2nd Gear Drive Mode Considered Bad By Owners Manual

[TornadoThrower]

As I got my car, I read through the owners manual. 1-4 Gears are available to use/select but if I use "2nd" drive mode, for more then 25 miles, then it could damage the transaxle. I don't understand how it can damage the transaxle since "3rd" and "D" use 2nd gear. On the newer cars that used this transmission, they used TAPshift, which allowed you to manually select gears. What's so different from rowing the gears (1,2,3,D) in my regal then the newer TAPshift vehicles?

 

[MelsRegal]

As I got my car, I read through the owners manual. 1-4 Gears are available to use/select but if I use "2nd" drive mode, for more then 25 miles, then it could damage the transaxle. I don't understand how it can damage the transaxle since "3rd" and "D" use 2nd gear. On the newer cars that used this transmission, they used TAPshift, which allowed you to manually select gears. What's so different from rowing the gears (1,2,3,D) in my regal then the newer TAPshift vehicles?

Why would you stay in 2nd gear for a prolonged amount of time or distance? That overheats the transaxle. If you are in 3rd or D it upshifts out of 2nd.

 

[TornadoThrower]

Why would you stay in 2nd gear for a prolonged amount of time or distance? That overheats the transaxle. If you are in 3rd or D it upshifts out of 2nd.

I was wondering because I would like to row through the gears. I only use 3rd on the streets and use D on the highway.

 

[MelsRegal]

I was wondering because I would like to row through the gears. I only use 3rd on the streets and use D on the highway.

How many miles on the transmission?
Have you checked the fluid level and smell of the fluid?

 

[TornadoThrower]

How many miles on the transmission?
Have you checked the fluid level and smell of the fluid?

Only 10k miles and cherry red color. Never leaks.

 

[DrivenDaily]

As I got my car, I read through the owners manual. 1-4 Gears are available to use/select but if I use "2nd" drive mode, for more then 25 miles, then it could damage the transaxle. I don't understand how it can damage the transaxle since "3rd" and "D" use 2nd gear. On the newer cars that used this transmission, they used TAPshift, which allowed you to manually select gears. What's so different from rowing the gears (1,2,3,D) in my regal then the newer TAPshift vehicles?

GM wrote that using 2nd gear for more than 25 miles "could" damage the transaxle for a reason, which is that you're in a gear that uses actual gears to change the engine RPMs to a much slower output speed. Those gears get warm or hot when used for extended periods.

1st gear is for power, such as starting from a stop.

2nd gear is for less power and more speed, and is also one of the gears that the transmission will use as a "passing gear", either when you mash the accelerator to the floor or if/when you manually select 2nd. It should not be considered a "drive" gear, but only a transitional gear to get you from 1st to 3rd or OD, or as above, to temporarily add power when passing or climbing an exceedingly steep grade.

3rd and OD can be used for all continuous driving modes.

 

[TornadoThrower]

GM wrote that using 2nd gear for more than 25 miles "could" damage the transaxle for a reason, which is that you're in a gear that uses actual gears to change the engine RPMs to a much slower output speed. Those gears get warm or hot when used for extended periods.

1st gear is for power, such as starting from a stop.

2nd gear is for less power and more speed, and is also one of the gears that the transmission will use as a "passing gear", either when you mash the accelerator to the floor or if/when you manually select 2nd. It should not be considered a "drive" gear, but only a transitional gear to get you from 1st to 3rd or OD, or as above, to temporarily add power when passing or climbing an exceedingly steep grade.

3rd and OD can be used for all continuous driving modes.

So the takeaway is that if from I'm driving from point A to point B entirely in 2nd, its bad due to the buildup of heat in 1 specific gear, makes sense. So if I manually select 1st then eventually 2nd as a transition gear then 3rd gear, the buildup of heat is minimal (since I'm using 2nd as a stepping stone) and there wouldn't be transaxle/gears damage since its shifting like how it normally would.

 

[MelsRegal]

So the takeaway is that if from I'm driving from point A to point B entirely in 2nd, its bad due to the buildup of heat in 1 specific gear, makes sense. So if I manually select 1st then eventually 2nd as a transition gear then 3rd gear, the buildup of heat is minimal (since I'm using 2nd as a stepping stone) and there wouldn't be transaxle/gears damage since its shifting like how it normally would.

You best method to prolong transmission life is to leave it in Drive and not play manual transmission with it.

 

[TornadoThrower]

You best method to prolong transmission life is to leave it in Drive and not play manual transmission with it.

Just like what my father would say. I think shifting is kind of fun with the car but your just asking for permission to be in that gear versus a real manual. That's why I'm gonna continue using "3rd" on the streets and use "D" on the highway.

I personally don't like using "D" on the streets because the PCM shifting from to 3rd to 4th when your going between 45 to 50 mph is not fun when you need to go (4-3-2 vs just 3-2). The owner's manual says "3rd" is good for city streets, so its a win win.

 

[DrivenDaily]

So the takeaway is that if from I'm driving from point A to point B entirely in 2nd, its bad due to the buildup of heat in 1 specific gear, makes sense. So if I manually select 1st then eventually 2nd as a transition gear then 3rd gear, the buildup of heat is minimal (since I'm using 2nd as a stepping stone) and there wouldn't be transaxle/gears damage since its shifting like how it normally would.

No, the takeaway is that the heat from the gears in use, whether 1st or 2nd, is transferred to the trans fluid, which then heats up all the rest of the transmission as well.

Just put it in 3 or OD and drive it for 20 years.