Eaton auto shift with a Georgia overdrive option?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Pumpkin Oval Head, Aug 8, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Messages:
    1,679
    Thanks Received:
    1,155
    Location:
    Scranton PA
    0
    I was looking at Eatons website for linehaul transmissions and they list the following feature:

    NEUTRAL COAST MODE: Saves fuel by engaging neutral on slight downhill grades. This allows the engine speed to drop to idle while high-tech electronics ensure safe operation in all road conditions.

    I was surprised to see this as an option....note that they say for slight downhills!!!
    They also have a creep mode, that sounds nice for hitting the dock slow.
    Sounds like they have really developed a lot of new features on the newer autos.

    I have driven 10, 13, 18 spd and an auto on an International day cab my brother uses on the farm.

    I am going for a driving test with a company that has 80 tractors and all autos, here in eastern PA. Don't know how old their equipment is, but will find out Tues.

    I have a shoulder issue so an auto will work well for me.

    Anyone have experience with International day cabs with autos?
     
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Aug 8, 2015
    #1
  2. HorseShoe

    HorseShoe Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2015
    Messages:
    1,494
    Thanks Received:
    2,779
    0
    I've tested something similar. It saves fuel for sure. I found myself disengaging it when going down hill so I could gain more speed.
     
    HorseShoe, Aug 8, 2015
    #2
    Pumpkin Oval Head Thanks this.
  3. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2006
    Messages:
    14,765
    Thanks Received:
    22,568
    Location:
    El Chuco, Tejas
    0
    Volvo has the same thing with the I shift.
     
    PackRatTDI, Aug 8, 2015
    #3
    chopper103in and Pumpkin Oval Head Thank this.
  4. striker

    striker Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Messages:
    6,023
    Thanks Received:
    6,439
    Location:
    Denver, Co
    0
    I-shift and M-Drive are very great things indeed
     
    striker, Aug 8, 2015
    #4
  5. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    Messages:
    18,756
    Thanks Received:
    45,806
    Location:
    the road less travelled
    0
    It was one of the things I hated about the 10 speed Ultra I was cursed with driving for a few years. Slow stop and go lead to what I called The Sunfish Maneuver when driving in stop and go downhill. It was faulty and almost threw through me the closed door from the suspension lurching from the driveline snap. Sunfish is a sideways turning motion that bucking horses use to try to throw a rider. It caused a load shift for me in the trailer in Squirrel Hill Tunnel near Pittsburgh.

    The only ways to prevent was to ride against the brake with a little throttle, which was untenable for more than a moment or 2, or shifting to neutral and coasting with the brakes applied,which is not really legal and you also had to come to a full stop to shift back into gear.

    I asked others, and the problem still existed with the Ultra Plus in other makes and with other engines. The latest, with many issues addressed, is supposed to have cured them.

    I'm happy with the current manual, even driving in city traffic(over 100 miles yesterday in Chicago on Friday afternoon isn't fun with anything confined to roadways) Never driven I-shift or M-drive, but have seen them dripping non engine oil while parked, so I don't completely buy the trouble free. Stop and go in city traffic is brutal to equipment.
     
    25(2)+2, Aug 8, 2015
    #5
  6. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    Messages:
    15,317
    Thanks Received:
    210
    Location:
    Green Bay Wi
    0
    as been said in many threads discussing automatics you need to discuss the same transmission in the same year
    older models were problematic to the point of unusable
    some are unusuable with pig headed drivers
    i have a new DD12 auto which is a mercedes transmission
    it has coast mode I have never been in manual mode ever
    have complete control of the truck at all times
    truck is governed at 75 and since new last November has 115000 miles on it at an avg of 7mpg
    i run to the west coast weekly from Green Bay Wi so there are a few lil hills on the way
     
    Cranky Yankee, Aug 8, 2015
    #6
    larry2903, 25(2)+2 and KANSAS TRANSIT Thank this.
  7. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2006
    Messages:
    18,756
    Thanks Received:
    45,806
    Location:
    the road less travelled
    0
    I have heard good reports of Freedolline, but those are no longer available here.

    The new OEM trans,other than Eaton are similar in appearance to those and the transmissions were available with 12 and 16 speeds.We were running a bunch of them, but I only drove a few of them just a few miles.

    That little bit seemed much better shifting to me than that clunky Eaton Ultrashift circa 2005. If you want automated manual in a new truck,with a Cummins, you are pretty much limited to Eaton, as that is the only combination offered by most.

    The OP will learn if he likes the automated transmissions quickly in PA..
     
    25(2)+2, Aug 8, 2015
    #7
  8. Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Messages:
    1,679
    Thanks Received:
    1,155
    Location:
    Scranton PA
    0
    I will find out Tues. on my driving test how old these tractors are. Will find out first hand how good/bad they are to back up....which I can do on most days.
     
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Aug 9, 2015
    #8
  9. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2011
    Messages:
    7,296
    Thanks Received:
    6,032
    Location:
    NEPA
    0
    Yes. I don't like them. The clutch is difficult to feather when backing into a dock. The clutch does not always release when coming to a stop. Many times when you depress the throttle when stopped or when slowly rolling, you get zero response from the engine / transmission.

    I currently drive a 2016 Kenworth with the same transmission. They must be programmed differently, because there is no comparison. Yes, I know it's still 2015, but I guess the truck manufacturers are a year ahead?

    You might have applied to the company that I work for...
     
    windsmith, Aug 12, 2015
    #9
  10. Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Messages:
    1,679
    Thanks Received:
    1,155
    Location:
    Scranton PA
    0
    I drove a new KW day cab with auto at Kane. Starts out real nice and easy to back up with. Backed under a trailer with ease...was on a bit of a hill and it moved in proportion to the amount of throttle I gave it. I liked it much better than an older international auto my brother has on his farm. I bumped the dock without a pull-up. The yellow lines make it a lot easier to back up.

    Went back to the shop to park the trailer between some trailers and did a bad setup. I haven't pulled a van in a while, but will get better with practice.
     
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Aug 12, 2015
    #10
Page 1 of 2