Spectrum Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 So I've always manually downshifted to slow down going down big hills or just getting off the interstate getting down to city speeds. I'm not shifting 1-2-D-D* around town, but does this put extra strain on my transmission? Similarly, I'll occasionally shift into neutral to coast down a hill on the interstate. More harm than good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 So I've always manually downshifted to slow down going down big hills or just getting off the interstate getting down to city speeds. I'm not shifting 1-2-D-D* around town, but does this put extra strain on my transmission? Similarly, I'll occasionally shift into neutral to coast down a hill on the interstate. More harm than good? i'll answer eveything with a (i believe) Mark Donahue quote: brakes are cheaper than tranmsmissions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 i think it alright aslong as you dont do it alot. i would only downshift if it were real big hill where you were going to have to ride your brakes alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1990lumina Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 Downshifting won't hurt it too much. I wouldn't be putting it in and out of neutral like that though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88Regal Limited Posted June 13, 2009 Report Share Posted June 13, 2009 Downshifting won't hurt it too much. I wouldn't be putting it in and out of neutral like that though. correct. I believe the pump only pumps if it's in a moving gear, not in neutral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 Downshifting won't hurt it too much. I wouldn't be putting it in and out of neutral like that though. correct. I believe the pump only pumps if it's in a moving gear, not in neutral. False, it's pumping all the time. Some chrysler trans, such as the 42RE, 46 & 47RE don't engage the pump in neutral i think it alright aslong as you dont do it alot. i would only downshift if it were real big hill where you were going to have to ride your brakes alot This is pretty much all the more it should be done. It won't hurt anything, but what you save in brakes versus engine braking via the trans is negligible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 As long as your not running down steep grades in neutral it shouldn't hurt. The pump pumps fluid whenever the engine is running, not only when it is in gear. If you're doing it to save fuel, then don't bother, as the difference it makes is so negligible you probably wouldn't even notice that there was a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpse3400 Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 The transmission down shifts anyway when you slow down so no wear other than normal will come of it. On a 60E/65E there is a 2-1 band that will engage for engine braking when making a manual select, otherwise the rest of the unit is used as normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boymeetspavement Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 I do the same but I only upshift. 1-2-3 then I let it downshift on its own. 1-2-3-4 on the highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadfoot Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 If you downshift to the point that it makes the engine rev and it slows the car significantly, yes. When I worked at the dealer and my buddy was a tranny tech we saw several trannies come through that had blown a sprague up from people manually downshifting instead of using their brakes. I wouldn't do it unless the brakes are not working or you need to slow down for a cop without putting the brake lights on. As has been mentioned previously, brakes are much cheaper than transmissions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 Why would you do this anyway? I don't understand. And you're not saving fuel by putting it in neutral, the PCM will turn the injectors off while the car is coasting in gear. If you put it in neutral, it has to turn them back on to idle the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectrum Posted June 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 If you downshift to the point that it makes the engine rev and it slows the car significantly, yes. When I worked at the dealer and my buddy was a tranny tech we saw several trannies come through that had blown a sprague up from people manually downshifting instead of using their brakes. I wouldn't do it unless the brakes are not working or you need to slow down for a cop without putting the brake lights on. I have to regularly go down a steep hill in a school zone. I can ride my brakes the entire way down, end up going 60MPH at the bottom, or I just keep the car manually in 1st or 2nd. If I'm not downshifting, but rather starting out in 1st or 2nd, and stay in it to keep the car from getting too much speed, is that an issue? Why would you do this anyway? I don't understand. And you're not saving fuel by putting it in neutral, the PCM will turn the injectors off while the car is coasting in gear. If you put it in neutral, it has to turn them back on to idle the engine. I do it every now and then when I'm coming down huge hills. I didn't know this didn't save fuel. Guess I don't need to do that if it's useless. I actually just got new brake pads and rotors at 81k miles. The rotors and brake pads were the original OEM parts. Highway miles ftw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted June 14, 2009 Report Share Posted June 14, 2009 I have to regularly go down a steep hill in a school zone. I can ride my brakes the entire way down, end up going 60MPH at the bottom, or I just keep the car manually in 1st or 2nd. If I'm not downshifting, but rather starting out in 1st or 2nd, and stay in it to keep the car from getting too much speed, is that an issue? that works great... say you have to stop near the top of it, throw it down into the gear you think will work(after you're already in it), and just coast. should work fine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boymeetspavement Posted June 15, 2009 Report Share Posted June 15, 2009 haha yea I dont manually shift for any fuel saving or braking reasons. I ussually just to it so I can take each gear to a higher rpm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w-bodys_are_the_best Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 I do shift into a lower gear in my automatic vehicles on a long & steep hills, I feel it gives me more control. I only do that in a limited speed zone or in town and not on the highway. Our van and my jeep (chryslers) will actually downshift themselves into 3rd on long steep hills with the cruise set to keep the vehicle closer to the set speed. We visited Pike's Peak in 04 with my brother's 99 Sable with the 3.0 24 valve. They won't let you up the mountain without at least 1/2 tank, and on the way down they tell you to put the vehicle in 1st wether it's manual or auto. They also have a brake check spot about 1/3-1/2 of the way down and the park ranger feels them to see if they're hot. Ours were hot and he would not let the car move for 35 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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