Shift gear position

[dan_g]

I have a question on the position of the drive lever when driving under normal flat roads. It just got to my attention a few days back. The last three years my wife and I have been placing the lever on the '4' position instead of the 'D' position. I am not sure if this was how the salesman explained to us as we bought the van new.

On what position do u guys normally place the lever.

I always felt we were averaging slightly lower mpg of 20.6, mostly highway and urban roads. On long distance trips we average 21.

Thanks

Dan

[jh818]

We keep our lever at D all the time. This is overdrive which will allow your van to go into 5th gear at highway speeds. I get around 23 mpg.

You will see the position light up on your dashboard if you're on 4 or D.

Wow, think how much more gas you would've saved over the last 3 years. 

[topspy]

He got better mpgs in [4] than I do in [D / 5].   

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 

[tonystewart]

You are kidding right  

[robo5]

You are kidding right  

To topspy or the OP?

I leave mine in "D".

[jaymz]

Our "lie-O-meter" says we've averaged 20.8 mpg the past 2 months.

[topspy]

You are kidding right  

To topspy or the OP?

I leave mine in "D".

Hahahahha.....**IF** to moi...

You have to remember all the crap (aka equipment/stuff....just in case   ) that I carry.  ( see topic here Reply #7 & #10:  What do you always carry in your Sienna? (other than passengers) )  Plus, mostly "city" and a lot of "climate-controlled" idling.  The HydroEdges might be helping to improve my mpgs though.  Our "lie-O-meter" (Good one!!   ) was more or less pegged at 17.3mpg "lifetime" for 70K miles & 6yrs of ownership (occasionally briefly touching 17.1 before going back again), but just the other day it showed 17.5mpg.  WooooooHOOOOO!!!      

[Supervan]

Comparing my 2001 LE to my 2005 LE, at 70 mph the rpm are 2.5 K on the 01 and 2.0 K on my 05. By my 05 idling slower at the same speed as my 01, is it safe to say that I am saving engine life? I assume that the engine in my 05 (3.3 Liters) under normal circumstances should last longer than the one in the 01 (3.0 Litres). Is it ?

And to ad my opinion in the current trend, I always though we should drive on "D". I even use "D" when hauling my not heavier than 2000 lbs trailer over the flat roads of Florida. So far no problems.

Ed

[topspy]

All things equal....I would think overall engine design and component specifications/manufacturing plus levels of abuse and maintenance would have a larger impact on durability than just the size/displacement.  I'm sure more knowledgeable members will correct me if my thinking is on the wrong path....

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 

[dan_g]

Thanks to all.

I have started to put the gear in D, eventhough it is sometimes difficult as it has become a habit to move it to the 4 position. I have instructed my 8 year old son to keep a chek on Mom as she is the primary driver and he has been on top of it.

I may have lost atleast a mpg during our many long trips FL-OH and FL-MD.

[brian_bp]

The last three years my wife and I have been placing the lever on the '4' position instead of the 'D' position. I am not sure if this was how the salesman explained to us as we bought the van new.

Well, there's the first mistake: listening to the salesman!  Sales staff know how to sell... and in some cases nothing else.

There are a lot of better sources of information:

• the owner's manual, which has a clear and descriptive section on use of the transmission shifter
• common sense (why would there be a "D" if it is never used? "D" means "drive")
• even forums like this

No real harm done.  Yes, the mileage was pretty good in "4", but I'll bet it would be even better in "D".

So, does anyone need a description of what the shifter positions mean?