Downshifting?

[Offroader]

My 4th gen T4R is the first automatic transmission vehicle I own, so I have the habit of downshifting to help ease the load on the brake pads.

Could this damage or shorten the life of my automatic transmission?

The manual says it's ok to do this.

Opinions?

Thanks.

 

[Koz]

You would put undue stress on the trans by using it to slow your vehicle, all the time. Also brake pads are cheaper then any trans problem. Get used to using your brakes, not the trans.

Koz

 

[PROZAC]

Perhaps if I was on a steep highway grade, I'd use the trans to slow the vehicle, however, I am a proponent of replacing the pads vs experiencing trans problems down the road.

Allow me to bite off your thread. What about the folks who put their vehicle in park, let off the brake, and the vehicle rocks back and forth until it naturally settles down.

 

[noodlesfusion]

unless you have to stop on a dime, down shifting will eventually kill your tranny... its cheaper to go with the brakes

 

[Bobby]

One thing I noticed on the 4runner is that when going downhill and you press the brakes, the trans will downshift and hold the lower gear until you hit the gas. Engine braking isn't a new concept and is used often in bigger trucks to prevent warped rotors. I don't think you need to manually downshift unless you're towing something. In everyday use, I'd just let the tranny do its thing and hit the brakes when you need them.

 

[EDGE]

It's an Auto, don't manually shift it, less problems in the long run

 

[ZOSO Runner]

If that is the case, then when do you use the lower gears, especially '2' and 'L'? I have wondered about this as well, I have always driven a manual trans. so this auto stuff is new to me. Sorry for the hijack. Mine is 2wd btw.

 

[EDGE]

I use 1st and 2nd when driving down a hill in the snow, keeps the truck under control and you don't have to give it to much brake, much better then leaving it in drive and rolling on the brake

 

[sharp4runr]

The lower gears are used for "crawling" especially over rocky terrain or like Edge said to descend hills...

 

[Northof49]

With the steep grade around where I live, I use engine braking all the time. I drive "down" into town in 2 or 3 for more engine braking (speed under 50km/h), and use 4 instead of 5 when coming down grades on the highway (speed up to 110 km/h).

There is no reason not to use lower gears for longer periods of downhill to avoid warped rotors and such.....that's what they are made for.

That said, just to slow for a stop sign, it is not a good idea to use the tranny instead of the brakes as others mentioned.

 

[00void]

the only time i use downshifting is::

01. driving in the snow, at slow speeds, i'll keep the trans in 3rd or 4th.
+
02. this may be dumb to do i guess, but it can be fun

 

[mc_kinjim]

is this "downshifting" the gears next to D?
4-D
3
2
L
what are the 4 3 2 L used for?
is it like manual?
is it ok to rev your engine while in those gears?
sorry with all these ques i just am confused.

 

[Cliff s]

The transmission is a 5 speed as you have indicated, L,2,3,4,D.

You will not hurt the transmission by using the lower gears.

The various positions are the gears of the transmission,
you can use it like a stick if you wish, by starting out in
low and shifting just like a manual trasmission.

The is really a very good feature for towing and driving off road.
If you count the low range of the transfer case you will have 10 speeds.

Cliff s

 

[00void]

If you count the low range of the transfer case you will have 10 speeds.

Cliff s

not necessarily only because i think in 4-LO you can maybe top out at 20mph which point would be pushing it too. i stand to be corrected though!

yeah, you won't hurt your tranny by selecting gears manually, but you could obviously damage your engine if you hold out near redline for too long