Hey guys and gals-
I searched "gear picking" for threads that talk about thing and didn't get anything so here is a new one. I hope to get lots of input from you T4R owners.

I have a 5-speed auto V6 powertrain ('05 SR5) and have noticed that the tranny selects overdrive too quickly, or at least it seems so. Mine will upshift to 5th gear when going 30 mph, causing the engine speed to drop to about 1000 rpm. The engine seems "bogged down" at this speed and produces vibration. Then when feathering the gas pedal the tranny shifts back and forth from 4th and 5th gears. This is prevalent until the truck reaches about 40 mph. I have since resorted to using 4th gear until I reach a road where I can hold the 40 mph for awhile.

Any input as to how you all drive? In your opinion, am I wrong or right to use the tranny as I have described above? All opinions welcome, if you think I'm being an idiot, please say so, speak your minds!

This is definintely one qualm that I have with the transmission / gearing in the 4runner. It seems that I am in OD as soon as I take off from a stop and then when I step on the accelerator just a little it has to down shift. It definitely bugs me but I have learned to live with it. You could just leave it in 4 around town if you want and that would eliminate the hunting.

I don't notice any bogging down on mine, so I'm always in 'D' unless I'm going down a hill and want to stay off the brakes, then I'll downshift to either '4' or '3' depending on the grade and speed. But if it's hunting, you can keep it in '4' and it would lock out overdrive. When you reach higher speeds, shift it over to 'D' to allow overdrive for better fuel economy.

Why would you "live with it" when the transmission has the ability to select each gear? Wouldn't it always make sense to use the gear that best relates to the driving conditions at hand?

The engine/tranny combo has a "learn" feature. I think it is dynamic and will change the shift points based on your driving habits. First try changing your driving habits over a few days to a slightly more firm/aggresive acceleration. It may work. If not, then it can be reset and retaught by the stealer. They use a scan tool to reset the tranny ECU and then reteach on a road test pattern. Maybe someone can chime in with the actual Service Manual pages and data. If you are under warranty, complain at the stealer (armed with the service manual data) about a drivability issue. Make sure to go with them on the test drive so they can't pull the "cannot duplicate symptom" line of BS.

I usually keep it in 4th around town and select 5th when I'm on the highway. If I am doing alot of stopping and starting I'll usually shift manually from 3rd thru 5th and back down to 3rd when I am slowing down. The console shifter and gate pattern make it very convenient to do so, at least in my opinion...

We LUCKY early 4th generation V6 owners do not have this problem with the old trustworthy and reliable 3rd generation 4-spd tranny.

*****The few, the the proud, the 4 speeders!****

I had been using primarily 4th gear around town and that keeps the RPMs in the 1500-1800 in the 30-ish to 40-ish speeds. In the last tank, I noticed the MPG was down a little to about 15 and a half so the technique is getting a little refinement.
It was anything 40 or under was 4th gear but now it has to be UNDER 40 (really 35-ish) and expect to stay there a while = 4th.
OVER 40 or expect to average over 40 "D"

So, it is usually in 4th for neighborhood driving, stop and go and low speed in town. This makes it more responsive and gives better engine braking. "D" is for 40-ish and above and keeping it there for short under 40 periods.

It probably doesn't matter much to the truck but it is fun to drive analytically.