How to downshift an 8 speed

Don't watch the speedo. I have a funny feeling you don't rev up when you downshift either.

I'm not making fun of you. I'm just saying you need to learn to shift under the right conditions, grades, engine strain, surface conditions, weather conditions, and traffic.

 

One gear at a time

 

And how do you learn all this on grades and in different weather is it just over time because all our school teaches is how.to pass the cdl test

 

If its anything to go by....(this was for 18 speed crash box) shift up at 1500 and shift down at 1000rpm. I'd never use road speed, just engine speed to shift.

Guess we're all different - and sorry Ive never been in a 8 speed here in Australia - time and experience can only teach you how to get it right Good luck mate

 

Well it's probaply really a 9 speed anyway.

 

I don't want you to interpret this as me being rude, because I'm not trying to be, but keep your eyes on the road driver. I understand you're a new driver, but you don't want to rear end someone right off the bat because you were watching the speedometer. It all comes with experience, you might grind a few gears here and there but you'll get the hang of it. As stated above, grade can play a big factor. When going downhill, as soon as you come out of gear, the jakes quit and you gain speed, which is why you need to rev the engine to the correct RPMs so it'll fall in gear. When going uphill, you might need to downshift 2 gears as opposed to just one. You'll get the hang of it, we've all been there before.

 

Best way to find out the MPH range for each gear is to watch at what MPH you change gears when upshifting.

Example: Say your in 6th gear

Your doing 15 MPH & your RPM is at 1500. From the sound of your engine, you know you need to upshift to 7th gear. Upshift. Now your in 7th gear. Do it all over again. Let's say your MPH is at 25 & your RPM is at 1500. Sound of the engine is telling you to upshift.

Now you have a general idea what the MPH range for 6th gear (15 mph to 25 mph). Easiest way figure out the MPH range for the gears. Like the guys have said, it'll be a little off depending on conditions, grades, etc. The longer your in the truck....you'll figure out the best gear for every situation.

I drive a 10 speed so I don't have an exact MPH range for you on a 8 speed

 

They teach you to watch those rpms but with practice and experience you will learn to go by the engine like some said. Yeah grades make a big difference, also you do need to learn what gear for what speed, lets say something happened where you had to go from 65 down to 30 within seconds because there was an accident for example, you cant downshift and brake that fast so you need to know what gear to stick it in to get back going

 

There is no "blanket" answer to your question, way to many variables. Always use tach not speedo. Gross weight, trailer type, how steep, are you going up or down ect... The best advise I was given when I started was during the first 3 months NEVER EVER EVER shift up or down when going DOWN a steep grade, if you miss and don't recover your freewheeling down what ever mountain your on (no jake) and in about 1 min. give or take a few seconds your brakes are going to start fading. BTW none of this applies if your truck has an automatic transmission. I know this will start a massive argument but to answer your question in the other post, look at Schnieder tank division, with a year or two of OTR tank experience you just about write your own ticket.