Gough Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 What are people's opinions on engine braking with the autobox? I'm still getting used to my auto TT having only had it for about a month, but I've noticed shifting down from D to 2, at say 40-60mph, is very effective, as is shifting into L at sightly lower speeds. Is this something that many people do? Would I be right in presuming that down-shifting at these speeds does the autobox no harm in the short and long term? Thanks for your views J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesG Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Can't think of a reason why that would cause undue wear. It's got to be less than the huge change in torque put through it when the second turbo kicks in Be careful shifting to 1st though (especially in the wet) in case you spin your rear wheels. James. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 i had a porsche years ago i used to do this with, and yep i wrecked the box and torque converter, had to get a second mortgage to sought it, my advice would be buy a manual or just use the brakes like the rest of us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gough Posted July 30, 2004 Author Share Posted July 30, 2004 Wrecked the autobox?! Thing is, surely the box shouldn't let you shift down if it has the potential to damage the transmission. Oh and yes I do use my brakes, just wanted to know whether downshifting was common practice. Surely people do do this on track days don't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 i'm interested too. Lately I have been downshifting a lot. I notice the shift from 2nd to 1st can be bad. I went over a funny speed bump while downshifting like this and the wheels screeched on the road when it landed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Thing is, surely the box shouldn't let you shift down if it has the potential to damage the transmission. am only giving you my personal expirience, i really dont think auto boxs are designed with harsh downshifting in mind, they take the shock upshifting cos thats what their designed to do, thats not to say they wont do it, the box will shift at whatever speed you are going if you select it, if you dont believe me try shifting from 100 to 1st and then watch the rear view mirror for bits of the box flying down the road, like i said if you enjoy doing this i think its time to buy a manual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Originally posted by paul mac Thing is, surely the box shouldn't let you shift down if it has the potential to damage the transmission. am only giving you my personal expirience, i really dont think auto boxs are designed with harsh downshifting in mind, they take the shock upshifting cos thats what their designed to do, thats not to say they wont do it, the box will shift at whatever speed you are going if you select it, if you dont believe me try shifting from 100 to 1st and then watch the rear view mirror for bits of the box flying down the road, like i said if you enjoy doing this i think its time to buy a manual The Supra owners manual states that the box will only change if the car is in the correct speed range to do so. I don't fancy testing this out though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Originally posted by carl0s The Supra owners manual states that the box will only change if the car is in the correct speed range to do so. It does, just what is says on the tin:p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 I occasionally (used to) use the OD button to slow down a bit to get more torque for an upcoming bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 I always use the box to slow down, although I never go from second to first unless I'm going 'very' slow, I'm talking speed bump slow or if ive come to a stopping at a junction. Always use OD off and 3rd to 2nd to bring the speed down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffvalenti Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Ok, I've got a tiptronic so its slightly different but I find that if I give it just a bit of throttle before changing down, the change is not harsh at all. To be honest its not really a harsh change anyway unless you do something stupid. You don't need a lot of throttle, just enough to balance the engine revs against the road speed. It can take a bit of getting used to, but once you've mastered it you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. (I suppose its a bit like heel and toeing, or double de-clutching in a manual, and, yes, I do know the difference between the two, for anyone who's in a particularly pedantic mood today ) As for it being bad for the autobox, everytime you change gear, use the turbos, use the brakes, start the engine etc. its one time less that it will do it in the future. You could leave it in the garage and it will last forever or just use it and get some fun out of it. Toyota don't build features into their cars to purposely make them self destruct If it was that detrimental, there'd be notices in the handbook, and probably stickers by the shift lever stating, "Do not shift gears manually unless absolutely necessary" So the short answer is, yes it "could" wear the box out quicker, but NO, you'll probably not going to come across the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 yes you're absolutely right. The fact that they added a tiptronic function to what is basically the same box, certainly suggests downshifts are normal - that's what tiptronic is about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 hi joe m8 ,only two pedals , one go the other stop , just enjoy , all this mucking about will only end in expensive tears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 once again today I downshifted from second to first, at about 15mph and the wheels screeched for a moment. Don't like that. Shan't be doing it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezabloke Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 I use my OD and second gear for engine braking all the time. However i would not use the second to first down shift as this sounds and feels harsh unless going very slow. Dropping into second at say 70 -60 works very well. :flame Dev Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gough Posted August 1, 2004 Author Share Posted August 1, 2004 Thanks for your views everyone The general consensus seems to be that it is ok to shift down to second, but not down to first (unless travelling very slowly), and that switching off overdrive is also quite effective. Just as well really because the shift down to first isn't pleasent, and probably doesn't do the box any good at all. And peter; yes you are right, I'll stop farting around....and get some UK brakes instead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter richards Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worthy Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 I use OD and 2nd all the time for engine braking. I think it should be fine as long as you keep it out of first, probably the reason why you can't just whack it into first without pressing the button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted August 1, 2004 Share Posted August 1, 2004 Well I don't wanna be controversial here but i use the downshift to L in manual mode all the time. Hare into a bend that you know you have to stop in ie blinder roundabouts and slot it back from 2 to L (nothing will happen until the speed drops sufficiently for that gear to engage) I have done this from quite high mph above the L range and its just like preselecting L so when you get to the point where you can see onto the roundabout you don't have to worry about changing to the best gear for either a total stop or a slightly rolling start. I have never had it drop down in a nasty jerky fashion at all- that said I have an N/A and the ECU is different for that than the TT's Just my experience with my own car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 The 'D' setting does everything (spot on pete) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezabloke Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 Originally posted by Aerotop Dave The 'D' setting does everything (spot on pete) Apart from slow you down......or give you more control over the ratios? But apart from that......... Dave :flame Dev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attilauk Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Originally posted by Geezabloke I use my OD and second gear for engine braking all the time. However i would not use the second to first down shift as this sounds and feels harsh unless going very slow. Dropping into second at say 70 -60 works very well. :flame Dev Dave i will second that i drop the car into 2nd when im cornering hard at about 60 when im on track, it makes it much easier to step the rear end out when you feel like having a play:p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 yeah that was the other thing that bothered me, the shift from 2 to 1 requires you to operate the shift-lock button, which also made me think it's not recommended, even though the owners manual does say to use it for "maximum engine braking". It's great to hear what people do and don't do though so keep 'em coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyJawa Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Bear in mind we only recently quoshed the rumour that in man mode you should lift off when you change, which is of course rubbish! Downshifting d to 2 is fine IMHO and if you are moving on you need this degree of control over the auto box....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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