Transmission care video

Informative video on transmission care.
I thought using sequential shifting was ok for going down hills but apparently it adds wear.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ULcSauSJrsY

 

That’s a good video I ran it back to the start.

How does one warm up the transmission? Does this happen by just letting the engine warm up? Or do you shift it in gear with foot on brake and wait a minute or two? This was not clear to me from his video?

 

good question, I was wondering that too.
I’m still stuck on the not down shifting thing.

 

Yeah I don’t really downshift here in MI it’s mostly flat no hills.

I have done that if speeding and pass a cop so they don’t see brake lights. But that is in the car. Will stop it now after that

 

I used the sequential shift to downshift because of the hills where I live. I always thought that’s what it was for.

 

I heard you can learn something new everyday. I learned a few new things from this video.

1. Don’t use the sequential shifter to downshift. Semis do it but they are built different obviously.
2. Don’t put the car in neutral at a light
   
3. Don’t just keep revving if you get stuck (I don’t get that problem. I don’t get stuck unless I want to ).
4. Set the e-brake (already do that all the time and I have my wife do it). I was told that a long time ago and I hate hearing that hard slam into gear
5. Letting the transmission warm up… that was a shock but it makes sense.

 

The neutral at a light is news to me. Gotta stop doing that.

 

Do any of you guys know how exactly you let the transmission warm up? Just let engine idle in park? Or put in gear with foot on brake?

 

A little Google search turned up a few results:
https://aamcominnesota.com/preserve-your-cars-transmission-during-winter/

 

Thanks, still not sure how you’d warm it without extending idling.

 

Wife drives with a go cup of Coke frequently. On her last 4R she spilled some on the shifter and it seriously froze up and wouldn't shift. Dealer had no clue about what to do other than to tear it apart and clean it all up. Would have required a tow. I just sprayed some WD40 around it which freed up the shifter and apparently dissolved the solidified Coke and it was good to go.

 

Had my 4wd and transmission serviced the other day at 50k miles.

 

When we lived in Fairbanks (1990s) we circulated/warmed the transmission fluid by putting the vehicle in neutral and only idled for a minute or so, then drove gingerly until all the things warmed up. Oh, and never use the parking brake when it's really cold - breaking that pad loose when it's frozen to the rotor is not nice to any of the parts.

 

Soda is about the worst thing you can have inside a vehicle as far as potential damage.

 

Downshifting isn't going to nuke your trans. Sure there's slightly more clutch wear but it isn't going to be the difference between 500K miles and it exploding at 50K miles. As far as warming up, the best way is to just drive it. After a few minutes of running, I drive off but drive easy until the engine warms up.

 

Tell me about it brother. Believe me I know....

 

me too,

 

I drive from about 1500 ft down to sea level in a short distance every day.

I'm always using sequential shifting going downhill.

Maybe i should reconsider.

 

I would like more information on this too. Might have to review the owners manual and see if it can shed some light on this.

 

I think the big concern is about people who habitually downshift to brush off speed when coming to a stop instead of using the brakes.

 

That could be.

 

Thanks for posting this video. Good information.

 

For downhill sections needing a downshift, I blip the throttle after selecting the lower gear to make the shift easier otherwise it will grab pretty hard when the engine speed is coming up. If you are on the downhill and touch the brakes, the ECU will downshift in the harsher manor.

 

And keep in mind, brake pads are WAY cheaper than a new transmission.

 

yes, that was the point that he was making in the video. I still would like a technical explanation as to why using the Sequential mode is possibly unhealthy for the transmission.

Take 4L for example, it won’t allow engagement unless certain parameters are met.

anyone here who has descended from a mountain pass knows that riding the brakes for 5-10 miles isn’t the best technique either.

 

yeah i would think it would be more about putting undo stress on your engine (higher rpms) vs the transmission.

 

/me spilling a whole can of beer enters the chat

 

An engine is a machine and you're working within the safe operating range even at higher RPM. The ECU will not let you go outside of the parameters. Issues come when you don't maintain the vehicle, force it to operate outside of the safe parameters or just simply abuse the vehicle.

 

That's not true. While that maybe a general safe operating range that would be for limited periods of time. Ride around at red line all the time. I doubt that's going to last very long.

 

I made it to 155K with my Tacoma after adding a supercharger at 90K and launched the hell out of it in 4wd. Never missed a beat and is only gone because someone decided to run a red.

If Toyota's were so weak that they fail from high RPM or downshifting, why did we all buy one?