Manual Transmission Downshifting

I never let it get to that point anymore, but I assume you've noticed if you let the drive train slow you down to that point, the computer automatically gives the engine some throttle to keep the truck moving?

That little feature kind of pissed me off when I first got the truck. A couple times I'd be coming to a stop, leaving the truck in gear. I really wasn't that close to the lower limit for whatever gear I was in, and suddenly the truck automatically throttled up and I moved forward faster unexpectedly. I told a Toyota tech about it when I took it back to complain about that and the RPMs hanging up. He never realized they did that. He noticed it though, and agreed it was annoying.

 

As said, below 3rd the gears are too low. I just ride 3rd as low as it will go and then coast. I would rather replace the brake pads...

 

This is exactly how I do it.

 

All you guys who are not downshifting live in flat country?

Just asking, I find that not using your engine for slowing down is rather peculiar. In fact, have never thought about not downshifting until reading this thread. I've also found that this constantly riding the brakes with automatics is the most annoying thing about them.

But then I've only moved to the flat lands a few years back so not downshifting may make some sense here - live and learn.

Peter

 

i'm a flat lander. when driving in the mountains, i use the engine quite a bit more.

 

I manage to rev match most of the times. Sometimes it's not perfect, but wayagonado.

From third to second i noticed the difference is 500rpm. So just bump it up there. Rest of the other gears are pretty easy to match. But i don't down downshift for red light or stops, mostly i do it when i get off freeway. I sometimes do third to second for stops, but rarely.

When i over rev by mistake i cringe and it makes me cry I hate when i do that. Thankfully, i can count on one hand how many times i did it in one year.

 

I usually double clutch down shift running around locally. I'll typically only do it from 6th to 4th which seems to give me the best engine braking - slowing from about 85km/h. If you rev match properly there is zero problem with it. I've been around the trucking industry my whole life and know how to shift, if you don't understand the technique then you probably shouldn't be doing it.

 

couldn't help myself

 

Noticed that too. By 'about to stall' I suppose I meant 'about to let holier than thou ECM take over and keep me from killing the motor'

But yeah, that is about the time I take it out of gear when not hauling/towing.

 

Coming down the mountains, I generally leave it in 3rd because it is switchbacks the whole way. But near my house, it is generally flat so I do not downshift. It just doesn't make sense to put the extra strain on the drive train just to save the pads and rotors. These trucks aren't even that heavy so the brakes don't take much abuse.

 

Hard to get it right due to the way the revs hang up when clutch is pushed in. I figure the automatics have to use the brakes to stop so just using the brakes on the manual works OK. Sometimes I will gear down to help slow down (usually when towing my boat because of the weak brakes) and will work the reduction going down thru 2000 rpm to 1500 rpm then catch a lower gear which seems to work well. I always try to shift between 1500 to 2000 rpm for better gas mileage and when I just take my time and let the truck build speed with slower more deliberate shifts it works just fine. The truck kind of grows on you after a while. I hated it at first because the shifting just did not seem right.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peted
All you guys who are not downshifting live in flat country?

Just asking, I find that not using your engine for slowing down is rather peculiar. In fact, have never thought about not downshifting until reading this thread. I've also found that this constantly riding the brakes with automatics is the most annoying thing about them.

But then I've only moved to the flat lands a few years back so not downshifting may make some sense here - live and learn.

Peter griffin

What's up with that? Getting personal?
You got anything to useful to add to this discussion or what?


Peter