Is it safe to shift gears?

I have a buddy that is a car guy. Sometimes, it is difficult to get a straight answer out of him. I should have come here first. LOL

Anyway...

I frequently battle bumper to bumper traffic and find that using the "manual" function on my 2020 4Runner is a better choice than drive. I find the lower gears are preferable in these conditions.

Is it bad for me to use this? Sometimes, after the traffic opens up, I'll forget that I'm in 3rd gear and the car will rev high until I realize I'm in 3rd and then switch over to drive.

Is there a rev-limiter to protect the vehicle? Is using the manual mode something I should use only when absolutely necessary?

Thank you
DX

 

It's not going to hurt anything. And yes, there is a rev-limiter/engine fuel cutoff. This technique in traffic is going to keep wear on your brakes to a minimum as long as you aren't gassing it and doing jack-rabbit starts and stops.

 

It’s totally fine to put it in S3 or S4 if the conditions call for it, like on the commutes you are describing. This prevents unnecessary shifting, preserves the clutches, and keeps trans fluid temps cool. And like catbrown mentioned, don’t worry about revs.

However, you have to keep in mind that S mode in the 4runner is NOT a manual mode. It’s better thought as a gear range limiter (ex, S3 limits the transmission to use gears 1,2, and 3, as the computer sees fit).

You should not, as a habit, shift through each gear individually, or downshift through each gear, as if it were a manual transmission. Doing so will cause more wear on the clutches since it won’t shift as gently into each gear (especially true when downshifting).

 

That's what it's for. I use mine up shifting and down shifting in curves and I do the same in town. Someone has to shift if your transmission or it will do it anyway. Doesn't change my mileage. Engine is in a more efficient rpm range and it's not dragging you or pushing you .

 

Replacing the brakes is much cheaper than replacing the transmission. The "car care nut" dude posted a video about this awhile back regarding this.

 

Drive is the better choice 99% of the time. I downshift only on downhills for engine braking or uphills when gear hunting is an issue.

The computers are not going to let you do anything to hurt the drivetrain. There’s a limiter and shift lockouts.

 

Well transmission up shifts and down shifts by itself anyway. I use gas pedal to up shift and I like how braking will down shift. It's shifting gears regardless.

 

Have a link?

 

It will drop 2-3 gears with part throttle kick down anyway. Took a while to understand what that 1 second hesitation and the bump was when doing it. It's going to 3rd or 2nd on power demand. It's not supposed to pull hard in 4th or 5th overdrive bands. 5th, 4th,5th, 4th, 5th, 4th. Sorry, I was in level ground patting the gas imitating Drive for a second. Of time.

 

My dad used to say the same thing. Brakes are cheaper than transmission, but he never owned a 4runner. I don't worry about it because then something will happen. I'm at 220k. I accept whatever happens.

 

I use "manual" mode 100% of the time. In bumper to bumper traffic I'm usually in "2" or "3". When I went car shopping in 2022, the convenient +/- shift gate was a factor in selecting the 5th gen over 4th gen or FJ Cruiser. My 4R has 147k and the transmission works fine, fluid drains out nice and clean. The A750 was designed to handle the torque of the 2UZ V8 and 1KD diesel in much heavier-duty vehicles (like the 2nd gen Tundra), so it has an easy life in the 4R.

There's a rev limiter. The car will also beep at you and prevent a downshift if the downshift would overrev the engine.

 

I don't down shift at high rpm to keep the guts in, but it's all reasonable. I mean it will kick down to 3rd on power demand and go from 2000 rpm to 3500 at 70mph + and stay there for as long as needs. I don't do that. Must be alright or it wouldn't let me. I don't want to be collecting a bucket of junk under the hood. I feel safer doing it with higher mileage. My motor is running much more freely. A little slack can be good.

 

While off-roading, I had this conversation. Two guys I was with said the same thing. "Brakes are cheap compared to a tranny". O.K. Your ride, your rules. We were heading down a steep 1/4 mile trail to camp. I shrugged my shoulders and got in my 4R. I was shifting between 1st and 2nd gear a lot. I never touched the brakes and all was well. I was the last rig and watched them ride the brakes all the way to the bottom, then they mentioned that their brakes were starting to fade and getting spongy. Your tranny will do you no good if the brakes stop working.

There are situations where shifting like manual is warranted.

 

That is an example when to do it. OP stated they do it while in traffic. Completely different scenario but I agree using it for certain circumstances.

 

I use for downhill braking to. They put shifter there and made ot easy to use, or it would be a button. I love electric shifting. Wish I had something like that in the 70s .

 

I just don't worry about it. I have a transmission cooler for RV towing 10k on mine with steering cooler and filter. I upgrade cooling first to preserve everything longer then some power, but I just don't worry. There’s always another one somewhere. I start getting it finished where I want it and someone will plow me. I have totaled 16-17 vehicles over the decades and walked away. 4runner is most dependable anything I ever owned except maybe Corolla with 500k and original clutch. I did have to replace a $11 brake line once. Reason I buy used. Mileage means nothing in a 4runner even slightly maintained and I would rather be wrecked in used with $25k extra than cry over a new one that's now old and wrecked. I'm getting same good vehicle and I will drive as much as a new one.I wasted money on new cars before and lost. I have always made more than I paid for used from insurance company.
I hated it but always another one around the corner. Like a woman. Insurance has always paid high. They know mileage means nothing on a 4runner.

 

You can plow back in a used car better to. None of that avoiding the inevitable. I'm an experienced professional wrecker. I'm not scared just trained.

 

Yep. I do same. Started using Down Hill assist for first time and I like it. I turn Pedal Commander to Economy and it helps off road creeping and crawling. You boys worry to much. Mine was paid for on the day I got it so I'm not worried. You're just doing what the transmission does anyway. I can buy gas and parts if I have to, but I don't worry about. I can worry a hole in an engine block and make it happen, so I don't. It's used and I love it. Mine at 220k probably drives better and more dependable than newer models. I know it is. Less technology.

 

after driving for 20k miles, i learned you after it in S4.. and it goes all the way up to S5!

 

It’s the same as dropping it into 3, 2 or 1.

 

I just assumed it was locked out in manual I guess. I like the Pedal Commander for manipulating transmission shifts just using the gas pedal. I like how it downshifts on going down hill just using a 2 second brake pedal. I thought it might be tied in with pitch and yaw sensor to determine the incline and decline on a hill. Going downhill about 40 a 2 second brake application will automatically downshift and I don't have to brake much, but it seems to do it when hill is steep and it's rolling away. Mine does it at a certain point where hill is steepest, but on same hill less sloped at top it won't. Under 40 it doesn't shift as much in same spot which is why I was curious about the sensor integrity. I'm sure it probably is. The Pedal Commander in City mode with lets me control when I want to upshift with pedal pressure. On the other side of things as better as it is than older models, still has floppy drivers sun visor like them and short changed seat support. My passenger tie rod end even has play like it at almost same mileage. How did they design that in? Drivers seat hasn't torn yet.

 

Why would it hurt the transmission as long as you’re matching RPM when you downshift? So, brake to right speed and then downshift to hold it steady?