Does Manually Shifting the A4 Tranny do any damage???
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,535
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by Larry B.
First let me qualify myself. I went to Auto trans school years ago on four different brands. I have rebuilt quite a few trans's including 700R4's ( Our A4's are a derivative of) The 3-4 clutch pack is one on it's weak points....... Now.... There is one thing you don't want to do is use 4th (OD) at low speeds. A powerful engine in a high gear is very hard on the transmission (3-4 clutch pack in particular). I know our transmissions are designed to handle the extra power, but why put extra stess on it. I only use OD at speeds above 60 an I have the 3.15 rear. You will barely notice any mileage difference and the car drives much nicer. Also in 3 you will be in 1:1 through the transmission so the planetary gears are not working like they are when the ratio is .7:1 as in OD.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by yell03
but sometimes in "3" or "D" the engine starts lugging and it wants to be put in 2nd without giving it more throttle to have it do so.
I am talking about speeds around 25-30mph where a gentle shift to 2nd makes it feel and sound alot better.
I am talking about speeds around 25-30mph where a gentle shift to 2nd makes it feel and sound alot better.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 97
From: Palm Coast, FL
Originally Posted by Larry B.
First let me qualify myself. I went to Auto trans school years ago on four different brands. I have rebuilt quite a few trans's including 700R4's ( Our A4's are a derivative of) The 3-4 clutch pack is one on it's weak points....... Now.... There is one thing you don't want to do is use 4th (OD) at low speeds. A powerful engine in a high gear is very hard on the transmission (3-4 clutch pack in particular). I know our transmissions are designed to handle the extra power, but why put extra stess on it. I only use OD at speeds above 60 an I have the 3.15 rear. You will barely notice any mileage difference and the car drives much nicer. Also in 3 you will be in 1:1 through the transmission so the planetary gears are not working like they are when the ratio is .7:1 as in OD.
One other thing I do and not sure if you do or not is when I pull up to a traffic light that I know is "long enough", I will almost always put the A4 into Neutral and just wait until the light turns green (or as its about to) rather than sit on the brakes for 2 or up to 2 1/2 minutes for a traffic signal to turn green.
Last edited by purple heart; Apr 20, 2006 at 11:13 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: San Francisco CA
Originally Posted by yell03
Let's face it, the A4 is a great performing tranny, but BORING to drive.
At the track I know to just leave it in "3" and stomp it, heck I ran a 12.5 that way.
But,
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
At the track I know to just leave it in "3" and stomp it, heck I ran a 12.5 that way.
But,
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
With the 4L65E When I was driving at freeway speed don't remember the speed I was going but I didn't even notice that I was in 3rd gear probably going over 60 mph. It wasn't until I looked at the tach at 3,000 RPMs.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 2
From: Fresno CA
Originally Posted by purple heart
Larry B, I can't agree with you more wholeheartedly. I feel that this way the transmission is shifting or working that much less and will therefore last that much longer overall. However, where we differ is I don't wait for 60 MPH to use OD; I usually shift mine out at about 45-50 MPH. But I almost always start out with the selector in 3rd and just leave it there until I start approaching the 45-50 mph range( probably just like you do).
One other thing I do and not sure if you do or not is when I pull up to a traffic light that I know is "long enough", I will almost always put the A4 into Neutral and just wait until the light turns green (or as its about to) rather than sit on the brakes for 2 or up to 2 1/2 minutes for a traffic signal to turn green.
One other thing I do and not sure if you do or not is when I pull up to a traffic light that I know is "long enough", I will almost always put the A4 into Neutral and just wait until the light turns green (or as its about to) rather than sit on the brakes for 2 or up to 2 1/2 minutes for a traffic signal to turn green.
This is a terrible thing to do, your putting that much more wear going in and out of gear everytime you come to a long light.This is exactly what your Torque Converter is there for! Let it do its job. If your worried about sitting at long lights like that, get a tranny cooler but dont go in and out of gear like that!
Everybody has pretty much answered your questions with basically good info, if your engine braking your causing extra wear. If you need to get down in that lower gear just bring your rpm's up lightly when you down shift,just before actually, kind of like matching RPM's in a manual shift car.
I love my A4!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
I don't feel the need for an A6 anymore if I can do this.
I got my car for a STEAL, I would hate to trade it in to gain a little bit more fun that I can be having with one less useable gear.
Basically the A4 has 3 gears and one overdrive and the A6 has 4 gears and two overdrives.
Where else would I find a Brand New C6 Convertible with a MSRP of$54665 and of course I paid less.
Only oprions:
Velocity Yellow = $750
Polished rims = $1295
3.15 rear = a few hundred.
Thanks for all the answers and keep more coming,
Howard
I got my car for a STEAL, I would hate to trade it in to gain a little bit more fun that I can be having with one less useable gear.
Basically the A4 has 3 gears and one overdrive and the A6 has 4 gears and two overdrives.
Where else would I find a Brand New C6 Convertible with a MSRP of$54665 and of course I paid less.
Only oprions:
Velocity Yellow = $750
Polished rims = $1295
3.15 rear = a few hundred.
Thanks for all the answers and keep more coming,
Howard
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Originally Posted by need-for-speed
I don't think that scenario adds any wear to your tranny at all. In fact, by easing into 2nd with the shifter rather than causing an abrupt downshift with the throttle, one might actually argue that you are reducing tranny wear. Manual downshifts to invoke engine braking is the only thing that increases wear IMHO.
I tend to disagree... Here's why. A firm shift is alway better as the clutches "slip" time is short. Gears in an automatic are always engaged so the friction components do the shifting. If you had a manual trans would you slowly let the clutch out between gears? If you did that , the clutch would be toast in a short time. Think of an automatic the same way. Long slow slippey smooth shifts are the same as slipping the clutch on a manual. Luxury car owners like smooth soft shifts even if it means shorter transmission life.
Last edited by Larry B.; Apr 21, 2006 at 07:10 AM.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
Larry B -
Good point.
You seem to know your stuff.
Give me your opinions in one POST of reference for:
1 - Leaving it in 2nd when cruising at like 30moh rather than letting it upshift to 3rd and lugging
2 - Manually shifting 1-2-3 at slighly higher rpms than the tranny would select itself.
3 - Is the shifter gonna hopld up to the constant shifting or will it loosen up or is it made for that?
4 - Engine breaking from 3-2 at slow speeds, not like 100 dropping down to 2nd and never going down to 1st.
5 - On the track, there are speeds where 3 will not kick down to 2 automatically, but 2 would be the better power gear, how about manually selecting 2 (once in a great while) to get the extra power.
Thanks, the info is appreciated,
Howard
Good point.
You seem to know your stuff.
Give me your opinions in one POST of reference for:
1 - Leaving it in 2nd when cruising at like 30moh rather than letting it upshift to 3rd and lugging
2 - Manually shifting 1-2-3 at slighly higher rpms than the tranny would select itself.
3 - Is the shifter gonna hopld up to the constant shifting or will it loosen up or is it made for that?
4 - Engine breaking from 3-2 at slow speeds, not like 100 dropping down to 2nd and never going down to 1st.
5 - On the track, there are speeds where 3 will not kick down to 2 automatically, but 2 would be the better power gear, how about manually selecting 2 (once in a great while) to get the extra power.
Thanks, the info is appreciated,
Howard
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,535
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by Larry B.
I tend to disagree... Here's why. A firm shift is alway better as the clutches "slip" time is short. Gears in an automatic are always engaged so the friction components do the shifting. If you had a manual trans would you slowly let the clutch out between gears? If you did that , the clutch would be toast in a short time. Think of an automatic the same way. Long slow slippey smooth shifts are the same as slipping the clutch on a manual. Luxury car owners like smooth soft shifts even if it means shorter transmission life.
Nowhere in my post did I advocate slow shifts. I was referring to shifting at lower rpm's, with less throttle. I fact, you can't control shift speed to any degree without changing the fluid pressure in the transmission. You can't do that with the shifter.
Last edited by need-for-speed; Apr 22, 2006 at 03:15 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Guntersville/Arab Alabama
Originally Posted by yell03
Let's face it, the A4 is a great performing tranny, but BORING to drive.
At the track I know to just leave it in "3" and stomp it, heck I ran a 12.5 that way.
But,
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
At the track I know to just leave it in "3" and stomp it, heck I ran a 12.5 that way.
But,
When cruising around town I feel the need to shift gears.
Not at full throttle mind you, but just normally accelerating and shifting 1-2-3-4 for FUN and to make the exhaust sing a bit by holding the gear a little longer than it normally would do on its own.
Also, when coming to a light I love to downshift 3-2 to make my Exhaust purr.
Does this damage the tranny at all.
In the old days I was told it is ok to upshift, but not to downshift.
Does anybody know for sure?
Howard
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,535
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by Larry B.
OK... I mis-read ... sorry. I apoligize...We are on the same path here. I only wish GM gave us control over the T.C. lock so you could get 4 without the T.C. locking if you wanted.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,535
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by Anti-Ford
Ok i just bought my vette with a A4 and im about to take it to the track. But i dont get the whole put it in 3rd and stomp it? Wouldnt that be like putting a manual in 3rd getting and leaving the lights? How does this work?
You might try running it that way, as well as a few rund doing the upshifts manually just to see which one works best for you. Have fun
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 212
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From: Guntersville/Arab Alabama
Originally Posted by need-for-speed
Even though it's in 3rd, it will start in first, and upshift to 2nd and 3rd. It just wont upshift into overdrive.
You might try running it that way, as well as a few rund doing the upshifts manually just to see which one works best for you. Have fun
You might try running it that way, as well as a few rund doing the upshifts manually just to see which one works best for you. Have fun
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,535
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Some might say the computer knows better when to shift than the driver. Another theory is that it allows you to concentrate on driving (o.k. it's an auto -so that means pointing at the end of the track 
just kidding)
The best approach would be for you to try both methods and see which one works best.
just kidding)The best approach would be for you to try both methods and see which one works best.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,905
Likes: 569
From: Bucks County PA
need-for-speed -
I prefer "3" as opposed to "D" just so the tranny does not kick in to OD at the end of the track.
"3" is actually just regular "D" and "D" is actually "OD" on the C6s
Does that make sense???
Also....
You cannot outshift the auto-tranny, don't try.
Just put it in "3", floor it, keep it pointed straight, and collect your 12 second timeslip. It is simple, safe, and fun.
Howard
I prefer "3" as opposed to "D" just so the tranny does not kick in to OD at the end of the track.
"3" is actually just regular "D" and "D" is actually "OD" on the C6s
Does that make sense???
Also....
You cannot outshift the auto-tranny, don't try.
Just put it in "3", floor it, keep it pointed straight, and collect your 12 second timeslip. It is simple, safe, and fun.
Howard
