Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D'
 

Will this hurt the transmission to always drive around in 3rd?
The response is so much better in 3rd. When I use 'D' it doesn't have as much pick-up and seems to lag when it changes gears. I ran at the track using both and I got a higher trap speed and E.T. everytime when using 3rd. 2-3mph difference for me. But anyway back to the point, is it detrimental to the car if I use 3rd most of the time?

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

no, just hurts gas mileage and you have to be careful about hitting the rev limiter when hitting the big mph digits :thumbs:

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

The fact that your engine constantly has to rev higher to maintain the same speeds (when you're going fast enough that 4th would normally kick in) means that you are shortening engine life. Of course, if this is done when everything is warmed up, then the effect is minimal.

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

It would seem that staying in 3rd would avoid "lugging" the engine in acceleration from low speeds, as would happen with D. I use 3rd anywhere up to highway speeds (merging on at 55-60) then shift to D; also shift down when traffic slows and more throttle response is needed. The GM automatic may not be one of those manu-matics like Audi or BMW has but there's no reason you can't shift it! :steering:

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (pastorbrad)
 

i drive all my OD 4 speed automatics in 3 rd gear till i reach highway speeds(50 mph and up) to prevent the trans from shifting in and out 4 th gear(OD) every time it shifts it has to cause some wear on the trans parts. :chevy

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (pastorbrad)
 

Interesting.... :skep:

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

I do it! :seeya

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

As long as it's below highway speeds, I don't see why it would add that much, if any, strain on the tranny. :seeya

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

Not only do I drive in '3' a lot, I drive in '2' in sluggish traffic to avoid continual up/down shifting.

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

will not hurt anything except a Mustang in a roll on race... :boxing

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

Hey Topless, if your tranny is like mine, by leaving it in "2" all the time it also STARTS off in second and not first. This is supposed to be a built in feature of the 4L60E so you can use it for driving on ice and snow. It seems like it would be hard on the tranny if you used the '2' all the time for starting.

BTW, how's the LS1-Edit tuning coming along?........John

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

I'm in 3rd if I'm not going to go over 55 or 60 as in traffic or rush hour.

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (Chopper Larry)
 

The owners amnual says its OK to drive in 1st, 2nd or 3rd as needed. It says you will notice more poewr but gas mileage will suffer with each lower gear. If the first gear you select after starting the car is 2nd, it will stay in 2nd untill you manully change it. This aids traction in snow.

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (jim2527)
 

it keeps you from having to brake as much and therefor keep the brake dust off of the wheels plus the pads last longer. :chevy

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (clem zahrobsky)
 

You sound like a great candidate for Gears. When I had 3.15's I would always drive in 3, but now that I have 3.73's I can get that nice accell in "D" and if I want to kick it down, I can scream on down the road. Also using LS1Edit to adjust my down shift with only half pedal has about eliminated any temptation to do the 3rd thing.

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (Vettepartz)
 

Exactly. It's perfect for sluggish not quite stopped freeway congestion. I use '3' in situations where complete stops are more frequent.

Stuck chasing an odd rear O2 problem right now. (Really bad since tonight's a nice track night. :sad: ) I've almost convinced myself it's just an exhaust leak, we'll see once I have time to fool with it.



[Modified by ToplessTexan, 7:15 PM 4/25/2003]

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (clem zahrobsky)
 

But pads and rotors are cheaper than tranny and engine parts. I do notice a lot more overrun when engine braking, not sure how good this is for the cats.



[Modified by ToplessTexan, 7:19 PM 4/25/2003]

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (john512)
 

The engine just works a little harder, but it should'nt cause you any problems unless your running high RPM's all the time. I have a friend that never takes his out of third around town. He only uses "drive" on the freeway.
:cool: :steering:

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (Chopper Larry)
 

:iagree: Same Here....

Re: Driving around town in 3rd gear vs 'D' (Donzi4me)
 

The 4L60-E will work better and in fact last longer if you drive using manual 3 instead of Overdrive if you are traveling under 60 mph.
Driving constantly in overdrive will cause your trans to shift into and out of 4th gear constantly at the lower speeds of city driving.
Each time the transmission shifts there is slipping and friction in the clutch packs and/or bands. This slipping and friction generates heat, a one of an automatic transmissions worst enemies.
Plus each shift causes a minor amount of wear on the clutch and steel plates and components in the trans. After thousands of miles this extra wear can add up and lead to component failure.

As a technician who works on vehicles with 4L60-E transmissions in them I can tell you that you are far better off driving in manual 3rd than in overdrive unless you are traveling at speeds of over 60 mph.

BTW your fuel mileage might actually be better than if you are driving in overdrive also if the bulk of your driving is at slower speeds.
The engine and trans have to do much more work to keep shifting up and down, plus try it, feel the difference in the lag of the 4-3 shift as opposed to making minor corrections to your speed just driving in 3rd.

Yes on a 4L60-E putting the shifter in manual 2 means all you get is 2nd gear.
It will start and stay in 2nd unless you abuse it and then I think the computer will force a 2-3 upshift.

EWill