L gear mode? Is it bad to always use it?

[jake123]

Is it bad to always use the car in the L-Gear mode? It seems like it shifts when it stays at 5k for more than a few seconds... I don't want to rouine the engine/transmission, but its MUCH funner to drive my car in that mode, it gives me speed when I need it! (It feels like a turbo'ed A4 in L-gear)

 

Thanks

[bbf2530]

Is it bad to always use the car in the L-Gear mode? It seems like it shifts when it stays at 5k for more than a few seconds... I don't want to rouine the engine/transmission, but its MUCH funner to drive my car in that mode, it gives me speed when I need it! (It feels like a turbo'ed A4 in L-gear)

 

Thanks

 

Hi jake123. :D Please read your Owners Manual concerning the use of the "L" setting on the transmission. Yes, it is bad. In fact, to drive with it in "L" all the time is very bad and will shorten the life of your transmission.

 

The "L" setting is simply to be used for driving in hilly and mountainous conditions, when a driver would need the effects of "engine braking" ( a lower gear) to avoid overheating their brakes on long downhill conditions. "L" simply keeps the transmission from upshifting when the driver takes his foot off the gas. Otherwise, it acts exactly the same as "D" and shifts at the same points while accelerating

 

It gives you no more speed than leaving it in "D". What you are feeling is just an illusion caused by the sometimes higher RPM's when you take your foot off the gas. It does not alter the shifting in any other way than what is described in the Owners Manual.

 

Again, it is not giving you any more speed than the "D" setting, but it is putting more wear and stress on your transmission every time you take your foot off the gas. So if you care about the longevity of your transmission, you will stop using it as you have been.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

[jake123]

Hi jake123. :D Please read your Owners Manual concerning the use of the "L" setting on the transmission. Yes, it is bad. In fact, to drive with it in "L" all the time is very bad and will shorten the life of your transmission.

 

The "L" setting is simply to be used for driving in hilly and mountainous conditions, when a driver would need the effects of "engine braking" ( a lower gear) to avoid overheating their brakes on long downhill conditions. "L" simply keeps the transmission from upshifting when the driver takes his foot off the gas. Otherwise, it acts exactly the same as "D" and shifts at the same points while accelerating

 

It gives you no more speed than leaving it in "D". What you are feeling is just an illusion caused by the sometimes higher RPM's when you take your foot off the gas. It does not alter the shifting in any other way than what is described in the Owners Manual.

 

Again, it is not giving you any more speed than the "D" setting, but it is putting more wear and stress on your transmission every time you take your foot off the gas. So if you care about the longevity of your transmission, you will stop using it as you have been.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

 

Thanks for the great reply!

When you say its bad... how bad does it hurt the life of the transmission, in comparison to how long its designed to last?

I'm guessing I wont have the car past another 30k miles.... so 30k of L-mode will require a new transmission?

 

Thanks

[akirby]

Thanks for the great reply!

When you say its bad... how bad does it hurt the life of the transmission, in comparison to how long its designed to last?

I'm guessing I wont have the car past another 30k miles.... so 30k of L-mode will require a new transmission?

 

Thanks

 

Probably not, but it's definitely not something you should do all the time. Just use it when you're carving up some twisties, not in everday driving.

[jake123]

Probably not, but it's definitely not something you should do all the time. Just use it when you're carving up some twisties, not in everday driving.

Hrmm... i just drove an A4 in sport mode, it basically is the same thing as the L-gear mode... It drove the same way (except the A4 had a nice turbo), I have a feeling it should be fine, I'll only drive in it about 1/2 the time I use my car :P

[bbf2530]

Hrmm... i just drove an A4 in sport mode, it basically is the same thing as the L-gear mode... It drove the same way (except the A4 had a nice turbo), I have a feeling it should be fine, I'll only drive in it about 1/2 the time I use my car :P

 

Hi jake123. :D It is not the same. Please read your Owners Manual, and read the A4's Owners Manual. The "L" mode is not a "Sport Mode". Not even close.

 

It is meant for exactly what your Owners Manual states: To give more engine braking while driving for long periods of time in downhill/mountainous conditions.

 

All you will do is place more wear and tear on your transmission.

 

The facts are in your Owners Manual.

 

You get absolutely no performance gain in "L". It is just artificially holding it in a lower gear, because you are telling the transmission that you are in the mountains going downhill. You are not even supposed to put it in "L" when you are going uphill in the mountains. It is strictly for long downhill runs to maintain a safe speed without overheating your brakes.

 

Of course you are free to do to your car as you like. It would just be a shame for you to damage your transmission for no reason.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

[pantherdan]

L mode can be "designed" for whatever but I know how it works. It is a "Sport" mode.

 

While driving in D mode, the car will up shift at 3k or so and coast in neutral and etc. It acts drastically different in L mode. Drop it in L on the highway and you will drop a gear or two, usually causing the RPMs to hit about 4k. Yes, there will be engine braking, but with that there is also great throttle response and power on demand because you are running at the right RPM for high Torque and HP. I've also noticed that it downshifts when it should when slowing for a stop and will stay in gear until red line before it upshifts.

 

Whoever programmed that L mode copied my racing philosophy with its RPM management. bbf2530, I have to disagree. You do get performance gains by using L mode. Line up 2 stock Fusions and race them, one in L and one in D. In a 1/4 mile or a curvy road, Ill bet the L would win. The Tranny performs better and uses that same HP and Torque differently in the two situations.

[bbf2530]

L mode can be "designed" for whatever but I know how it works. It is a "Sport" mode.

 

While driving in D mode, the car will up shift at 3k or so and coast in neutral and etc. It acts drastically different in L mode. Drop it in L on the highway and you will drop a gear or two, usually causing the RPMs to hit about 4k. Yes, there will be engine braking, but with that there is also great throttle response and power on demand because you are running at the right RPM for high Torque and HP. I've also noticed that it downshifts when it should when slowing for a stop and will stay in gear until red line before it upshifts.

Whoever programmed that L mode copied my racing philosophy with its RPM management. bbf2530, I have to disagree. You do get performance gains by using L mode. Line up 2 stock Fusions and race them, one in L and one in D. In a 1/4 mile or a curvy road, Ill bet the L would win. The Tranny performs better and uses that same HP and Torque differently in the two situations.

 

Hi pantherdan. :D Oh good God. This had been settled and the thread had gone to sleep (as it should) over two months ago and it has to be dragged out of the grave one more time? My simplest reply to what you stated would be this: Every Ford Engine and Transmission Engineer, every bit of Ford literature, every Ford Shop Manual, Owner Manuals etc etc etc. disagree and contradict what you have stated. How much more proof do we need to provide? Could someone who thinks it is a "Sport Mode' or anything similar please provide a link, a quote or a single page of corroborating evidence? Just saying someone else is wrong does not prove a point.

 

All the "L" setting of the Transmission does is keep the engine from upshifting when you take your foot off the throttle. Other than that, it does not change the shift pattern at all.

 

Or, as the Owners Manual clearly states:

 

L (Low)

Provides more engine braking when the accelerator pedal is released

than D (Drive).

 

While your foot is on the gas, whether 1/4 throttle, 1/2 throttle, 3/4 throttle or full throttle, the shift points remain the same, so there is no acceleration benefit. It is only when you take your foot off the gas that the trans will not upshift, and this is strictly for engine braking in situations where engine braking is needed, such as driving in mountainous areas. Upshifts while the drivers foot is on the throttle occur at the same rpm as when in "D".

 

In other words, it is used to slow the car down. That is hardly what anyone with automotive expertise would consider a "Sport Mode".

 

This is not my opinion, this is the information from the Ford Engineers who designed the transmission and powertrain. So all I ask is anyone who feels differently please provide some sort of documentation, as I keep doing. After a while, discussing the same old tired point gets silly. Somebody's "seat of the pants" feelings do not trump Ford Engineers.

 

But again, please provide some sort of official backup/corroboration for your point of view. If someone can provide some sort of official statement from Ford, I will gladly change my stance. But I know that will not occur, as everything I have provided is the official statements from Ford.

 

In the end, if you or anyone else feels the need to drive around in their Fusion/Milan/MKZ with the car in "L" because they think it gives them a "Sport Mode", go ahead. And when you finally have transmission trouble, be sure to tell the Service Manager what you did. Ford will deny your Warranty claim so quick your head will spin.

 

In other words, I would tell any sensible individual to follow Fords directions and use "L'" for what it was intended. It is not a sport mode. It is for engine braking in driving conditions where engine braking is needed. This is usually driving in mountainous regions or towing. Shheeesh, if it was a sport mode, Ford would say so.

 

I mean absolutely no disrespect, pantherdan. And I certainly hold no hard feelings.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

[pantherdan]

I'm not offended and do not mean to offend anyone either.

 

L does change the shift pattern. L does downshift more aggressively when slowing to a stop. L does upshift at red line (actually about 6200 RPMs). These are facts. Try it yourself. Drive like a madman all around your favorite roads and highways in D and then do it in L. I have done this and I know for a fact that what i am saying is true. I understand what L was designed to do. The by product of these Engineers design is a more responsive transmission in L mode. I'm not saying it was designed to be a sport mode. I am saying it merely works that way.

 

Many things were designed to do whatever but have other uses. Drastically different uses. Super Glue is used to find fingerprints. http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/feneric/cyanoacrylate.html Nuclear fission was thought up for power generation. Thermonuclear devices were a by product of that.

 

Okay, you are driving at 35MPH in D. Your RPMs will be less than 2000 and you will probably be in 3rd gear (maybe even in neutral). You decide to pass this guy ahead of you and accelerate (floor it). Your RPMs will climb and the transmission will decide to shift if they get too high and/or throttle position is open enough. In D, that shift will occur at about 4000 RPMs or so. There will be time lost with the engine being in 3rd and downshifting eventually. Acceleration will take longer due to the fact that the engine is at a lower RPM and lower in the HP/Torque curve. Now, if you are driving along at 35MPH in L and decide to pass someone, the engine will be at about 4000 RPMs and maybe in 2nd gear. The acceleration will be faster since you will be at a more optimal area of the HP/ Torque curve. The transmission will also not shift until close to red line, which will keep the engine at a more optimal RPM (again higher in the HP/Torque curve).

 

I have driven several manual transmissions in my life. Mostly motorcycles, but a few cars. I own a Ninja right now. When I get in Speed Racer mode, I keep the RPMs up (by staying in a lower gear for a stronger throttle response) and shift at red line when going all out. Wow. Exactly like L mode in my Fusion.

 

Do a little theory to practice. Drive yours in Speed Racer mode in D and then in L. See the difference. I'll take you for a ride in my car and show you. You can time me. You can check my times down a curvy road. We can race each other. You can show me millions of articles and reports and papers and even somebodys thesis. Then I can take you down the road for a spin and you will believe me.

 

Its all good. You can disagree with me and I can disagree with you. I'm not going to get offended and I hope no one else does either.

[bbf2530]

Hi pantherdan. :D Thank you for being polite in your responses (and understanding that I am also being polite). And thank you for treating me (and others) with respect, as I have you. We don't always get that on these forums.

 

First, I need to point out that I could now list a thousand things that were created, produced, or invented to perform a task and only efficiently perform that single task, but it would not prove my point concerning the Ford Trans in our cars any more than super glue and nuclear fission prove your point. While an interesting lesson concerning strings of logic and how they can be misconstrued, those two analogies, super glue (sticking stuff together vs solving crimes), and nuclear fission (electrical production vs. mass destruction) are interesting side tracks, they really do not apply to the Ford transmission in the Fusion/Milan/MKZ Here we are talking about a transmission mode being used for two very different things at once (engine braking vs a "sport mode"). Those two very different tasks are not performed by the Fusion transmissions "L" mode. But, I digress! :stats:

 

As you say pantherdan, we should agree to disagree.

 

And just so you know, I have already tested your theory, likely before it was even your theory (I did skip the madman part, as these are not race cars and I would like my MKZ to stay out of the shop as much as possible). My results, strangely enough, are the same as what Ford states they designed the trans to do. Shifts occur at the same rpm, same shift firmness, etc etc. And I too have owned many manual transmission cars in my life, (including more than a few high performance manual trans cars) and a few motorcycles. And I still own a manual trans car at the moment. I will not even compare motorcycles, since due to their different HP and Torque power bands (high RPM's needed for any type of torque) most need to be kept in the high rev bands for any type of torque (Ninja's), especially as compared to cars. Cars, especially American cars, are designed for high torque at low RPM's, due to our driving environment.

 

Also, your explanation is not exactly correct concerning what happens when you want to pass (while in "D"). Yes, if you apply something less than half throttle (or so) your description is somewhat accurate. However, if you apply full throttle, the downshift will occur immediately. That is the transmissions shift program and TPS (throttle position sensor) doing the jobs they were designed to do. And in the meantime, by having the car in "D" we were not placing added stress on the transmission and engine by forcing it to stay in an unnecessarily low gear. Nor are we wasting gas by driving around in an unnecessarily low gear.

 

Anyway, I respect your right to drive your car as you consider fit. But I will always feel the need to let other forum members (who may not know as much about engines and transmissions as we do) know that driving their car in a manner counter to how it was designed can result in premature transmission failure, added engine wear, lower mpg's and a denial of any Warranty claim coverage for that damage. That is what this all comes down to. I don't want to convince you not to drive in "L" if that is what you want to do. I am simply trying to give others the correct information.

 

Instead of me going on and on, and then you feeling the need to respond, me responding etc etc, let's leave it up to those who own the Fusion/Milan/MKZ to decide on their own whether they would like to run their cars in "L" all the time for a "sporty" feel, or follow Ford's direction and leave it in "D" unless driving conditions call for engine braking.

 

We have provided the information, so at this point we can simply agree to disagree. I am sure we both have better things to do.

 

Sound fair to you?

 

Good luck pantherdan. :beerchug:

[pantherdan]

Its all good. :party2:

[ajsc]

Hi guys. I respectfully have to say that I agree with Pantherdan. I can undestand that the theory and the manuals for the L mode indicate a behavior of the transmission. But when I drive my Fusion V6 SEL I get to see that in this mode the engine has more rpms than the usual (the difference is visible at lower speeds) so when I have to pass a car the engine is closer to the maximum torque point already and it makes it to respond faster. When you are driving over 60 mi/h the difference between D and L is not very clear but in lower speeds you can see that the car has more rpms making the engine to work on the part of the curve where it has the highest torque.

[bbf2530]

Hi guys. I respectfully have to say that I agree with Pantherdan. I can undestand that the theory and the manuals for the L mode indicate a behavior of the transmission. But when I drive my Fusion V6 SEL I get to see that in this mode the engine has more rpms than the usual (the difference is visible at lower speeds) so when I have to pass a car the engine is closer to the maximum torque point already and it makes it to respond faster. When you are driving over 60 mi/h the difference between D and L is not very clear but in lower speeds you can see that the car has more rpms making the engine to work on the part of the curve where it has the highest torque.

 

Hi ajsc. :D And also a thank you to you for keeping things polite.

 

However, to explain: While what you are saying is not completely wrong, your conclusion is incorrect. If you read the first post, the OP was asking if always driving in "L" could be harmful to the transmission. Then the discussion took off on a tangent. The answer is that yes, driving in "L" all the time will be harmful to the engine/transmission/drive-train, since it forces the engine to stay in a lower gear than optimal, thus causing increased engine and transmission wear, increased fuel consumption etc...

 

From the 2009 Fusion Owners Manual:

L (Low)

This position:

• Provides increased engine braking during downhill/mountain driving.

• Provides extended shift scheduling, allowing both upshifts and

downshifts, at a higher overall RPM to provide optimum engine

braking.

• Is not intended for use under extended or normal driving conditions

and results in lower fuel economy.

 

Ford makes it very clear what "L" is for and when it should be used. They even give us a Manual which tells us exactly what it is for. It would seem the wisest thing to do would be to listen to the people who design, engineer and manufacture our cars (Ford). This is well known information which can be easily researched in places other than the Owners Manual (for the "Well, the Owners Manual may be wrong..." crowd).

 

It would be no different than if you had a manual transmission, and constantly drove around with the trans a gear or two lower than it should be for the speed you were going. It may sound sporty to be at those high rpm's, but it is only increasing wear and tear on the engine and transmission. And the only thing that affects RPM's (for the sake of this discussion) is the gear the trans is in at any given time. And "L" does exactly what the Owners Manual describes. In the 2006-2009 Fusion, it is not a "Sport" mode or anything similar.

 

If you noticed, the last post in this thread (before your post) was over a year ago. At that time, we were discussing the transmission characteristics of the 2006-2009 Fusion/Milan/MKZ. There are no secrets to this, as it is all discussed and explained in the Owners Manual. Without getting into a tutorial on transmission operations, having the trans in "D" or "L" has no effect on internal transmission gearing. Keeping the transmission in "L" only affects when upshifts and downshifts are made under a "no acceleration" scenario (we take our foot off the accelerator). Normally, when we take our foot off the accelerator, the trans will upshift, since acceleration is no longer being called for. "L" will artificially keep the trans in the lower gear (no upshift). That is why we will feel the car slow down (engine braking) and the engine whine at a higher rpm. It may sound sporty, but that it just wear and tear and wasted gas.

 

Your car is at a higher rpm at lower speeds simply because the "L' mode keeps the trans from upshifting when you take your foot off the gas. So it always keeps in a gear or two lower than it would be in "D". This is for the engine braking properties when driving in downhill situations, to avoid overheating the brakes. Exactly as explained in the Owners Manual.

 

The bottom line is this: None of us are smarter (concerning Ford vehicles) than Fords drive-train designers and engineers. And how the transmission works in our cars is clearly explained in our Owners Manuals and other Ford technical literature. It works as described in those Manuals; as an aid in vehicle speed control (engine braking) in downhill driving situations. No matter what we may "feel" otherwise, the transmission works exactly as designed, engineered, manufactured, described and explained by Ford. It is not a sport mode and does not affect internal trans gearing in any way, other than to keep the car in a lower gear for the sake of engine braking. Might that be helpful once in a while for slightly quicker acceleration (saving only the split second of a downshift)? Yes, but the detrimental wear and tear on the engine and trans the rest of the time make it foolish to leave it in "L" for anything other than it's design parameters. Or as the Manual states, "Is not intended for use under extended or normal driving conditions...".

 

Again, there is no secret to this for those who are familiar with the Ford Fusion/Milan/MKZ trans in 2006-2009 model years. The explanations in the Owners manual describe exactly how the transmission works. Of course, with the "SelectShift" in the 2010 models, some of this information changes slightly. But this thread discusses the 2006-2009 models.

 

Hope this information makes the previous discussions a bit clearer.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

 

PS - I know my reply is a bit repetitive. Sorry, I was in a hurry and did not have time to reread and edit. :stats:

Edited May 10, 2010 by bbf2530

[firebuff312]

Haha...it sounds nice in low gear...and ur right u get massive torque...ill throw it in low every once in awhile if i want to show off but ya know dont go crazy driving around town with it in low.

[Grey]

Next we will be hearing about someone last Camaro and how they drove it like a "Rental". BBF - I don't know haw you stay so patient! Do you have some good meds?

 

Tempts me to start a topic on "Stories from the service drive".

[2010SEL]

You guys all need to buy cars with manual transmissions!

[Rodeo]

[Just one question for you jake123,

 

Where do you live?

 

(because I want to be sure no one I know accidentally buys your car used from you.)

:hysterical2:

[xmech2k]

[Just one question for you jake123,

 

Where do you live?

 

(because I want to be sure no one I know accidentally buys your car used from you.)

:hysterical2:

 

You said it! This is my argument for why I prefer to buy new rather than used. This and the guy who wants to drift his Fusion.