Does down-shifting use more fuel?

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Robert Gift, May 1, 2011.

  1. Tanker Hauler

    Tanker Hauler Light Load Member

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    What do you guys that don't downshift do when you stop? put it in neutral? and coast? you have to downshift in order to maintain control.
     
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  3. Robert Gift

    Robert Gift Light Load Member

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    Hope I wasn't driving it illegally. Was my boss's truck.
    Was big but I never learned the capacity.
     
  4. Scarecrow03

    Scarecrow03 Road Train Member

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    Then you are as foolish as your original post implies.
     
  5. Robert Gift

    Robert Gift Light Load Member

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    But he had a CDL and with my work as a mechanic we discussed the braking to stop issue.
    Agreed thathe compressionretard was not worthe wear when brakes alone could bring the truck to a stop.

    We did use compression on downgrades to hold speed with occasional brake application. (In mountains I have smelled lots of hot brakes on semis.)

    Does anyone know off-hand what % comrpessionretard adds to braking?
     
  6. Joetro

    Joetro Road Train Member

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    Well, there was another that agrees with him, so, make it two somebodies that are that dense... or trolls.
     
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  7. Truck Driver

    Truck Driver Medium Load Member

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    Whatever wear you might possibly put on a truck by properly downshifting to a stop is absolutely negligible. You won't get one more mile of life out of that truck by driving it like you do. And I'd be willing to bet that you, being as inexperienced as you come across, probably have a habit or two that could cause real wear to your truck, totally outside of the downshifting issue. Also, the amount of braking force added by downshifting varies from one engine to the other but that ain't the point. You downshift primarily to maintain total control of your truck. You can skip gears while downshifting to avoid shifting every last gear but coasting is both illegal and foolish.
     
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  8. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

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    Yeah, I know...But I've come to expect that from the other one.
     
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  9. Joetro

    Joetro Road Train Member

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    Me, too, especially after the whole "rename the offensive mountain" thread.
    :biggrin_2554:
     
  10. Robert Gift

    Robert Gift Light Load Member

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    If I did anything which caused addition wear, (other than coasting and using brakes) hopefully I would have discovered it and stopped it.

    How is remaining in gear any more "in control" of the truck?
    It simply adds a little morengine brake to the friction brakes.
    The friction brakes are more than adequate for slowing and stopping.
     
  11. Flying Dutchman

    Flying Dutchman Road Train Member

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    Think downhill, rather than coming to a stop sign, that's where your control issue comes in. It's the law in an automatic too, just not really able to get caught. But if you put your car in neutral coming to every stop, you are in the wrong. I downshift for every stop in the truck. For sure skipping a few gears and of course not getting down to 1st. Depends on the situation. If its a stop sign with a long line, I will downshift all the way to 2nd and creep behind the next vehicle. If its an empty intersection, maybe 5th before I stop & go again.
     
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