Eaton Autoshift vs allison auto

AutoShifts? IMO from experience; Very poor fuel mileage unless I manual shift. By poor I mean 1-2 mpg drop on long hauls. They love to drop two gears at a time in rolling hills where no drop at all it needed. Secoundly, they are dangerous to drive in manual, i.e. the push button shifter is closer to the floor than a real shifter. Thirdly, they are simy unpredictable when pulling out into traffic. Oh and fourth, they are great at overheating when backing up a hill....
Will be replacing my AutoShift with an 18 speed manual on my next vacation. And I have tried so very hard to like it or see its utillity.

 

I'm calling BS on most this post. I'd like to know WTF your driving and abusing that your having that many issues. In 1.2 million miles I've never once overheated an autoshift while backing, going forward, etc. As for the push buttons, if your fingers are that big, and have that little feeling that you can't tell which button your pressing, maybe you need a desk job. The drop in gears is based on what the computer percieves, hence the reason for manual mode.

 

some autoshift transmissions, like ZF Astronic/Freedom ore I-shift run better Alisson and save fuel, but they are expencive and when they fail it is really expencive to fix! Some units, like transmission cover with built in electronics and shift cylinders are about $2000-4000! And what is the price of used ore remanufacted 10 st ore 18 st manual transmission?

Well, ok, about Eaton autoshift! if shifting motors fail the control unit mounted on transmission failfs too! what is the price of control unit, shifting motors, programming?

many owners here ask me to convert theirs trucks to manuals to get no these problems. And if it is possible to add shiftstick on Eaton Autoshift, with ZF ore Alisson it is impossible. the only way - tranny swap ore fix stock tranny. That's why I'd think twice before I purchase used truck with auto, especially with more then 500 k on odo. Who knows how the previous owner drow it? may be a bit later you'll get tranny broken, what will you do? yeah - any way u'll choose to fix truck will make you pay $$$$$$$$$$$

 

And help me understand the reasoning behind driving or having to drive an autoshift in manual mode. Its an oxymoron, certainly a non sequitur. If the design and programing is good, and better than that of a "driver," why are having to coax it work and get some simblance of reasonable fuel mileage and safety. The current Eaton-Fuller AutoShixts are premative as of yet. Hey, remember back in the seventies when VW can out with the AutoStick trans in the beatles. Girls loved it, but it killed the fuel mileage...

THX

 

Most auto-shifts have a program to run in the flat, when you are in the mountains, unless you have a different program, you would want to manually shift it. I drove one of the first ones out there and it knew what load you had very quickly. And you do want to drive a unit with the same engine you want to buy there is an extremely big difference in how the transmission works with different engines, one is especially scary slow to shift. You want to take a S60 for a test drive they are the tops.

 

In the Mtn's I always use manual mode on mine, also in some situations in the city I will use manual mode, otherwise it runs in Auto. Manual mode may sound odd, but it's designed to allow you to hold the trans in a gear if needed.

 

Check out this video from Allison, it is a trucking company that uses the Allison automatic. They explain the cost benefits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncZ8ciI7v2s

If you look at their channel(rest of their vids) you will see the pea gravel demonstration, comparison of acceleration between automatic, auto shift and manual. http://www.youtube.com/user/allisontheautomatic#g/u

I still enjoy shifting gears, but I'm a little skeptical on fuel economy. The Allison's are bullet proof for the most part as long as they are maintained. They do not mention fuel economy, I assume fuel economy would drop a little. When you have a power shift automatic(Allison) most drivers including myself are inclined to drive full throttle. The other thing is engine braking, with the Allison you can program it to down shift one or two gears and redline the jakes and have you slow down with out even using the service brakes. Once you hit about 15 MPH your RPM's are too low and they shut off. In traffic, its awesome being able to just lift your foot of the throttle and the jakes come on - no need to coast or ride the brakes.

If you wish to hear the 6 speed Allison shifting with a Series 60 and jakes, here is a video. The driver is operating it for some good audio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_lLhjf8xpE