I hope a tune will help with this though.
A4 Question???????
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45,000
Likes: 585
I'll give you an example. I am in traffic and waiting for an opening to move over. I don't want/don't like the wait for the kick down so I drop a gear and wait until I have a spot. Nail it and I am over and gone.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 560
Likes: 3
From: Centennial Colorado
It's fine, the owner's manual doesn't discourage it either, no warnings or notices, and even gives recommendations:"AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B): This position is for normal driving. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B):
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) when you start the vehicle, the transmission will drive (and stay) in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to the rear wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for preventing the transmission from downshifting into FIRST (1) in situations where a downshift would be undesirable.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When going down a steep hill. "
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
Too much for some is not enough for others. It's fine, the owner's manual doesn't discourage it either, no warnings or notices, and even gives recommendations:
"AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B): This position is for normal driving. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B):
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) when you start the vehicle, the transmission will drive (and stay) in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to the rear wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for preventing the transmission from downshifting into FIRST (1) in situations where a downshift would be undesirable.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When going down a steep hill. "
It's fine, the owner's manual doesn't discourage it either, no warnings or notices, and even gives recommendations:"AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B): This position is for normal driving. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (B):
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If you manually select SECOND (2) when you start the vehicle, the transmission will drive (and stay) in second gear. You may use this feature for reducing torque to the rear wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for preventing the transmission from downshifting into FIRST (1) in situations where a downshift would be undesirable.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power (but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the selector lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When going down a steep hill. "
Thanks
And great avatar PM it to me if you have the chance
Last edited by Green_Devil; Mar 14, 2012 at 12:26 AM.
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Not something that I have ever done - I guess if I wanted to downshift often, I would have got a manual tranny in the first place.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Champaign Illinois
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
Downshift it all you want.
And, to those that can't understand why: Shift delay! It's good for when passing in traffic, because you don't have to wait for the transmission to shift out of 4th into 3rd, then change its mind and shift into 2nd, etc. Automatic transmissions can't read minds, and the occasional manual select fixes that.
And, to those that can't understand why: Shift delay! It's good for when passing in traffic, because you don't have to wait for the transmission to shift out of 4th into 3rd, then change its mind and shift into 2nd, etc. Automatic transmissions can't read minds, and the occasional manual select fixes that.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 112
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From: Bay Area CA
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My normal driving is around the narrow and windy roads in rural England. For regular driving it's just fine in D.
At the speed limit of 60mph as you brake into a tighter bend and then accelerate through it, the ratios mean that the A4 upshifts mid corner. That gives a lurch, just feels wrong as well as leaving you without any power in the corner. The delay in kickdown makes the situation worse. Dropping into 3rd or even 2nd gives better control through the bends.
The transmission is designed to run in the lower gears so I fail to see why there would be any damage. I normally keep an eye on the transmission oil temperature if I shift manually.
At the speed limit of 60mph as you brake into a tighter bend and then accelerate through it, the ratios mean that the A4 upshifts mid corner. That gives a lurch, just feels wrong as well as leaving you without any power in the corner. The delay in kickdown makes the situation worse. Dropping into 3rd or even 2nd gives better control through the bends.
The transmission is designed to run in the lower gears so I fail to see why there would be any damage. I normally keep an eye on the transmission oil temperature if I shift manually.
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 14, 2012 at 03:42 AM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 418
Likes: 28
From: Evansville IN
I like D for spirited driving and use OD for most everything else.
There are some transmission settings that can be changed to eliminate some of the delays in shifting, automatically or manually.
I will never understand why people think it's silly to shift an auto. it's got a lever on it doesn't it? It's because sometimes I wish I had a manual but like the convience of an auto. So, I like the feel of shifting sometime but have an auto! (trying to eat breakfast.. not even sure the above makes sense to me....
There are some transmission settings that can be changed to eliminate some of the delays in shifting, automatically or manually.
I will never understand why people think it's silly to shift an auto. it's got a lever on it doesn't it? It's because sometimes I wish I had a manual but like the convience of an auto. So, I like the feel of shifting sometime but have an auto! (trying to eat breakfast.. not even sure the above makes sense to me....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Gastonia NC
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As it's been pointed out there isn't anything in the manual why not to and their usually pretty good about covering all of the warnings.
There are times where it is helpful, I have a long sweeping on-ramp on my way home and it's easier to drop it down a gear to keep the car from up shifting so once at the end I don't have to floor it to get it to down shift.
There are times where it is helpful, I have a long sweeping on-ramp on my way home and it's easier to drop it down a gear to keep the car from up shifting so once at the end I don't have to floor it to get it to down shift.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
The question is "will it cause damage?"
The answer is NO.
Everything else is supporting information for how YOU choose to drive and why.
The answer is NO.
Everything else is supporting information for how YOU choose to drive and why.