Can you downshift an automatic car

Slap the gear selector, not the teen. I know they deserve it. But don't. Still, when people ask me about unintended acceleration and I say, "Put it in neutral," the response is almost always the same: "But won't that blow up the engine?

The engine's electronic limiter prevents that. Even if it didn't, would you rather total the car than damage the engine? The person seeking my advice typically ignores my question and, panic rising, asks, "But what if it goes into reverse or park?

First, depending on your car, the shift lever won't move to the reverse or park position unless you press the physical button on the shifter.

New cars with electronically controlled transmissions might not have such physical barriers, but they'll ignore your inappropriate request to park or go in reverse while you're moving. A few go into park at about one-half mile per hour. Neither a U.

Engine braking is prohibited in some areas because of the loud noise it creates. Typically, research shows the decibel level to be the same as that of a large lawnmower, but in early morning or late at night, the sound a jake brake causes when engaged can be very disruptive to local communities. This causes the quick down change of gear and more power for accelerating. When the need is over, just ease off the accelerator and the car changes up gears again. One main reason why the automatic transmission in your car may not be shifting smoothly is the ECM is going bad.

Downshifting an automatic transmission can be a practical skill, if you also learn when and where to use it. Low-traction situations, towing or just having fun in a dual-clutch sports car are all scenarios where you might want to manually intervene in the shifting process, giving you more control over power delivery and letting you get that much more involved in the task at hand. Photo courtesy of Freeimages. Know How. Having been bitten by the car bug at a young age, I spent my formative years surrounded by Studebakers at car shows across Quebec and the northeastern United States.

Over ten years of racing, restoring, and obsessing over automobiles lead me to balance science writing and automotive journalism full time. As has been pointed out, brake pads are cheap compared to engines and transmissions. I want to do whatever makes the most sense in terms of maintenance costs for the long term, and good gas mileage. Thanks for all the input! While shifting it manually may come across as a smooth and barely noticeable operation, inside the transmission fluid pressure is being released and applied whenever you move the lever.

This means clutches are going to be getting slammed around a bit so my vote is no unless necessary. OK, I think the consensus is pretty clear. Should I downshift my automatic transmission?

Brakes are for slowing.