22 Ram Diesel 2500 transmission revs up to downshift

[Kshusker79]

I have a 2022 Ram 2500 Cummins 6.7L I6 Turbodiesel that the dealership just replaced the transmission (the 6 speed 68RFE) with a remanufactured unit. When pulling our 5th wheel up a hill the engine revs up 1000 rpm (1500 rpm to 2500 rpm and back down to 2000 rpm) to down shift and then drops 500 rpm once it locks in gear. This happens when shifting from 6th to 5th, 5th to 4th, and 4th to 3rd. Is this normal?

 

[06 Dodge]

Any time the transmission shift's down to a lower gear the engines RPM are going to go up, how many RPM's it will go up all depends on your speed at the time of the down shift.

 

[JayLeonard]

Mine does similar. Seems normal to me.

 

[Burla]

Where you in tow haul? Always help your transmission shift with your gas pedal, let off gas a tad let it go into gear more smoothly.

 

[Kshusker79]

Where you in tow haul? Always help your transmission shift with your gas pedal, let off gas a tad let it go into gear more smoothly.

Yes, I try to always ensure in tow haul. Never tried helping it shift, I am usually in cruise control letting it shift itself as needed.

 

[Burla]

If you want your transmission to last longer help it shift. Yes cruise control when towing uphill is the worst. So this is the issue, it is cruise control.

 

[nlambert182]

The 68RFE also uses fluid coupling to shift. This is essentially forcing the trans to slip to a degree so as not to shock the trans with too much torque at once. It will rev the engine to do that. Sounds normal to me. I agree with @Burla about the cruise control as well. I wouldn't personally use it unless I were on flat terrain.

 

[Kshusker79]

If you want your transmission to last longer help it shift. Yes cruise control when towing uphill is the worst. So this is the issue, it is cruise control.

Thanks for the advice. I will give it a try on our next trip in September.

 

[runamuck]

the transmission in my '22 2500 dsl often downshifts with a hard thud. seems like this could be damaging something. Is this normal? this is my first dsl truck

 

[06 Dodge]

the transmission in my '22 2500 dsl often downshifts with a hard thud. seems like this could be damaging something. Is this normal? this is my first dsl truck

Does it only do so if your using the exhaust brake or just with EB and T/H mode on? Mine will down shift harder if using T/H mode with EB but also noticed it will do so if I have run the trans in T/H mode for some time an then driving without T/H on and the EB on it will act the same as if I had the T/H on until it relearns my city driving without T/H being on... BTW you should not be hearing a loud thud when it down shifts or at least mine does not but I can feel it...

 

[nlambert182]

Sometimes mine will do that if I am lugging down to the bottom of a gear with the EB on and going down a hill. Typically when I'm at about 1k rpms and ~30-40 mph where the hill I'm on starts to flatten out right before a red light. It does it at the same place each time. When it finally decides to downshift sometimes it will thud. It's more of a feeling and a clunk than a loud audible noise. Every 68RFE I've owned had similar characteristics.

 

[runamuck]

Does it only do so if your using the exhaust brake or just with EB and T/H mode on? Mine will down shift harder if using T/H mode with EB but also noticed it will do so if I have run the trans in T/H mode for some time an then driving without T/H on and the EB on it will act the same as if I had the T/H on until it relearns my city driving without T/H being on... BTW you should not be hearing a loud thud when it down shifts or at least mine does not but I can feel it...

yes. if towing thru traffic it leads to some strong thuds during stop and go. I always have Auto braking on when driving and not towing but have started turning it off in traffic even tho posters say my brakes will wear faster. it doesnt make any noise but makes the whole truck shudder.

 

[chaosh1]

68RFE has a Flare when shifting and is completely normal, can see approx 700 rpms (if I remember correctly) change as that is the stall for the stock torque convertor

 

[06 Dodge]

yes. if towing thru traffic it leads to some strong thuds during stop and go. I always have Auto braking on when driving and not towing but have started turning it off in traffic even tho posters say my brakes will wear faster. it doesnt make any noise but makes the whole truck shudder.

I could be wrong but it sounds like your feeling and or hearing the rapid deacceleration from the trans down shifting due to T/H even if your not using Auto EB & T/H, my self have never paid much attention if the whole truck shudders or has any shudder noise from a rapid down shift ( but would expect you to feel it more if towing or hauling max weigh in the bed), my self I expect to feel the truck deacceleration with T/H and think nothing of it aka don't think about it, I guess I will have to ask the wife what she feels/hears this weekend when she's in the truck, I'll try to remember to use T/H mode along with my normal auto EB in city stop & go driving while empty. And yes you do put more wear on your brakes if your not using the EB, remember to use the EB often enough to keep the veins in the turbo from gunking up and not moving freely... Edit, forgot if the trans is lugging before down shifting you can get what some think/call weird noise and or feeling in the whole truck aka I guess you can call it a shudder

 

[sfljsfdkjs]

I pasted your question into ChatGPT, and this was the response:



What you’re describing sounds normal for the 68RFE automatic transmission in your 2022 Ram 2500 Cummins, especially under load while towing. Here’s why:

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1. RPM Rise During a Downshift​

When you’re climbing a hill with your 5th wheel and the truck decides to downshift (say from 6th to 5th), the engine RPM will rise significantly—often by 800–1200 rpm. That’s because the transmission is moving to a lower gear ratio, which mechanically requires the engine to spin faster for the same road speed. So the 1500 → 2500 rpm jump you’re seeing is consistent with this.

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2. Torque Converter Lockup​

After the downshift, you’re noticing about a 500 rpm drop. That’s from the torque converter clutch (TCC) locking up. In normal operation, the converter will briefly unlock during a gear change to smooth out the shift, then lock again once the gear is engaged. This explains the “rev flare” followed by a drop.

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3. Why It’s Noticeable Under Load​

• Towing a heavy 5th wheel requires more torque, so the transmission downshifts sooner and holds gears longer.
• The 68RFE isn’t known for being the smoothest transmission—it often makes its shifts more noticeable compared to, say, the newer 8-speed.
• Steeper grades exaggerate the rpm swing because the truck has to dig deeper into the torque band.

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4. When It Would Not Be Normal​

It’s worth keeping an eye on things if:

• The rpm flare is much more than 1200 rpm before it settles.
• You feel slipping (rpm rises but speed doesn’t increase).
• There are harsh clunks or bangs during shifts.
• The check engine light or transmission temp warnings appear.

If you only see what you’ve described—rev rise, downshift, then a converter lockup—it’s behaving as designed.

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Bottom line: The rpm behavior you’re seeing (1000 rpm jump during the downshift, ~500 rpm drop after lockup) is normal for the 68RFE when towing uphill. It’s just the combination of gear ratio changes plus torque converter lockup.

 

[06 Dodge]

yes. if towing thru traffic it leads to some strong thuds during stop and go. I always have Auto braking on when driving and not towing but have started turning it off in traffic even tho posters say my brakes will wear faster. it doesnt make any noise but makes the whole truck shudder.

Only one time could I or the wife even notice/feel the downshift an that was when the trans was cold as it had only been driven about 1 mile at that time, your going to feel the down shifts more when towing when compared to empty. IMO if your towing or loaded driving in the city with a lot of stop & go IMHO leave the T/H mode on along with EB be it on Auto or Max/Full it not only saves the brakes but also gives you extra stopping power that one day my save your bacon from an accident..

My wife recalled & remined me of the one time she felt a shudder, I agree with her about it, it was when I was not using T/H or EB with 2k in the bed, it happened when were on the coast hwy going up a hill an came upon slow traffic, I recall and believe the shudder was caused by trans not downshifting soon enough, that is the only time either of us felt or recall it happening and it has not happed since as I now always remember to use T/H and EB if carrying weight or towing...