I have a 1994 LS that is automatic (yeah I know).

Unlike all the other cars I have driven, the Integra has 4 gears on the shifter. I drive in D4 just like I do in every other car.

However, with the Integra, I can shift down to D3 without pressing the button. This makes it very easy to go back and forth between D4 and D3 without having to worry about dropping it into first on accident.

My question: Does shifting back and forth hurt my car's transmission or gas mileage?

I usually shift down to D3 when I am approaching a stoplight before I turn on my brakes (to slow the car down) or when I am going around corners. I then shift back up to D4 once I am going again...

Is this hurting anything? Will I get better gas mileage sticking to one gear? Would like to hear as many opinions as possible. Thanks.

 

I would say just stick it in D3 for city driving, and stick it in D4 for highway driving, OR if you want the best possible gas mileage...I guess just stick it in D4 all the time.

I don't know if it's hurting anything...the tranny is constantly shifting anyways, but I would say just use the brakes. It's cheaper to replace brakes than an auto tranny

 

gawd. go back to superhonda.org please. thank you.

 

there is no such thing as engine breaking in an automatic car. you have no control over the gearshifts and you can only rely on the stupid "bungee". if you let off the gas, it won't slow the car down (very much). just use your brakes like a normal auto.

 

for gas mileage i'd say keep it in D4.. as for if that wears down the transmission I dont know.. its auto.. it will shift itself anyway... just keep it in D4 it will downshift or whatever AUTOmatically.. and then u dont have to worry about gas mileage or damaging the tranny.. brake pads are cheaper than a tranny...

 

Dude. STOP. I've been doing the same thing on my car for the past 6 months and I just Fu**ed the transmission. Now sometimes when I turn the corners sharply, and I accelerate the car wont go anywhere. Also it wont shift into D4 sometimes. I live in West Palm, and I drove all the way to Okeechobee, which is like an hour away in third gear, doing 85 to 90 the whole way. If I were you, I'd STOP.

 

My transmission LOVES me be nice to it, and it will be nice to you is the best advice I could give you.

 

Y'know, I had that same problem on my old Skyhawk...and it turned out I was just low on tranny fluid.

But don't manually shift your auto. No good can come of it.

 

If you want gas mileage, stay on D4. Don't listen to some of these people. They want to critisize instead of answering your question. Honda made it that way for a reason, there's nothing wrong with changing gears from 4 to 3 unless you are abusing it. If you in D4 full throttle and you shift to D3, of course eventually you will damage your transmission. As you said you can down shift to D3 to slow down, (its called engine braking) but I use it only incase of emergencies or when i need to accelerate from the highway entrance ramp. DONT downshift to 2nd manually, thats why they made it that way. I used to own a 90 LS, and the only reason I had to sell it cuz it was wrecked back in 00'. I drove the same way you drove for 10 years with the car. Just make sure you don't abuse and check fluid levels. But hey, don't take my word for it. Everybody's driving habit is different.

 

The car DEFINITELY slows down when you put it in 3rd gear. I know this for a fact.

It sucks having an automatic. I'm sorry I'm not a hardcore racer

Yet.