We have a 2007 Ford Focus SE with 4F27E automatic transmission. How long is too long to drive it in notch 2 instead of D since Branson Missouri is very sloped and hilly? Should we only use low gear when entering or leaving resorts or places that are on steep climbs or drops? Will 5 or more miles in low gear overheat the gears or wear them out too much?
How long is too long to drive it in notch 2 instead of D since Branson Missouri is very sloped and hilly?
You only should really do it when you're on a long descent and you need to be constantly on the brakes. Eventually, your brakes start to fade. When it's in 2nd gear, the engine does the braking because it's generating lots of vacuum when your foot is off the gas, which forces you to slow down. Going uphill doesn't matter, the transmission automatically selects the right gear. Driving downhill near Waverly, Ohio, I taught my wife to use the "2" gear when we're driving on long, windy roads going downhill. The roads are also really narrow.
WOW narrow winding roads. Definitely not a place to space out or be distracted by phones texting or other things. That's both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road.
why not leave it in 'D'?
You will never see the gears wear out, but the clutches will.
Well If you leave the transmission in the D position when you get to Shepherd of the hills parkway on 76 it's real steep and you can roll back into the car behind you and cause an accident. That happens as soon as you let your foot off the brake. Which wears out the clutch faster? Driving in range 2 for too long or moving the selector out of range 2 to range D as soon as you cross Shepherd the hills parkway without coming to a full stop first (which isn't practical if you're still on a slope upward)?
why would you roll backwards? That's what brakes are for. You shouldn't use the transmission to hold a car on a hill. Says so right in the manual.
Oh I never sit on the uphill of the slope when waiting at the red light without holding down the brake pedal. Gear 2 is just assistance in keeping the gravity from pulling the car backwards. That problem doesn't come up until the red light turns green and it's time to go through the intersection. To go forward when the light changes you have to let go of the brake and quickly move your foot to the accelerator pedal. So steep that in that little stretch of time you roll back a little unless you are in medium or low gear but if you can carefully slide the lever to the D position as you accelerate gently on green light through the intersection there's no roll back. Gives me time to apply acceleration. I just wondered if moving the selector to D when starting up forward from the light would hurt the gear box.
no probably not, But I just hold the brake with my left, while I accelerate with my right