Who here downshifts?

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

i downshift almost everytime i can. tat way i lower my speed and keep the engie at a good rpm range in case i have to wind it up in a hurry(sometimes traffic can be freaky)
i wont downshift more than 3rd tho. and i try to do it when the rpms are low on each gear so it wont kickback too high

how do i double clutch?

 

[colby450xc]

I don't down shift unless it is a long hill, and thn ill just use third. Usually it doesn't make abig difference anyway. To the thread start, can you try and rationalize how downshifting could possibly make for better mileage. All it does is rev the motor when you are not using it for acceleration.... I don't see how it would help at all.

 

[ChrisR1S]

I downshift in my cobalt ss because of a feature called deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO). When coasting at over 1,500rpm the engine uses NO fuel and shuts off the injectors.

 

[srteach]

2001 F350, and 99 Ranger
Downshift all the time in both rigs, and I seldom grind gears. I have over 200k miles on each rig, never replaced the synchros or clutch.

It's all in how you do it.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I downshift in my cobalt ss because of a feature called deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO). When coasting at over 1,500rpm the engine uses NO fuel and shuts off the injectors.

So do RBVs. Pretty common in most vehicles these days.

 

[CHKNFKR]

i downshift according to the jake brake rules: only on DRY PAVEMENT (Emphasis on DRY, even more emphasis on PAVEMENT) and when carrying a HEAVY LOAD. All three requirements must be met, otherwise the temporary loss of traction could prove dangerous. beyond that I do coast down hills, funny thing though, if i coast in 5th down a 30% grade, I still slow down, and fast.

 

[mp3deviant721]

how do i double clutch?

Push in clutch, shift into neutral, release clutch. Push clutch in, shift into desired gear, release clutch.

On a different note, how do you properly downshift anyhow? When I do it, my truck lurches. I know I'm doing it wrong and want to learn the correct procedure.

 

[The_Dealer]

only when towing, emergency maneuvers and offroad

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

Push in clutch, shift into neutral, release clutch. Push clutch in, shift into desired gear, release clutch.

On a different note, how do you properly downshift anyhow? When I do it, my truck lurches. I know I'm doing it wrong and want to learn the correct procedure.

ok ill try to double clutch it from now on.

i usually downshift to keep mine around 2-2.5k rpms

 

[fastpakr]

Push in clutch, shift into neutral, release clutch. Push clutch in, shift into desired gear, release clutch.

On a different note, how do you properly downshift anyhow? When I do it, my truck lurches. I know I'm doing it wrong and want to learn the correct procedure.

You need to blip the throttle to match the engine speed to what it will be in the desired gear.

 

[Airmaster]

I don't down shift unless it is a long hill, and thn ill just use third. Usually it doesn't make abig difference anyway. To the thread start, can you try and rationalize how downshifting could possibly make for better mileage. All it does is rev the motor when you are not using it for acceleration.... I don't see how it would help at all.

as chrisr1s said... "because of a feature called deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO)"

When you downshift the engine simply rotates over without putting fuel into the injectors. If you throw it into nuetral the truck idles, which puts fuel into the injectors.

At least this is my understanding of it. And I've seen better MPGs in both my cars when comparing a non downshift cycle to a downshift cycle.

 

[gjm4l]

I downshift. But usually only if I'm not expecting to fully stop because I always try to time lights so I can maintain momentum. I only downshift at low rpm's to be easy on the trans. But I will drop from 5th or 4th to 3rd for malacioius purposes if someone has been tailgating for too long I do however always downshift in my dumptruck and that habit has been starting to creep into DD...

 

[Airmaster]

Push in clutch, shift into neutral, release clutch. Push clutch in, shift into desired gear, release clutch.

On a different note, how do you properly downshift anyhow? When I do it, my truck lurches. I know I'm doing it wrong and want to learn the correct procedure.

Aha, I will definitely try the double clutch! Sounds good.

To make my shifts smooth I simply make sure I downshift to a gear which will be at or below 3000 RPM. I try to make a smooth movement of the clutch and throw in a little brake or a little throttle to get it right.

I think I've developed it over time though, so maybe keep trying at it, I think it'll work itself out with a little fooling around. That's just me, I haven't gotten too technical about it... maybe I should though, it wouldnt hurt for me to learn and get better too haha.

 

[mp3deviant721]

You need to blip the throttle to match the engine speed to what it will be in the desired gear.

Say, I'm going about 45 mph in 4th gear, my RPM's are about close to 2000. If I wanna down shift into 3rd, I would depress the clutch, shift into 3rd, blip the throttle to whatever the RPMs would be at about 45 mph and let the clutch out? Is that the general idea of how it works?

 

[Hahnsb2]

Push in clutch, shift into neutral, release clutch. Push clutch in, shift into desired gear, release clutch.

On a different note, how do you properly downshift anyhow? When I do it, my truck lurches. I know I'm doing it wrong and want to learn the correct procedure.

You've described double clutching for an upshift, which isn't necessary with a synchronized tranny since the input shaft naturally slows itself down for an upshift and doesn't wear the sycnrhos much, for an downshift the syncrhos must speed up the input shaft which causes a lot more wear.

To double clutch downshift, with the clutch not pressed and the tranny in nuetral you blip the throttle, this uses the engine to speed up the input shaft, then push in the clutch and select a lower gear,