Trans. downshifts on hills

[WXman]

I have noticed that when I'm on a 55 MPH highway, and start down a hill, if I let off the gas the transmission will downshift and it's very hard to get it back into overdrive. Today, it actually downshifted all the way to 3rd gear. It wouldn't go back into overdrive until the road leveled out again and I started to accelerate.

Is this normal operation or is something wrong? It's annoying because I like to coast down the hills to save fuel.

 

[BCfish]

Yes thats normal afaik

 

[NJshadow93]

My old '03 had much more dramatic engine braking than my current truck does. If I was going down hill, all I had to do was tap the brakes for it to aggressively shift and slow me down. I had gotten used to it but I never realized how annoying it was until driving this truck, which only does it when I need it. By that, I mean I really have to hit the brakes for the engine to help out, rather than a tap.

 

[WXman]

That's good to hear cause that's what mine does...it'll quickly downshift and the tach needle jumps. It does it even with no brake input, but if I touch the brake pedal it does it quicker and harder.

Annoying as hell, but at least it sounds like it's a normal function which is great news.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Mine will not downshift unless I tap the brakes or manually downshift. I love this feature.