Autoshift Questions

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Zephirus, Jun 20, 2009.

  1. Zephirus

    Zephirus Light Load Member

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    Hey everyone. I am considering buying my own truck and I was wanting to hear more about automatics.

    I dont know what the downsides are to automatics. I can shift just fine, but hell, its kind of a pain to shift unless you just love to do so. Going down town where there is a red light every 500 yards with a full load is a pain in the ###. Upshifting and then downshifting over and over.

    I was just curious as to how automatics were. I hear they are not as powerful but hell, as long as they get the job done, I wouldnt mind. It would be one less thing to "tear up" on the truck too. Transmission and Clutch. Im sure it will still eventually go bad but unless you are a master shifter, any gear grinding shortens tranny life.


    I also was curious how you guys do downgrades. I mean can you select a top speed or a lower gear to keep your jakes going downhill? Im just wondering how you control your speed on a 6%+ downgrade with a 80K pound truck in an automatic. I have never driven one before but it would seem that you would ride your brakes a lot unless the automatics have some way to manually overide so you can stay in a lower gear.
     
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  3. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    Most can flip to manual or auto.
     
  4. Zephirus

    Zephirus Light Load Member

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    So automatics have a gearstick and all too? Like I said, ive never been in one LOL
     
  5. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    The couple I been in have a lever like a turn signal on the right side. Flip the switch to manual and pull up to upshift and push down to downshift.
     
  6. Zephirus

    Zephirus Light Load Member

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    Oh wow... now that is interesting indeed.
     
  7. Ken

    Ken Couch Commander

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    I have an Autoshift and like it just fine.. It was hell getting used to it though. When it is up shifting you just keep your foot mashed on the gas. If you lift it like you would for a manual trans, the truck will think you want to slow down.

    Hills aren't a problem.. Going up a grade the Autoshift can grab lower gears alot better than I could. Going down hill, you can either put it in manual so it won't up shift or you can put it in LOW. In LOW the tranny will try for a lower gear when possible, it will not up shift.

    Since I drive a water truck it's nice not having to shift. It's enough to operate all the water controls, watching where the water is going and trying not to have a collision..
     
  8. rich_t

    rich_t Road Train Member

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    An auto-shifter doesn't have a transmission? That's news to me.

    They may not have a clutch, but they do have a torque converter. Guess which one costs more to repair?

    Also in a semi-truck, just like a car, automatics are less fuel efficient.

    FWIW, once I get used to a manual transmission be it car or truck, I usually don't use the clutch much. Just float the gears. It's a bit easier to do on the up shift, but can be done down shifting as well in most cases.
     
  9. notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    I float up and down too, but try doing that with a manual in creeping traffic....:biggrin_2554:
     
  10. Ken

    Ken Couch Commander

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    Just to clarify my post above.. I have an Autoshift, not an automatic. I have a clutch..
     
  11. Zephirus

    Zephirus Light Load Member

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    yeah I can float, ive always done that since ive never been in a truck where the clutch brake actually was working so... yeah.

    Cool to hear about the autoshift, I may have to test drive one. They sound like they save a lot of hassle.

    As far as fuel efficiently it depends on how well you handle your gears. I mean if you are all they time getting up to 2k RPM before shifting or able to shift from a turn or whatever, then you arent saving much. Also if you miss a gear and have to rev or even worse, stop the truck... not saving much there.
     
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