What is the difference between d3 and d4 on a car

Report message as abuse. Show original message. Either email addresses are anonymous for this group or you need the view member email addresses permission to view the original message. Thomas W. Donald Chau. Oakes toa One thing that's always bothered me about Hondas : and Acuras is that the shifter pulls back to D3 without having to press : the button.

Confusing to those who don't know what their engine is : doing. According to my manual: Drive D : Used for normal driving. Your Answer:. Upload Photo Photo optional. Related Questions. Honda Pilot - General. Start a new Honda Accord question. Own this car? Share your experience with others. Write a car review. Search Honda Accord Questions. CarGurus Experts. Know more, shop wisely Search. While D3 keeps the gear limit within the first three gears 1, 2, and 3 , D4 operates within the gear 1, 2, 3, and 4 limits.

It combines the operations of D1, 2, 3, and 4, as it can switch within the range of 1 to 4. While D3 is suitable when ascending or descending a hill and serving as the ideal gear position for a stop-and-go driving situation, D4 is most suitable for driving on a freeway highway , especially when driving from one city to another.

It has a higher speed compared to D3 and is more suitable in all conditions than D3. While D3 may not be ideal for driving on the highway, D4 can be used either within a town or on the highway.

Remember, it combines the operations of D1, 2, 3, and 4. However, cars with automatic transmission are different from those with manual transmission. Cars with manual transmission require that you regularly engage the gears from the lowest to the highest and vice versa; but, cars with automatic transmission have been designed to select their gear automatically from lowest to highest and vice versa.

Hence, it would be best to drive on D4 normally, whether within the city or on the highway. It would be best if you only used D3 when driving up or down a hill because of the need to maintain a slow speed. Driving on D3 is ideal when driving within or around the city, rather than driving with D. Although most drivers use D whether they are driving around town or traveling on a highway.

But, it is recommended to drive with D3 within a busy environment city or town because it helps you get a higher rev, enabling your car to respond well while driving slowly at a low speed. It is essential to understand the ideal gear acceleration that is best for every situation and location. It would help you enjoy maximum satisfaction while driving, whether on the highway or within the city.

Driving with D3 will not make your car faster. It usually accelerates to a higher gear once the car reaches the highest RPM. So, D3 enables you to drive at an optimum level while driving at a low speed or while cruising within an environment that is not so free from traffic for a long time.

Ensure to observe the conditions surrounding the environment where you drive per time to know the best gear to drive with as you cruise around town or while driving on the highway.

However, it depends, as it is ideal for you to drive in D3 around town provided you do not exceed a certain speed limit. You may want to ensure that you do not drive over 30 mph to get the best driving on D3. Do the same for your Honda Civic D3, 2, 1 gear system.