2011 Chevrolet Impala Owner's Manual - Page 235

Driving and Operating Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with the engine running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting the vehicle. D (Drive) : This position is for normal driving. It provides the best fuel economy. If you need more power for passing, and you are: . 9-27 Notice: Driving the vehicle if you notice that it is moving slowly or not shifting gears as you increase speed may damage the transmission. Have the vehicle serviced right away. You can drive in 2 (Second) when you are driving less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and D (Drive) for higher speeds until then. 3 (Third): This position is also used for normal driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed more than D (Drive) without using the brakes. You might choose 3 (Third) instead of D (Drive) when driving on hilly, winding roads, when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between gears and when going down a steep hill. 2 (Second): This position reduces vehicle speed even more than 3 (Third) without using the brakes. You can use 2 (Second) on hills. It can help control vehicle speed as you go down steep mountain roads. You would also want to use the brakes off and on. Notice: Driving in 2 (Second) for more than 25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h) may damage the transmission. Also, shifting into 2 (Second) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h) can cause damage. Drive in 3 (Third) or D (Drive) instead of 2 (Second). 1 (First): This position reduces vehicle speed even more than 2 (Second) without using the brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is in 1 (First) while the vehicle is moving forward, the transmission will not shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough. Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will not be covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place. Going less than 55 km/h (35 mph), push the accelerator pedal about halfway down. Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or more, push the accelerator pedal all the way down. The transmission will shift down to the next gear and the vehicle will have more power. . Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see "Skidding" under Loss of Control on page 9‑6.