Automatic Transmission Tip for Smoother Shifting

[BamaDrewski]

I took my truck to the transmission shop to have it checked out as preventive maintenance. (Truck has almost 230K on original transmission) The owner of the shop actually owned a 3rd gen 4Runner. He checked it out and said it was fine. He advised me to occasionally move the gear shifter down to the lowest gear when starting off from a stop. He said run the engine up to about 3000rpm in the first gear and then push into the next gear and the the same from the next gear into the “D” (Drive position). He said this helps keep all of the gears and transmission solenoids well lubricated and running well. I have been doing this a few times over the past few weeks and I can tell a difference in the shifting. The shifts between gears are much smoother throughout the gear range. Before, I always left the vehicle in drive and shifted into neutral at a stop. I still do that but this little “trick” does improve the “feel” of the shifting throughout the range. When you think about it, it makes sense....

 

[BlackCat914]

I think it's a load of crap.

 

[BamaDrewski]

Your certainly entitled to your opinion. Just relaying my experience. Worked for me.

 

[Skidmarcx]

I'm just curious how this works... It's not like the transmission skips gears from a start... I don't know about that... Either way I don't see any negative effects from this

 

[BamaDrewski]

I really don;t have an explanation other than perhaps it forces more fluid through each gear for a longer period of time than with the automatic shift sequence. As we are supposed to run our rigs in 4LO from time to time to lube everything up, I guess this is the same approach. To your point, does not seem to have a negative side to doing it.

 

[JayRolla]

I really don;t have an explanation other than perhaps it forces more fluid through each gear for a longer period of time than with the automatic shift sequence. As we are supposed to run our rigs in 4LO from time to time to lube everything up, I guess this is the same approach. To your point, does not seem to have a negative side to doing it.

Did you say you shift to neutral at every stop?

 

[LittleCaesar]

I know a transmission builder who has advocated the same thing, but I never knew the reason why. I'll give it a try and see how it goes and will post results down the road.

I put my A/T in N when I know it will be one heck of a long light.

 

[Skidmarcx]

I know a transmission builder who has advocated the same thing, but I never knew the reason why. I'll give it a try and see how it goes and will post results down the road.

I put my A/T in N when I know it will be one heck of a long light.

Interesting... Guess I'll have to look into it more

 

[DwardT4R]

ive been having the same type of issue with my transmission during everyday driving. Shifts hard from 1st all the way to 4th. I had the transmission fluid changed, (trans pan dropped, cleaned, filter changed) had little luck with that. Hopefully somebody figures out a permanent solution to this problem because if not when i get off this overtime i have plans of doing a full trans rebuild. Id like to avoid that since its proly a simple problem.