S-Mode Upshifting & Downshifting

I searched old forums but couldn’t find a clear answer.

If I switch to S mode, it defaults to S4. I usually wanna be in S3. To bump down (downshift) to S3 do I need to remove my foot from the gas and click down? Or should I gently tap the brake and do it?

Once at the bottom of the hill and I have gained speed, so I continue to keep the gas pressed as I click up (upshift) back to S4? Or do I need to remove my foot from the gas before clicking up?

Ok to keep foot on gas to slide back over from S to D?

There is nothing in the manual about if brakes or gas need to be applied and when.

 

If I remember correctly from my experimenting you dont really need to remove your foot from the gas, it will dip the throttle as it shifts if it needs to since its all electronic.

 

It is still an automatic transmission. You can bump the shifter up or down without moving your foot off the gas or brake. The truck won't let the engine over-rev.

 

You don't need to do anything to move between gears in S mode or to move between S and D modes. Truck will handle it all

 

You are over complicating this. Just shift it to whatever you want. There’s no need to involve the gas pedal or brake. S-mode limits the transmission to gears below the setting, e.g. 1-4 in S4. S-mode’s primary purpose is to use engine braking to protect your brakes while descending hills. You are free to use it for other things.

 

S is not "sport", as a lot of people think it is. It's Sequential. All it does is limit the top gear the truck will put you into. So, S4 just means "Max 4". 1-4 behaves the same, but then at the top end of 4 when it would normally look for 5, it keeps it in 4th. Same with S5, S3, etc.

You don't need to take your foot off the gas. I drop it from S5 to S4 when I want to pass someone, so my foot is DOWN.

It doesn't work in a tiptronic style where S4 = 4th gear, etc. I wish, but it just works as to pick the top gear the truck will go into.

 

I downshifted to S3 when I was going about 37mph and kept my foot on the gas it was louder and much rougher than when I have done it with my foot off the gas. And a quick google said never downshift with your foot on the gas but google can get me in trouble so I wanted to come here.

 

I only use it for engine braking but it downshifted harshly the one time I downshifted without taking my foot off the gas. Then Google told me this so I got worried:
• Accelerate to 20 to 25 miles per hour before shifting to D3.

• Slightly let off the accelerator pedal to avoid damaging the transmission. Then, press the D3 button on your gear stick to shift.

Do not shift while pressing the gas pedal as this can damage either your engine or transmission.

 

Google is wrong on this one...it is no different than downshifting with a detent.

 

Google told you this? Are you referring to to the newish “AI” thingy on google search?

In any case, do what you feel but keep both feet on the wheel.

 

Yea that new AI thing is deadly. But I deep dived and found some pages that mentioned it too. Again, not sure how reputable they are.

 

Ok, Then it wasn’t google that you are referencing. In any case, it sounds like you found a bunch of BS.

 

I read you shouldn’t be downshifting with the throttle open. Assuming that means giving it gas. But I dunno, I just wanted to check bc it was way rougher than when I click it down when I’m just coasting and not hitting the gas. The time I did it with the gas the truck def jolted.

 

Why do you feel the need to downshift with your foot on the gas?

 

Yes, when you floor it with it in Drive, it will jolt because you are wide open and shifting gears. This is normal.

 

Towing a trailer up a hill and wanting to down shift to keep RPM's high but not bogging down too much before the downshift.

 

I do it all the time climbing hills, down shifts from S6 to S5 to maintain speed.

 

With an automatic transmission isn’t it easier to just use the skinny pedal? Why do you need to involve s-mode?

 

Do it all the time. City, highway and especially mountain driving. Always looking at engine breaking on steep declines and keeping RPMS up into the torque range when required. I even get shut out of second by an audible chirp if my road speed is too fast for that gear.