Should I change gears when I drive uphill? I know I may need to when driving a manual or stick shift, but should I be downshifting in an automatic, too?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You’ll want to try to stay in a lower gear when going uphill no matter what type of transmission your car has—especially when negotiating steep inclines.
If you drive an automatic vehicle: Your car will shift for you, but can make the climb easier by shifting to D1, D2, or D3.
: You’ll have to do all of the shifting, so it’s important to listen to your vehicle to see if and when it needs you to downshift for more power.
No matter what type of car you’re driving, if your car seems to be fighting to maintain its speed, shift into a lower gear to increase the RPMs. This should add power to help your car maintain its momentum.
You may need to continue to downshift through the gears until you find your sweet spot—especially if you’re tackling steep inclines or mountain roads.
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