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Yes I know you can engine brake by downshifting a manual. Ive done it. But I wasnt aure if it was bad for the clutch bands on the automatic. I have D-2-1. TOW/HAUL will kill 5th, O/D OFF will bring me down to 3rd and then i can use 2 and 1 to slow down even more. I just wasn't sure if it was bad for an automatic tranny to do it frequentlyI am going to assume you never drove a manual transmission.
The automatic in the RAM trucks can be downshift manually both for going down or up a hill.
I would suggest going in order as you go down the hill. 5 4 3 2. I believe 1st will be to low unless you are really going slow.
If you are going down a know steep hill you are best to select a lower gear at the top and allow the truck to enginee brake the entire time.
So for instance at the top select 3 and then just coast down the hill.
I see you said 2007. I have a 2003 and have now drawn a blank if you can pick each individual gear or just D 2 1.
Still you could select 2nd...just not 1st unless going real slow.
I have a 2007 1500 5.7 545-rfe I was wondering if its bad to downshift to 1st or 2nd when going down a hill or is that bad for the trans?
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The answer is: It depends. Using manual engine braking on any vehicle adds stress to both the engine and transmission. If you are towing a heavy trailer and are using the transmission manual low function and are at minimum throttle, line pressure is low as well. The added strain of providing braking through the trans friction surfaces (clutches and bands) at minimum throttle and low line pressure will stress these friction surfaces beyond their limit to hold and force slippage which will burn them up with a heavy load pushing against them.
I've seen this many times before when guys didn't have properly working trailer brakes, and/or if going downhill to aid braking.
If you are using engine braking in conjunction with the service brakes, and the truck isn't loaded down, you should be alright.
The answer is: It depends. Using manual engine braking on any vehicle adds stress to both the engine and transmission. If you are towing a heavy trailer and are using the transmission manual low function and are at minimum throttle, line pressure is low as well. The added strain of providing braking through the trans friction surfaces (clutches and bands) at minimum throttle and low line pressure will stress these friction surfaces beyond their limit to hold and force slippage which will burn them up with a heavy load pushing against them.
I've seen this many times before when guys didn't have properly working trailer brakes, and/or if going downhill to aid braking.
If you are using engine braking in conjunction with the service brakes, and the truck isn't loaded down, you should be alright.
the newer trucks by design downshift automatically going down a grade so I don't believe that hurts the truck except under extreme conditions as was stated by another here on the forum.
Well, I won't be dropping it into 2nd anymore while towing. I don't do it often and when I do. It's for short intervals. But I'm curious because. I have a 2017 F250 work truck, when I'm pulling heavy loads with that. It will downshift into 3rd and sometimes 2nd by itself. If you start slowing down on steep grades. But of course, it's a complete different transmission. But yeah, now I learned that's not good to do, while towing or loaded down. Ok, what about going up hill ? Dropping it into 2nd gear? Will that eventually kill a transmission? I have to favor 2nd gear a alot up hills with my 35x12.5x20 rims, and 3.55 gearing. Thats my reasoning to why I need to favor 2nd. What are the consequences of constantly doing this?
The answer is: It depends. Using manual engine braking on any vehicle adds stress to both the engine and transmission. If you are towing a heavy trailer and are using the transmission manual low function and are at minimum throttle, line pressure is low as well. The added strain of providing braking through the trans friction surfaces (clutches and bands) at minimum throttle and low line pressure will stress these friction surfaces beyond their limit to hold and force slippage which will burn them up with a heavy load pushing against them.
I've seen this many times before when guys didn't have properly working trailer brakes, and/or if going downhill to aid braking.
If you are using engine braking in conjunction with the service brakes, and the truck isn't loaded down, you should be alright.
I am really confused by this. My truck has tow haul mode and when enabled, going downhill it makes an effort to really hold the gears. The idea being, keep your foot off the gas, drive down the hill, let the truck "engine brake" as much as possible, and apply brakes as needed.
That's how the truck was designed to operate. Are you suggesting even though it's designed to work this way, that it's very hard on the transmission?