Facts about “L” on a Car’s Gearshift

Your car’s gearshift has several letters that denote different transmission settings. You probably already know what most of these letters mean, but your car might have an additional setting you only rarely, if ever, use: “L.” Let’s break down what “L” means on a car’s gearshift.

A car’s gearshift is a vital component for the transmission: the major car part that “transmits” engine power and torque can be used by your car’s wheels to create motion. These days, most people drive with cars featuring automatic transmissions that can quickly detect, through sensors, what gear is required for the current situation and driving conditions.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the transmission and its purpose:

• Your engine runs and simultaneously spins a part called the crankshaft
• The crankshaft produces the power your car needs to move its wheels
• Your car’s automatic transmission will adjust the gearshift and transmit the crankshaft’s power at different levels of torque
• The more torque that is produced (and the lower the gear), the more power your wheels have and the slower they turn

Your engine would become unruly if the transmission weren’t there to regulate the power it provides to your car’s wheels.

What’s The “L” For?

While the above four transmission states are the most commonly used, some car manufacturers provide an “L” setting as well.

L stands for “low” gear, which translates to a gear setting of 1 or 2 (if you know how to drive a manual transmission) in most vehicles.

When a car is in low gear, the transmission won’t shift normally. Instead, your transmission will stay in the low gear, causing less fuel to enter the engine and lowering your overall motor power. In exchange, you’ll get additional engine torque.

When you push down on your gas pedal, the engine will essentially provide your wheels with a little more raw force instead of speed, which can be useful under certain circumstances.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the “L” setting on your gearshift is just one more tool at your disposal to ensure safe driving and to make sure that you use your engine’s power appropriately based on your circumstances. You shouldn’t use low gear all the time, but you should familiarize yourself with your car’s operation under low gear settings so that, when the time comes, you’re ready to use it to its maximum effect.