Winter and Summer Transmission?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 23
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From: Tempe, AZ
1998 E320
Winter and Summer Transmission?
I was wondering about the W/S switch. I live in Arizona and you already know that our winter is very short and we don’t have to worry about the fluids or lines getting cold enough to cause any damage to the transmission. My question is I like having the switch set to winter, but having it on all times, will that cause any damage to the second gear because I have it on that setting all the time, and will this give the transmission longer life for having it on winter versus summer setting.
Thank you guys for all the help with all my simple questions.
Thank you guys for all the help with all my simple questions.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
'98 E320 4Matic, '85 380SL
I also appreciate the smoother 2nd gear starts of the winter mode. But I don't generally use winter mode (unless needed) for two reasons:
1. Fuel economy. Intuitively, you'd think that starting in second gear would get better gas mileage. There was a thread from a year or two ago discussing real world gas mileage figures of both modes. It appears that gas mileage is slightly better in standard mode with 1st gear starts. Best guess: Starting in 2nd gear slips the torque converter more, wasting energy that could otherwise have been used to move the car in 1st.
2. If you always leave it in winter mode, you'll never use first gear. I don't know if this is true or not, but it's probably good for the transmission to occassionally "exercise" first gear. For the same reason, you wouldn't want to always use standard mode, otherwise you'd never use your second reverse gear. (Yes, there are two reverse gears.)
1. Fuel economy. Intuitively, you'd think that starting in second gear would get better gas mileage. There was a thread from a year or two ago discussing real world gas mileage figures of both modes. It appears that gas mileage is slightly better in standard mode with 1st gear starts. Best guess: Starting in 2nd gear slips the torque converter more, wasting energy that could otherwise have been used to move the car in 1st.
2. If you always leave it in winter mode, you'll never use first gear. I don't know if this is true or not, but it's probably good for the transmission to occassionally "exercise" first gear. For the same reason, you wouldn't want to always use standard mode, otherwise you'd never use your second reverse gear. (Yes, there are two reverse gears.)
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 669
Likes: 1
From: North Bay Area, California
2001 E320
Originally Posted by BOMBER
I was wondering about the W/S switch. I live in Arizona and you already know that our winter is very short and we don’t have to worry about the fluids or lines getting cold enough to cause any damage to the transmission. My question is I like having the switch set to winter, but having it on all times, will that cause any damage to the second gear because I have it on that setting all the time, and will this give the transmission longer life for having it on winter versus summer setting.
Thank you guys for all the help with all my simple questions.
Thank you guys for all the help with all my simple questions.
The transmission is provided with a selector switch for Standard "S" and Winter/Wet (snow and ice) "W" program modes.
Standard Mode
Press switch on symbol "S". Use this mode for all-regular driving. The vehicle will start out in 1st gear.
Fast On = Depressing the accelerator pedal quickly (not into kickdown position) while driving continuously, rather than depressing the accelerator pedal in the usual manner, will cause the automatic transmission to shift down into a lower gear. This gear shifting process is dependent on the current vehicle speed.
Fast Off = There will be no upshift when releasing the accelerator pedal quickly, e.g. using the engine's braking power during performance driving.
Winter/Wet (snow and ice) Mode
Press switch on symbol "W". The vehicle starts out in 2nd gear, except with selector lever in 1st gear, or with accelerator pedal in kick down position.
The "W" mode helps to improve traction and driving stability of the vehicle. The gear shifting process occurs at lower vehicle and engine speeds than in the "S" program mode.
Caution! Never change the program mode when the selector lever is out of position "P". It could result in a change of driving characteristics for which you may not be prepared.
Important! Always be certain of the program mode selected since the vehicle driving characteristics change with the selection of the program mode. Dependent on the program mode selector switch position "S" or "W" and the gear selector lever in position "R", the ratio of power transmission changes.
