Manual Vs. Autoshift Transmission

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by drivenmecrazy, Nov 27, 2008.

  1. striker

    striker Road Train Member

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    I'm on my 2nd 10 spd auto shift, the company I work for, 9 of 11 company trucks are Macks with Eaton/Fuller 10 spd Autoshifts. The first one I had, 978,000 when we got rid of the truck, I was the only driver, clutch was replaced at 670,000 only because the clutch brake was totally gone, clutch still had 100,000 miles of use left on it.

    The older 10 spd Autoshifts were essentially a manual controlled by the computer (which is not totally true since you still have the ability to manually shift them), the newer one's are not. My '09 Mack CXU, 10 spd Autoshift can not easily be converted, the old one could be done for about $300.00, this new one would require about $1,000 in parts.

    As for mileage, compareable, my '09 Mack (MP8, DPF, 10 spd Autoshift, 3.70 gears, 445 hp) goverened # 67 mph, I can run Denver to Alb. and back, 940 miles rnd trip, average 6.9 mpg (7.8 empty, 6.5 loaded) and still have 30 to 40 gal. of diesel left in each tank afterwards (combined 234 gals. useable cap.). Recently drove a manual version of my truck (loaner from the dealer) for the same run, identical truck to mine except a manual, avg. 6.4 mpg rnd trip.
     
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  3. striker

    striker Road Train Member

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    Hmm, drove one Autoshift for 8.5 yrs, 978,000 miles in the Mtn's of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, all 4 seasons, never had a single problem in the winter. Upshifts, downshifts, etc., took me about 6 months to figure out all it's quirks. Company has 8 other autoshifts, the only problems in the winter are the trucks without a power divder have more problems than the trucks with power dividers.

    learn to double upshift and you won't have hard upshifts

    9 yrs, over 1 million miles between two Autoshift trucks, never had a single problem you've described

    quirk of the tranny, if you try to up or downshift a manual with the wrong engine speed it'll argue with you also, you just have an easier chance to break it.

    Hmmm, the autoshift truck we traded in last fall had 978,000 miles, 670,000 on the clutch when it was replaced, and even then it was replaced because the clutch brake was totally gone and they didn't want to tear it apart twice. Otherwise, in the first 3 yrs (it was a 2000 Mack and we were the only owners) we replaced the shift motors every 6 mos. (but that in the end turned out to be an Eaton/Fuller issue, they had the lowest bidder build the parts), after 2003 we never replaced a shift motor until spring of 2008, and they were totally worn out when replaced. Sounds like your just too hard on the truck, or not willing to learn the quirks of an autoshift.

    Took me all of 1 month to fully learn the autoshift, and maybe 5 to 6 mos. to get all the quirks down. After that, never a problem for 978,000 miles.
     
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  4. brinkj23

    brinkj23 "Asphalt Cowboy"

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    All of our concrete mixers have 6 speed autos in em. We dont have any problems with them and they get beat to. They do have quirks though, sometimes it'll wind-er up to about 2500 rpm before itll shift, but I like it but all I do is city driving, and a couple 20, 30 miles trips here an there. Only thing I dont like is climbing hills, have to put it in manual sometimes to keep it from wanting to shift back up when I know it needs to hold the gear its in. Also the jake works great on the autos we have, ours drop two hears as soon as you let off the gas an keeps dropping hardly have to use the brakes.
     
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  5. Chuk510

    Chuk510 Bobtail Member

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    Kamloops B.C.
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    I hope it dosnt burn any gas
     
  6. Chuk510

    Chuk510 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 25, 2009
    Kamloops B.C.
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    I have had most of the trannys out there even a super 10 the autoshift is a pain cause it does what it wants and the ultra shift is just like driving a car but they both have manual mode so you dont have to worry about the winter driving and it screwing you up. I still prefer the 13 or 18 manual but the ultra shift is great in stop and go traffic and easier on the body when you have lots of mountains to climb. basically it all boils down to preference to each his own. as for fuel millage depends on how good you are with a manual could go either way
     
  7. striker

    striker Road Train Member

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    my autoshift spends more time in manual mode than auto mode, I prefer to think the shifts, whenever possible I double upshift.
     
  8. kkburr73

    kkburr73 Light Load Member

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    Jul 14, 2009
    Rochester, NY
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    I just learned how to drive a 10 speed manual. I took my state test with a 10 speed manual. The company that im going to work for has the 10 speed auto's.. I like the 10 speed manual. I feel I would have more control of my rig in the hills. I herd that the autos have problems shifting up and down hills. I guess I wont know till next week about the autos, so my opinion dont count at this point. lol

    kkburrr73
     
  9. nwokman

    nwokman Bobtail Member

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    Apr 12, 2009
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    You mention quirks a few times. I recently purchased an autoshift. How do I go about learning these quirks?
     
  10. brinkj23

    brinkj23 "Asphalt Cowboy"

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    Just drive it enough and you'll find the quirks. All day driving around town mine shifts different alot sometimes it holds a gear longer than it should an sometimes it doesnt stay in a lower gear when need be. But I love it for city driving all day.
     
  11. Big Duker

    Big Duker "Don Cheto"

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    Weatherford, TX
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    You will figure it out quick enough. Things like shifting perfect 99% of the time and then hanging in say 9th up to 2000 rpms. Or not downshifting the same every time. Not big problems, but you can get a little lazy and not notice it until you have to go down a couple of gears up a hill when it should have done it for you. The one I have been driving will start to down shift and occasionally it will go back into 10th and you will be at about 1100 on a steep grade. I will just flip into manual and go ahead and shift when I want to. But overall they are very reliable. At least that has been my experience. Also drive an FLD with straight 10. Find myself forgetting to downshift for 1st hour or so. No biggie.
     
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