Question about driving with an auto.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 5:27 pm

Hello, Im buying a CRD from Mr. Chad. My general plan for this truck is as an adventure vehicle with an emphesis on traveling many of the logging roads in Warshington State. With respect to that its been a long time since I've spent time driving an auto. Would there be any issues with pulling the transmission back into 3rd gear while climbing slower steep logging roads? The point is to keep her out of OD soas to keep the heat generation down.

Thanks again.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 6:05 pm

Just press the overdrive lockout button on the shifter and max gear will be 3rd with TC lock. The diesel engine will handle the rest with ease.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 6:10 pm

So that OD button effects BOTH 4th and 5th? Really cool.

How about the old philosophy about driving around town wth the OD button OFF until you merge onto the freeway? Keeping the trans from intermittently shifting into and out of overdrive over and over again as your speeds changes around town???

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 6:17 pm

It gets to be a real pain in the @zz slowing from 55 to below 50 and 65 to below 60 when traffic slows. That when it downshifts to lower gear requiring you to speed up later to lock into higher overdrive.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 6:27 pm

CRD Joe wrote:

So that OD button effects BOTH 4th and 5th? Really cool.

How about the old philosophy about driving around town wth the OD button OFF until you merge onto the freeway? Keeping the trans from intermittently shifting into and out of overdrive over and over again as your speeds changes around town???

The CRD has so much torque that you do not need to keep the engine wound up like a gasser.
If you read the threads, the CRD shifts to late if any thing due to the dreaded f37 fix Chrysler put in to make up for the plastic parts in the torque converter.
When you are driving off road as I do into construction sites, I never shut off the OD since it only kicks in on the highway and at 63 MPH on the speedometer (on mine 63 is really 60 MPH).
Sometimes I turn off the overdrive when I pull my tandem axle beaver tail trailer loaded going up a grade like a river bluff, then I put the overdrive back on when I hit the flat lands.
The only time I ever force the trans into a lower gear is when I want to go slow. If you need to go real slow you have the option of 4WD Low.

Some one from Colorado should chime in on what they do to climb Love Land Pass :idea:

MrMopar64 · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 7:15 pm

I might stand corrected, but I was told at one point that the 545 circulates more fluid thru the trans cooler while in lock up anyways.

I would just leave the shifter in D with the OD on and let 'er fly.

JeepBumm68 · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 7:41 pm

Well from my experience and with my Girlf Libby, when we take 285 to various wheeling trips, the girl never down shifts. I actually have followed behind me girl in my Rubi and watched as she floored it and pulled up a hill better than some diesel trucks around here. In some case she wheels in first gear, but most of the time when climbing up hills in 4-low or 4-high she keeps it in drive. The Tranny does a good enough job at decided what gear it well select.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun May 17, 2009 11:00 pm

CRD Joe wrote:

Hello, Im buying a CRD from Mr. Chad. My general plan for this truck is as an adventure vehicle with an emphesis on traveling many of the logging roads in Warshington State. With respect to that its been a long time since I've spent time driving an auto. Would there be any issues with pulling the transmission back into 3rd gear while climbing slower steep logging roads? The point is to keep her out of OD soas to keep the heat generation down.

Thanks again.

Keep it in the lowest gear possible to keep the heat down in the trans or you will kill the trans.Offroading will mean more frequent trans fluid changes,about every 15,000-30,000miles.Anything over a gravel road keep it in 4low and 1st gear,your trans will like you.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 12:02 am

I thought so. Thanks TJ. Now Ive got to figure out (lots of threads I know) the best aux trans cooler to install.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 12:06 am

I idle over most obstacles in my CRD (Sexual T-Rex).

nursecosmo · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 12:23 am

If you are going up a loging road fast enough to reach lockup, you are probably going to fast. I know I wouldn't want to meet you coming from the opposite direction.

Uffe · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 2:20 am

Wheeling means flooring the pedal at standstill from time to time anyways and there isn't a lockup in 1st, so why bother using the O/D button at all?

Crawling around on rocks isn't something I've done, but in most other cases, if you wheel it, you'll most likely not make it to 3rd gear for a longer period anyway.

If you need 4Low you can reach 3rd for lockup, but with speed changes as much as you need it while wheeling, you'll be fine without O/D button pressed.

ColoradoCRD · **Joined:** Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:25 am **Posts:** 60

The only times I use the button to force a downshift is: 1) to establish engine braking when going down steep grades at moderately slow speeds; and 2) Towing long uphill grades. When towing my 3000 pound rig in the mountains, I find that the transmission will cycle between 3rd and 4th, so I lock it in 3rd. If it is really hot while towing uphill I avoid going over 2000rpm and the engine temp stays normal. It can go much faster but 2000 rpm is in the comfort zone.

As someone already said the problem with the transmission is it too readily downshifts. The tranny never allows the engine to lug in any condition that I have experienced.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 10:01 am

Thanks everyone. I wasn't so much talking about wheeling as I was lower speed logging roads. Tight turns and climbing long uphills.

Like TJ says, if I'm wheeling ill be in four low and going turbo (Diesel) slow!!!

JeepBumm68 · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 10:55 am

no need to be in 4-lo all the time when wheeling there bro. My GF wheels in 4part time and 4 full time and makes it over anything so far. The only time she has used 4-lo was on some of the bigger rocks here, and when she really need the low end grunt to get those tires to spin on real flexy spots.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 11:52 am

My wheeling resume:

Washington:
Evans Creek, Walker Valley, Elbie, Naches, Reiter, Rimrock

California:
Fordyce Creek, Rubicon, Hammers, The Dusy Ershim

Utah:
Moab

Canada:
Vancouver Island
Kelowna
Big White

My only point in posting this is to make it clear that I have wheeled before. I was just asking about the CRD KJ and it's tranny to learn from those who have them.

UFO · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 11:57 am

I take it out of OD cruising up the passes in Colorado, as otherwise the temperature gauge climbs over the halfway mark.

JeepBumm68 · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 5:48 pm

Hey no problem CRD JOE, i was just giving information from my experience so far with my GF's libby since it has been in the mountains here in CO a lot. We have wheeled it quite a bit, and i have to say she has never had a heating problem at all. I was not doubting your wheeling experience what so ever.

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 6:31 pm

Thanks JB. I didn't take what you said in negative way. Lots of really good information here.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 9:04 pm

JeepBumm68 wrote:

no need to be in 4-lo all the time when wheeling there bro. My GF wheels in 4part time and 4 full time and makes it over anything so far. The only time she has used 4-lo was on some of the bigger rocks here, and when she really need the low end grunt to get those tires to spin on real flexy spots.

Oh the destroying of the transmission :shock:

,I rarely take mine out of 1st gear 4low,keeps the tranny and front diff happy.

It's doesn't matter if it's gas or diesel,high range will kill the trans on the moderate+ trails here in CO.And you do know that the temp gauge is not accurate right? At the middle range the engine can be from about 180 degrees to 240 degrees and still will register in the middle point on the gauge.

Question about driving with an auto.

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