an automatic car - knowledge is power!

Cars are one of the greatest inventions humanity has ever witnessed. The possibility of travelling to far off distances in the comfort of a car is the reality everyone cherishes today. Since the inception of the first 4-wheel car with a motor was invented, cars have become better by every passing day. Better in terms of safety features, in terms of mechanical abilities and driving comfort. When talking about the comfort of driving in the present day urban scenario, automatic drives have really pushed the limits to new possibilities. The automatic transmission is a type of motor vehicle gear transmission that automatically changes the gear ratios as the vehicle gain acceleration. This mechanism helps the driver to shift gears without any hassle of doing it manually. It allows an internal combustion engine to provide a range of speed and torque outputs necessary to move the vehicle. There are three types of automatic transmission available in cars today which include CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) and Dual-clutch automated manual. The automatic transmission cars demand a certain driving tip to make your drive smooth and comfortable.

Here are some of the things you should not do while driving an automatic car for a comfortable drive:

Driving an automatic car downhill when in gear

You should never drive downhill when in gear. This takes the control of your car away from you. When you go downhill on a gear, you can’t accelerate in the neutral mode and can only slow down using the brake pedal. Also, you’ll need to first come to a halt before shifting into ‘D’ to start accelerating, which will be too difficult while driving on a slope. Although, Modern-day automatic transmissions are smart enough to cut fuel supply to the engine while you are driving on a downward slope.

Shifting to N when your automatic car is in motion

You should always put the car in neutral gear only and only when you have already completely come to a halt. Changing to neutral gear while in motion will increase the chance of wear and tear on the transmission mechanism.

Not placing the foot on the dead pedal while driving an automatic car

One of the most crucial mistakes many automatic car owners make is to use both the left and right leg to drive the vehicle. Automatic cars are fitted with only two pedals which include the brakes and the accelerator. While driving, people tend to use their right foot to accelerate while left foot to brake. This is a dangerous practice which could result in unforeseen circumstances. You may accelerate and brake and at the same time and this will make the car to lose control. The best practice is to set your left foot on the dead pedal or let it rest while using the right foot for both acceleration and braking.

Not parking your automatic car in the 'P' mode

You should always park your car in 'P' mode or the parking mode. This helps to prevent your car from rolling backwards or forward if in case the hand brakes become inefficient.

Not using handbrake while driving an automatic car

Although it is important to park your car in P mode, handbrakes have their own goals to perform. The parking mode in an automatic car is generally not as much efficient in holding your car on a slope as the handbrakes. Not using hand brakes will put a lot of pressure on the transmission mechanism of your car.

Things to remember about driving an automatic car:

Not all automatic cars are the same

It's a very common miss conception among drivers that all automatic transmissions are the same. There are three types of automatic transmission available in cars these days. These include CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) and Dual-clutch automated manual. All three of these automatic transmissions have different mechanisms. The need for any automatic transmission is to bypass the need to push clutch and switch gears manually while driving.

                                  You may read more about automatic transmissions here.  

The proper way to tow an automatic car

The proper way to tow an automatic car depends on if your car is a front wheel drive or a rear wheel drive. The powered wheels of the car should never be on the road while towing your car. For example, if your car is a front wheel drive, you should tow the car from the front end and roll the car on rear non-powered wheels.

Change in performance is a reality while driving an automatic car

Many people believe that the performance of their car will remain the same for both automated and manual transmission vehicles. The same car with a different transmission system can perform in a very different manner. With every passing day, the automatic transmissions are getting better and better providing better drive experience. An automatic vehicle today can be marginally quicker and fast. While some entry-level cars may lack some performance due to an automatic transmission.

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