importance/reason of changing gears in an auto

Now ever since I learned to drive , my dad taught me to switch from drive down to D3 when going up a steep hill ...

Is this easier on the engine ? Harder?

What are the benefits or cons of doing so ?

Or does it not even matter ?

I guess it must be a really stupid question ..

come on tho

Used to be something that people did on the older automatic overdrive transmissions...it was to keep the transmission from "hunting" between 3rd and OD...

Shouldn't be necessary with newer ones with better electronic control...

Google?

then what is the point of having different gears still ? What if the car is a 2001 ? Should I do it ?

and google sorta slipped my mind ..

what's wrong with asking here ?

Should be fine with a 2001...I was talking 80s, early 90s...

You can use the lever if you want the car to hold a certain gear better...probably not much use for it in everyday driving though...

Should be fine with a 2001...I was talking 80s, early 90s...

You can use the lever if you want the car to hold a certain gear better...probably not much use for it in everyday driving though...

thanks a lot you ignorant fool .

I appreciate it

Shift into D3 to climb a steep hill? That is odd, your transmission should find the proper gear all by it's self if the transmission is functioning properly. Why would you want to restrict your trans to it's lowest gear? Leave it in D and let the transmission do it's job. The only reason I can think of to shift into D3 is if you are towing a HEAVY load and are attempting a steep hill climb, basically nothing that you will ever encounter innormal everyday driving.

Shift into D3 to climb a steep hill? That is odd, your transmission should find the proper gear all by it's self if the transmission is functioning properly. Why would you want to restrict your trans to it's lowest gear? Leave it in D and let the transmission do it's job. The only reason I can think of to shift into D3 is if you are towing a HEAVY load and are attempting a steep hill climb, basically nothing that you will ever encounter innormal everyday driving.

D3 isn't the lowest gear ?

And I have some very very steep hills where I live , that's just how I've always done it ..

Sometimes you want to be in a lower gear when climbing a hill to keep your rpms up. Depending on the car the computer will tell the trans to shift at a curtain rpm range. If your going up a steep hill and you car auto shifts into a higher gear your going to lose rpms and power.

Now ever since I learned to drive , my dad taught me to switch from drive down to D3 when going up a steep hill ...

Is this easier on the engine ? Harder?

What are the benefits or cons of doing so ?

Or does it not even matter ?

Shifting into D3 going up steep hill likely does nothing. As I understand it they are intended to be be used going down steep hills so that you can use the engine braking to slow the car down instead of overheating your brakes. If you have overdrive, shutting that off can help you go up hill but otherwise just give it more gas/pedal.