on my 99 auto,...To save from braking so much i down **** into 2nd gear going down a steep hill....Sounds cool when it pops and cracks a little (muffler)...IS there a down side to this?? maybe wearing out the tranny quicker?? Also i down shift everyday going home cuz the my neighborhood is all downhill...

 

Downshifting is a waste of time if your brakes are good!

 

I never knew you could downshift in a auto

 

Yea they are 3 speeds I think just 1st 2nd and drive

 

what do you use your breaks for?

 

Resting and getting a drink

 

I can say in my manual, I downshift all the time.. when youve got a 3 mile trip downhill, it sbest just to leave it in a gear to keep you sitting around 35-40 at 2600 RPMs then riding the brakes all the way down

 

is that a smart *** answer (what do you use your breaks for?)...?? not being mean about it, just i didnt know if your sereious..I use my breaks, but i understand that braking alot uses more gas so i try to minimize using the brakes..I dont do it all the time just as im turning into my development its like 100 yards downhill to my house...then occasionally other places...

 

I don't think it will hurt anything, but the best way to save gas is to be easy on the skinny pedal. Oh and not having a 4.0 would help too lol.

 

you are putting a lot of strain on that transmission when you do that, it will make it wear out faster but when you do it make sure the engine stays at a lower rpm range and you will have to use your brakes more, but the easiest thing for you to do it just get a standard

 

I don't think it'd hurt the tranny much, when roads are bad and I go down over a hill I put it in 2nd so I don't have to get on brakes much, just incase the abs decides to go out I don't slide down over.

 

I've never had my truck out of Drive (3rd gear).

 

no it wasn't but if your trying to save gas down shifting isn't helping you bc your truck runs at a higher RPM

 

gotcha ev4erybody...by the way i really want a 2003 Ranger fx4 Level II, but then again this is the second truck ive had a payment own, i dont really wanna end up owing 10,000 more i only have like 4,000 left on payments on my ranger now.....so thats the issue

 

I know how you feel I only got 6K left to pay!

 

i down shift in to second sometimes but it wastes gas. if you have od on and off that slows you down to about 40-45 i use that every day. and depend on it
don't know about wrecking your tranny though

 

What are you talking about? I get good mileage with my 4.0.

 

Define good. For a truck, maybe, but when a 5.7 in a camaro can get equal or better, then it isn't really that great. My friend gets 14mpg in his F150, and I get 15 or 16 in my truck, which is lighter with a smaller engine, and he romps on his truck more than I do on mine. I don't get it.

 

Yeah I know. My friend's 06 GTO auto gets like 17 mpg(street) if he stays off the gas.

 

I use to downshift both of my autos (97 and 98) with no adverse effects. And using your brakes doesn't waste fuel, slowing down then having to speed back up does.

 

your brakes don't waste gas high rpm's do

 

I always downshift my manual trans. Don't matter which vehicle, if it's a manual, i downshift. My '71 Chevy has a TH400 automatic w/ manual valve body and beefier internals...so i HAVE to downshift it all the time....it won't auto downshft due to the manual valve body. And I manually upshift it as well.

 

I know i read either on this site or TRS that braking causes you to burn more gas, b/c brakes slow your tires and when you let off your engine has to speed make up to normal speeds??? something like that.....anyways, when i first got my truck i would keep OD off around town 55MPH or less than on the interstates, id cut it on...I noticed after i quite doing that i got MUCH BETTER GAS MILEAGE...messin with the OD put my mileage around 180-200 a tank....So i guess based off what YOU say that braking doesnt waste gas, ill just stop downshifting and just brake harder now.

 

You can do either, I wouldn't worry about it. If you feel the need to downshift do it, do it in conjunction with your brakes for great stopping power. Keep the OD on and drive it normal. My 98 with 4.0 and auto got around 340 miles every tank I had it, driving at 70mph down the highway and with the flow in the city. You're not losing mileage slowing down, its when you speed up.

 

I would not down shift with an auto, they aren't made for it. If you are going down a steep hill, ride your brakes. Last time I checked, rotors and pads were cheaper than a tranny...