Using the Transmission to break

I was just wondering if I was the only that uses the automatic transmission to slow the vehicle when stopping. Sometimes I move the shifter from D to 3 to slow my taco down when coming to a stop. I also us 2nd gear to hold the vehicle back when going down long hills when needed. Any comments regarding using the transmission this way good or bad.
Bill

 

Generally not advised with an automatic unless you need to do it to save the brakes when towing.

 

I've done it before. Don't make a habit of it but every now and then. I've heard its only bad because of the excess heat that it creates in the tranny but if you have a TRD model is should have a trans cooler which really helps keep the heat down, so I guess I depends how often you do it

 

When I was a kid, old guys would tell me "you'll blow the seals in yer PowerGlide doin' that". How? "Don't get smart, ya just will"!
I pop mine in to 3rd when going down hill, just to stay closer to the speed limit. I don't use the transmission as an engine brake on a level road. The truck seems to slow down plenty just taking my foot off the gas.

 

Yes , downshifting or engine braking will create heat within the transmission . All that enegry has to go somewhere . Better to create heat and wear on the brakes rather than the trans . Simply taking your foot off the accelerator seems to have an immediate effect with these trucks mind you. You do get better control of the truck by downshifting through icy corners or long hills .

 

Brakes are cheap, transmissions are not. Other than decending a mountain with a load it is better to just leave it in D IMO

 

i do it in mine quite a bit. not problems yet.

i do it mostly if i start into a turn, and realize i’m going just a little to fast. i’ll down shift to slow down.

also i have done it mostly on the tail of the dragon(US129 into NC, 318 curves in 11 miles) i don’t even smell anything and thats shifting in every curve up into NC and back into TN.

 

I did that all the time with a '94 T100. Never had a problem, but I did put an extra transmission cooler on the truck right after I bought it. Sold the truck with 130k miles. It was still running around town several years later.

 

I believe the Owner's Manual actually states than you can use the transmission to engine break. Also, it's the engine that's doing the breaking, the transmission's torque converter locks up so how do you guys thing that you building heat in the transmission?