2.7L Automatic - I drove it in 2nd Gear on the freeway!

99 PreRunner - 2.7L Automatic

I was driving on the freeway doing about 85 on regular D gear on the automatic transmission. I saw a highway patrol who was gunning me so instead of hitting the brakes....I dropped the automatic gear shifter into 2 in an attempt to slow down in which the car did slow down significantly. Engine seems fine except for the fact that the engine knocking seems a little louder now. Do you guys think I could have damaged anything in the engine or trans? My buddy told me that doing that was actually good for the engine hence it could have cleared some "crap" in it....not sure what he means by that. Anyhow, I've driven about 300 miles since it happened and no check engine light or signs of any abnormal issues other than the engine knocking sound a little louder and more hollow.

On a different note...LOL I went offroading in the rain today...I went on this wannabe 2 mile mud trail that leads to a dog rescue facility. I went up the trail and back down. My ride got muddy but it was really fun haha. Im only 2WD so I cant do anything crazy like the rest of yall!

Thanks for your input!

 

Do not take automotive advice from aforementioned buddy.
Over revving an engine is NOT good for it.

Yes, you possibly damaged the engine. Loud, hollow knocking sounds are not good.

 

Thanks for reply. Yea I didn't think it was good what I did. I probably should have just hit the brakes. Is there a way to tell if I damaged anything? I was only on 2 for about 5 seconds. I don't recall if I redlined or not.

91710 used to be my zip code. I lived on Shaefer and San Antonio. The beginner mud trail I went on is across the street from prado range. Thanks again

 

Ouch, just hit the O/D off button on the side of the shifter, at that speed the speed will drop pretty fast.

Probably internal engine damage causing the knocking, could've spun a bearing or something.

My v6 has a rev limiter, but my cousins 04 pre runner with the 2.7 doesn't, weird that toyota only put the rev limiter on the v6.

Your buddy is partly correct, it is good of the engine to rev up now and then, as long as it's under red line, but you don't want to over rev the engine.

 

Rev limiter only stops the engine from going too high from acceleration.
It can't stop if if you downshift into too low of a gear, other than cutting the ignition to prevent you from maintaining.

More modern transmissions have programming that prevent the trans from engaging on a downshift at too high a speed, but they are based on the design of the engine and do not take into account a 15 year old engine that is "tired".

 

I believe the transmission (at least for the 3.4) has that programming, several months ago i was doing ~45 and shifted down into L (i thought i was in D), the truck slowed and didn't engage the transmission (downshift) until i was doing 30, then it jumped up to ~500 RPM under red line.

 

You stretch the conn rods when you downshift hot on rpm's,,they don't like that, under red line or not. The timing chain/belts becomes your instant brakes,,and it's not happy either.


You had a knock to begin with,,and after the downshift it's louder??. Well, if you have to venture out with the truck now, I wouldn't go to far from services. It might knock for 35K,,or it might expire when you next turn the key.

 

Thanks again for all the replies! Hopefully I didnt damage anything serious and I probably shouldnt have gone offroading that same day lol. I have 212k now and engine seems fine other then the knocking. Wierd thing too is that it only knocks when I press the gas pedal and only 65mph+. At first I thought the hollow knocking noise was comming from my front struts...but when I release the gas pedal, the noise goes away...wierd. I plan on doing a So Cal to Salinas trip next Sunday to pick up some trees. Its a 300mi trip hope it goes well. You guys think Ill be ok?