Who here downshifts?

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I downshift everything I drive. Blip the throttle and you don't even need to clutch if you do it correctly. Comes from all the years driving grain trucks on the farm, you soon learn how to shift that two speed rear axle (something most of you will never get to experience!) and 10 speed tranny with no clutch (it's given that you will use the clutch to start out and stop). I even down shift my automatics on hills. Most of the new ones do it for you, but I like to know what gear I am in.

As for wear and tear on the clutch and tranny, I have never changed one in over 180,ooo on the F350, The Ranger had 120,ooo and never changed it. The Farm truck (Peterbuilt) has over 250,ooo and had never needed a change. Also all these vehicles are on their second set of brakes.

 

[RatDog8o8]

I've always down shift in every five speed I've owned; car and truck. I never once had tranny or clutch issues. I always like to time my down shifts perfect when I have a car riding my ass so I can come to a complete stop without touching my brake pedal; that seems to piss'em off.

That's a trick I've used, too. Too bad I can't hit first.....T18a in the Jeep isn't syncro'd in that gear.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That's a trick I've used, too. Too bad I can't hit first.....T18a in the Jeep isn't syncro'd in that gear.

Unless we are pulling a house off its foundation 1st is worthless in the T-18 equiped F-350 we have.

Nice for putting around slow (I can see its advantage in a wheeler) or starting a gawdawful load, otherwise it is skipped. In that thing, even downshifting from 2nd and you would be picking teeth out of the dash.

 

[Boggin]

yeah thats the same as the NP435s, they have the ultra low 1st which is hardly ever used as you stated

 

[koda6966]

I always thought you were supposed to. lmao

 

[RatDog8o8]

In 1st gear (6.32 ratio) with the transfer case in low range.....I can walk faster than the Jeep will move at idle.

 

[LearjetMinako]

I hardly ever downshift or engine brake. I mostly coast to a stop and use light brake pressure to adjust my rate of deaccleration. The only times that I do engine braking is when on long steep grades. Then I may hold a lower gear or downshift to slow the vehicle. And for times when I need to downshift is when I need the extra torque to get moving. But most of the time, I hold a lower gear on accleration till I feel safely merged with traffic.

When I do downshift, I just press & hold the clutch in, gently push the stick into that gear I want, the gears will just slide right in, add a light amount of throttle, let off clutch gentlely, and give the correct amount of throttle.

As for the injector shutting off during engine braking. You can feel this when it happens. Just use a lower gear than normal and let off the throttle competely. You will feel the vehicle suddenly deacclerate more. Add just a smig of throttle and the vehicle isn't slowly down as fast.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

In 1st gear (6.32 ratio) with the transfer case in low range.....I can walk faster than the Jeep will move at idle.

I bet it wouldn't take much to outrun our truck on foot in granny 4low... idle or otherwise.

It has the stockish 235/85-16 tires and 4.10's, turns about 3k at 55mph.

 

[rusty70f100]

I don't downshift. What I do is, if I'm coming up to a stop, I'll leave it in whatever gear it's in, until the RPM's come down to near idle. Then I'll push in the clutch, and when nearly stopped put it back in first. If I do that coming up to a light and it turns green, I can always downshift to whatever gear I feel is appropriate.

If I'm going down a big hill I might drop it down a gear to save the brakes though. In Iowa that's a fairly rare occurrence though.

If I'm going highway speed into the wind, or up a hill, and I really want to maintain speed, I'll downshift to 4th. A 2.9 and 3.45 gears with 235/75R15 tires just doesn't maintain freeway speed in OD very well.

 

[RatDog8o8]

If I'm going highway speed into the wind, or up a hill, and I really want to maintain speed, I'll downshift to 4th. A 2.9 and 3.45 gears with 235/75R15 tires just doesn't maintain freeway speed in OD very well.

Hmmm guess I won't be hitting I-35 or I-80 any time soon.....same size tires, but with 4.10 gears. Oh well, that's what the Mustang is for.

 

[spdcrazy]

ive gotten into a bad habit of downshifting way ineffectively. partially due to the sexy sound of my exhaust. I downshift everytime, and at higher RPM's than needed. saves brakes, but i'm sure its not real healthy...


guess its still a better habit than picking my nose

 

[straycat]

Hey guys, every forum I visit I pose the same question... Do you downshift to aid in braking?

I'm interested to see what people do and how they drive their stickshifts.

I happen to downshift, got used to it in my old Rav4 and I have carried it over to my truck.

IMO, I save my brakes and I gain a bit in MPGs, nothing is completely proven. BUT, I have driven the truck without downshifting on one of my tanks. It was the worst gas mileage I had in a while, so I quickly returned to my fun downshifting ways, lol.

Many years ago I did in the old cars...but the newer cars and trucks you don't need to. I would not advise it either. There is no need to down shift unless you just like the sound the motor makes (like on my vintage bikes).

 

[racsan]

I've noticed many communities are BANNING "engine braking" you see the signs posted at city limits getting more common.

they are talking about big trucks with exhaust brakes (jake brake) that make a horrendous noise when used, they would have no way of knowing if your downshifting in your ranger. its a hard noise to describe, but one you wont soon forget after you hear it. i heard it all night once at a campground near the interstate, must have been a downgrade there or something.

 

[rusty70f100]

Hmmm guess I won't be hitting I-35 or I-80 any time soon.....same size tires, but with 4.10 gears. Oh well, that's what the Mustang is for.

With 4.10 gears you'd probably be just fine. I think that yours in OD would work out to about the same as mine in 4th gear (1:1)

 

[strvger]

yep, downshift in all the 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 speed manual trannies i've driven.