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Shifting and A4...any consequences?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,838
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NoCar
National Champs Gators 4 St. Jude '09
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Shifting and A4...any consequences?
I'm sure I'm not alone on this, but sometimes I like to shift my A4 to have more control over gear selection. Especially in a nice series of turns, nothing is more fun than clicking down to 2nd and gunning the motor while exiting... 
But the question is, does this damage the transmission or shorten its life span? I know, I know, get a manual...I do love a good 6 speed, but hate it in heavy traffic--hence the auto. Opinions? Cold hard facts? I'm all 
But the question is, does this damage the transmission or shorten its life span? I know, I know, get a manual...I do love a good 6 speed, but hate it in heavy traffic--hence the auto. Opinions? Cold hard facts? I'm all
Pro
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
I have driven my c4 and now my c5 with A4s for over 100,000 miles and beat the crap out of the trans with shifting. I love it and to date I have had no problems that can be attributed to the manual treatment of the trans. How can you drive without doing this?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,178
Likes: 13
From: N. County/San Diego
Since I canyon carve with my blown A4 I called RPM with this same question.
Manual shifting is fine, the only thing they told me to avoid is when in overdrive (4th) at freeway speeds (say 70mph) and flooring it causing a down-shift from 4th to 2ed, very hard shock to the trans.
If you want to romp on it hard at that speed RPM said to first downshift into 3rd then romp, much easier on the trans.
Otherwise the only other thing to note is temps, I`d put the largest cooler you can fit, cheap insurance!
Manual shifting is fine, the only thing they told me to avoid is when in overdrive (4th) at freeway speeds (say 70mph) and flooring it causing a down-shift from 4th to 2ed, very hard shock to the trans.
If you want to romp on it hard at that speed RPM said to first downshift into 3rd then romp, much easier on the trans.
Otherwise the only other thing to note is temps, I`d put the largest cooler you can fit, cheap insurance!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,838
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NoCar
National Champs Gators 4 St. Jude '09
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
Since I canyon carve with my blown A4 I called RPM with this same question.
Manual shifting is fine, the only thing they told me to avoid is when in overdrive (4th) at freeway speeds (say 70mph) and flooring it causing a down-shift from 4th to 2ed, very hard shock to the trans.
If you want to romp on it hard at that speed RPM said to first downshift into 3rd then romp, much easier on the trans.
Otherwise the only other thing to note is temps, I`d put the largest cooler you can fit, cheap insurance!
Manual shifting is fine, the only thing they told me to avoid is when in overdrive (4th) at freeway speeds (say 70mph) and flooring it causing a down-shift from 4th to 2ed, very hard shock to the trans.
If you want to romp on it hard at that speed RPM said to first downshift into 3rd then romp, much easier on the trans.
Otherwise the only other thing to note is temps, I`d put the largest cooler you can fit, cheap insurance!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 2
From: pawleys island sc
Otherwise the only other thing to note is temps, I`d put the largest cooler you can fit, cheap insurance![/QUOTE]
get a B&M 24K btu cooler, Texas Speed has 'em as well a Suimmit and several supporting vendors
get a B&M 24K btu cooler, Texas Speed has 'em as well a Suimmit and several supporting vendors
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 9,883
Likes: 518
From: Bergen County NJ
Since I canyon carve with my blown A4 I called RPM with this same question.
Manual shifting is fine, the only thing they told me to avoid is when in overdrive (4th) at freeway speeds (say 70mph) and flooring it causing a down-shift from 4th to 2ed, very hard shock to the trans.
If you want to romp on it hard at that speed RPM said to first downshift into 3rd then romp, much easier on the trans.
Otherwise the only other thing to note is temps, I`d put the largest cooler you can fit, cheap insurance!
Manual shifting is fine, the only thing they told me to avoid is when in overdrive (4th) at freeway speeds (say 70mph) and flooring it causing a down-shift from 4th to 2ed, very hard shock to the trans.
If you want to romp on it hard at that speed RPM said to first downshift into 3rd then romp, much easier on the trans.
Otherwise the only other thing to note is temps, I`d put the largest cooler you can fit, cheap insurance!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,256
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I tried this a little bit tonight, the tranny temp climbed to 199 during the first 30 mins but then I hit the highway and after about an hour on the highway not shifting (on cruise control) it was between 196-199
Are those temps alright?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Any time you use maximum force on any parts such as the overdrive to 2nd kickdown you are stressing parts to the max. No car is made to take constant stress to parts like that can generate. Just like a high stall convertor is optimal for acceleration, but any time you violently accelerate you are stressing parts. That said, the vettes do handle it pretty good, but it will shorten the life some.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
It was not to be manually selected then GM would not have a shifter there to manually shift it!
Perhaps by putting it in a gear selected by you while driving in the twisties you actually save the tranny from grunting in the higher gears?
Thanks,Matt
Perhaps by putting it in a gear selected by you while driving in the twisties you actually save the tranny from grunting in the higher gears?
Thanks,Matt