Automated Tranny Pros and Cons

One of the pains with an AMT is that you need to turn on or off certain optons, for example my transmission will coast in heavy traffic in the lower gears, but it's only because I had the option turned on.

Backing without the blended throttle or in loose soil or snow is a pia, without the blend I'd ask for the manual back. I don't completely trust the auto function on steep downhills, I prefer to lock in a gear just to be safe.

 

Agreed.... Well said.

 

Real Men deserve A/C ...

 

I did notice a big difference in that area between the KWs and Volvos... I liked the KWs in the higher gears as it seemed to shift when I felt it needed to shift (Volvos run much lower RPMs) but in the lower gears and especially backing the KWs felt very different. On the KWs, during backing maneuvers, I was hitting the clutch protection often and wasn't nearly as smooth as the Volvo which backs very smooth.

But with more practice it might be better... I'll drive whatever the company gives me but I do prefer the Volvos. But that's just me.

 

I was just poking at you my friend.

Good point about the creeping along in a lower gear in traffic. I can see that as the flip side to the no clutching with the left foot. Good point.

And yes, stuck in snow, mud, ice does go to the manual for those points.

But on a steep grade, I can just slip it to manual mode and select and stick any gear... But maybe some AMTs don't allow that? Between manual mode and jakes most hills have not yet been a problem but I run mostly east of the Mississippi with a few trips out west so that will make a big difference too.

Stay Safe

 

I have nothing but positive things to say about my 16 auto FL, 12 speed. Well ok there's thing that need improvement but, it's slow to shift between D N R. Basically like any auto you need to smash the break and make a full stop, wait for the engine to realize you put it in N and then wait to reverse or forward, no biggie there. The thing that drives me nuts is the slow reaction the engine makes when stepping on the accelerator from a dead stop, say 2nd or 3rd gear.

Sometimes I'm sitting at a stop sign, get my opening and go for it and the thing takes 2 or three seconds to accel, opportunity missed. Sometimes your planning on this happening so you touch the accelerator early to plan it and she rolls. Can't figure it out, just slow reaction in EMS. Seems to be really good at starting in the right gear though, bobtail is always 5th, 45k load is always 2nd, 10k load is always 3rd. Never rolls 4th. Always handles hills just like a stick, sometimes better if I was to screw up on a manual.

Now as for mpg, I ran an experiment over the past few months to get a real idea of an average. Full idle time and 50k miles and I average 7.2 mpg.l, pretty solid. My truck doesn't turn off unless I'm home and it's averaging my mpg with idle time.

All in all its been a great truck for the last year and a half, have had no issues with the tranny (yet lmao), but it's still too new to know. It would be nice to keep her for 4 or 5 years but my company likes to rid themselves of them at below 400k, go figure?? Not sure what the future holds for autos, we really won't know until the auto has a million on it like every stick out there.

 

I never said that. But sometimes the facts imply something different.

No rarely miss a thing. Just didn't want to get in spec. and 18 spd for hauling general freight argument.

Most people are. But then their are a few that take a technical argument to personally.

Its the automated parts that are always the problem, and always on back order.

Paddles or buttons. No programmed upshifts. All shifts must be driver initiated not computer controlled.

No, gears are always selected by driver. Stipulation by rules.

Problem is in this discussion is people like to throw around slogans, truthiness, and lunch counter logic and the rest of us are left to confront the misinformation. Some people have trouble getting past the lunch counter logic without taking it personal.

 

Or some people like to be smarty pants to prove how much they know, anyway it keeps things interesting and given how long it takes to unload a reefer trailer these days having a good debate passes the time...

So what do you haul? How long have you been out on the road?

 

Just straightening out the BS before it gets to deep.

Just remember who started the BS about Ferrari and F1. Wasn't me.

Appreciate the interest but I prefer to keep the threads on the topic. You can see I have been here long enough, that enough has been said by me, or about me, so any information can be gathered from that. I work for a living, and live in a small town, so I'd rather not provide any ammunition for those that employ or hire my services.