Downhill Downshifting

[Loren]

There is more power available in a lower gear and at higher RPM.

Not going to argue with you about or even waste my time trying to explain it, but that's a fact.

Hint: Do a little research about how transmissions and gear ratios work to multiply torque and the torque multiplication is greater in lower gears. Do a little more research to learn about how engines make more power as they spin faster.

You bought a car with an modern electronically controlled automatic transmission. Trust me, the Toyota engineers know WAY more than you do. Just drive the car! If you wanted to decide when to shift, you shouldn't have bought an automatic.

[nerp]

As long as you're not redlining, you're NEVER going to damage the engine or tranny by downshifting. The only way to damage would be if you downshifted into first while going 60 or something crazy like that. And if you drive an auto, there's nothing to worry about.

[reesesyum]

Originally Posted by Loren

There is more power available in a lower gear and at higher RPM.

Not going to argue with you about or even waste my time trying to explain it, but that's a fact.

Hint: Do a little research about how transmissions and gear ratios work to multiply torque and the torque multiplication is greater in lower gears. Do a little more research to learn about how engines make more power as they spin faster.

I understand that there's more power in a lower gear - maybe power was the wrong word to use. Certainly, there are times when a higher gear provides better performance - otherwise we'd always drive in first gear.

Originally Posted by Loren

You bought a car with an modern electronically controlled automatic transmission. Trust me, the Toyota engineers know WAY more than you do. Just drive the car! If you wanted to decide when to shift, you shouldn't have bought an automatic.

Thanks for the condescending attitude - I was just curious about this feature of the car, and wondered if others had this concern. Thanks to everyone else for their replies.

[Sir A.Y. Atoyot]

Nice thing about automatic transmissions - they're automatic. The Yaris has one that's even more automatic than usual because it's partly controlled by the ECM and partly by the regular hydraulic mechanism.

Anyone who wants to fiddle with the car while driving should probably have a standard. I'm happy with the automatic because I don't have to fiddle with it.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by Sir A.Y. Atoyot

Anyone who wants to fiddle with the car while driving should probably have a standard.

Care to elaborate on that comment? If that is just your opinion that's fine; but if there is a technical reason why then you need to share it with the forum.

There is nothing wrong with shifting the automatic, which is why Toyota designed it to be shifted...

[Loren]

Originally Posted by reesesyum

I understand that there's more power in a lower gear - maybe power was the wrong word to use. Certainly, there are times when a higher gear provides better performance - otherwise we'd always drive in first gear.

The best PERFORMANCE is always where the most power is. Always. A higher gear won't provide better performance until you've hit the rev limiter in the gear your in.

Comfort, smoothness, economy, noise, longer engine life, these are all reasons why we have higher gears.

[Sir A.Y. Atoyot]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Care to elaborate on that comment? If that is just your opinion that's fine; but if there is a technical reason why then you need to share it with the forum.

There is nothing wrong with shifting the automatic, which is why Toyota designed it to be shifted...

Obviously just my opinion. You can fiddle with your transmission all you like.

[SilverBack]

Just ride the bus and don't worry about it