Engine Torque - 4 vs Drive

I have a automatic 05 pre-runner DC with 43K plus miles on it. When driving in 4th (no overdrive), the engine has good torque or power and pushes thru the gears quickly. When driving in D, it doesn't have the same torque as I increase speed.

My question is, should my truck have the same (torque) when driving in 4th or D, except for the extra gear in D?


Thanks in advance.

 

for gears 1-4, it won't make a difference...but on the highway if you give it gas in 4th it will accelerate faster vs when you are in D (5th gear) it will eather accelerate slower of downshift to 4th, in which case you'll have the same power as if you were in 4...just a little shift delay

EDIT: you may be feeling this lower power, because our trucks (auto trans) shift at very low rpms, causing you to cruise in 5th gear before you're eve at 45 mph

 

Thanks for the replies.., when driving in 4th, my truck doesn't have the same torque to the point of shifting to 5th gear.

Thanks for the help!

 

Yep, I'm regularly in 5th gear before I reach 35mph...

 

Note D is actually overdrive. It's all about gearing ratios. The engine is putting out the same torque at x rpm in any gear... it's just a matter of how it's distributed. There is also a lockup converter that can give a bit of a 'boost.' Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it only engages that in 5th.

 

So there are no specific shift points with our transmission based on certain speeds or RPMs? Sounds like the engine changes gears based on what I'm asking it to do.

 

The lockup converter doesn't really boost anything, it just eliminates slippage within the converter.

 

That's why I wrote it.

 

So I shouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two except being in D will allow the 5th gear to engage into overdrive?

By the way, thanks for everyone's input.

 

Any gear with a ratio greater that 1:1 is considered "overdrive". Some transmissions have multiple overdrive gears, I am not sure if the 2nd gen is overdriven in 4th and 5th or just 5th.

 

I knew that you would know the correct answer. Thanks for the info.

 

I can get into 5th gear at 32 if I feather it. A shift point between 35 and 37 into 5th is normal for me. How else do you think I get this ridiculous MPG? 5th gear at 35mpg is below 1200 rpm... great on flat ground for really good mileage, assuming the speed limit is 35.

Shift into 2nd gear before 10mph
Shift into 3rd gear before 20 mph
Shift into 4th at 25mph
Shift into 5th at 35mph

This is without A/C on which adds a little load to the engine and bumps my shift points up 2-3mph.
These trannys are smart. If you run them a certain way for a while they will learn how you drive.

I'd say come take a drive with me but you're, um, a wee bit far away.

 

Ah, didn't realize it did it in 4th as well, good to know.

Yea, that's why I used " ", simple yet horrible way to describe it heh.


Side note: have I ever mentioned I hate automatic transmissions? lol... clutch and flywheel just makes sense to me I guess.

 

I wish I could have found a 6-speed anywhere near my area when it came time to buy. The closest was over 1000 miles away and I just didn't feel like messing with it