When learning to drive a car, one of the most important things you’ll learn about is the car’s gear and how to change from one gear to another. Understanding the different gear systems can bring about a smoother driving experience, as some gears are more suited to certain situations than others. Some people wonder if it’s possible to drive in 3rd gear all the time. We look into this in this article.
There are driving conditions where the third gear works best. So, it’s not recommended you drive in third gear all the time as doing so just doesn’t make sense and may affect the fuel economy of your car, among others.
As you’ll later learn in this article, the different gears in your car have different scenarios where they are best applied. So, it’s important to know when to engage each gear. Below, you’ll learn about the various applications of the third gear.
Understanding A Car Gearbox
A typical car gear has several gears, which include the parking gears, forward gears, reversing gears, and neutral gears. The parking gear is denoted by P, and using it looks at the car’s transmission and prevents the automobile from moving. So, it’s the gear to use when parking a car and is to be complimented with the parking brake.
The Reverse Gear is denoted by R and is to be used when reversing the car. A vehicle will not start in this gear.
The Neutral gear is denoted by N, and no gears are in use when this gear is engaged. A car will start in Neutral.
The Drive Gear, denoted by D, is used for normal forward motion. There are also a series of numbers after the D gear, and these numbers are manual gear settings for the forward gear operation. Depending on your car model, there could be D1, D2, D3, and D4 gear positions and each of these gears are useful in different circumstances.
Understanding The Third Gear
The D gear engages all the forward gears depending on the current load or stress conditions. So, vehicles that have four forward gears will have all gears engaged when the D gear is in use.
The third gear is a form of the drive gear, and when it is engaged, transmission is limited to only the first three gears. Before you know if you can drive in third gear all the time, you need first to understand when best to use it.
When To Use The Third Gear
Below, you’ll learn about situations where D3, the third gear, shines the brightest. Here we go:
City Driving
City driving is rarely smooth. A lot of stopping and braking is required. Also, you are more likely to drive below 50km in the city, and this makes this situation ideal for engaging the third gear.
D3 will offer better control over your speed, and you’ll be able to accelerate and decelerate as needed. You also won’t have to step on the brake pedal as often.
Going Downhill
The third gear also works well when driving downhill. Usually, driving downhill puts a lot of pressure on the brakes, which can lead to overheating. Engaging the third gear, however, reduces the stress on the brakes.
Another scenario that D3 shines is when hauling a load or towing another car. Engaging the third gear will lock the vehicle’s transmission into its more powerful gears.
Driving Uphill Or In The Snow
Driving uphill requires the transmission to alternate between different gears. The same also applies to when driving in the snow. Engaging the third gear will limit the car’s transmission to its more powerful gears and makes it easier to drive in the aforementioned conditions.
Driving In Third Gear All The Time
You can drive in third gear all the time, but there will be situations where you’ll need to change to other gears. Remember that some gears are more suitable for certain conditions than others.
D3 can be used for city and traffic driving. You can also use it for highway driving, although higher gears are better suited for this. If you drive in third gear all the time, the result is a less-than-ideal driving experience, as some situations may need you to engage other gears. The fuel economy of your vehicle may also reduce depending on your driving conditions.
The first gear, or D1 gear, is very powerful and ideal for difficult terrains like mud and sand. Engaging D1 will provide the needed power needed to overcome the terrain. If you use D3, you aren’t going to get the same result.
Is It Safe To Use D3 On The Highway?
If you’ve been following all we’ve been discussing above, you’ll already know that the third gear works best in stop-and-go situations. We’ve already cited city driving, traffic driving, driving in snow, hauling or towing, and driving both uphill and downhill.
So, as you can see, D3 isn’t ideal to use on the highway. There are no safety issues with driving with D3 on the highway. It’s simply not ideal or efficient to drive in the third gear.
Common Cargear Problems
Like any other part of your car, the gearbox can malfunction at times. Below are common car gearbox problems to look out for:
Lack of Acceleration/Insufficient Throttle Response
One of the most common car gear problems is a lack of acceleration or insufficient throttle response. You’ll notice a delay in acceleration when you change gears. Usually, there shouldn’t be any delay in acceleration when you change gears.
The cause of this problem is the malfunctioning of any component of the clutch. A mechanic will be needed to inspect the gearbox and clutch to make a diagnosis and recommend solutions.
Transmission Fluid Leaking
Like other components in your car, the gear needs transmission fluid to work properly. The function of the fluid is to lubricate the parts of the gearbox for optimum performance. There are times when transmission fluid may leak, and when this happens, there’s an increasing risk of severe damage to the fast-rotating components of the gearbox.
This makes it important to always watch out for signs of transmission fluid leaking from your vehicle. It’s easy to know when transmission fluid or other fluids are leaking from your car. You’ll notice a puddle under your car after it’s been parked for a while. If the leaking fluid is the transmission fluid, it is orange in color.
Grinding Noise During Gear Shift
A gearbox in good working condition won’t produce any sound or noise after changing gears. The car won’t also shake when you shift gears. If you notice the car shaking or making grinding noises when you change gears, then something is wrong with the gearbox. And you need to have a mechanic check out and fix the issue. If you don’t fix the problem on time, it will only get worse and may completely damage most of the components of your gearbox.
