Taking our car with us to Europe for 3 months
Jul 25, 2020, 2:13 pm
#76
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The better fuel economy comes with ATs that don't have torque converters (heavy, liquid filled, viscous, slipping clutches, essentially which were/still are dreadfully inefficient), and multispeeds (more than 5-6) which allows the engine to stay within optimal operating speed.
Jul 25, 2020, 2:21 pm
#77
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Not just better fuel economy but, I've heard, better acceleration times especially with ATs that have 7, 8, 9 or even 10 speed. You can't manually shift as fast.
The better fuel economy comes with ATs that don't have torque converters (heavy, liquid filled, viscous, slipping clutches, essentially which were/still are dreadfully inefficient), and multispeeds (more than 5-6) which allows the engine to stay within optimal operating speed.
The better fuel economy comes with ATs that don't have torque converters (heavy, liquid filled, viscous, slipping clutches, essentially which were/still are dreadfully inefficient), and multispeeds (more than 5-6) which allows the engine to stay within optimal operating speed.
Jul 25, 2020, 3:03 pm
#78
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And if the intention is mountain driving, they are safer since you can engine brake instead of depending entirely on the wheel brakes.
I've always done that (works better in big V-8s than in small displacement engines, I've noticed). Of course the gear ratio gaps in some ATs with few gears results in the engine being revved to high speeds, without any throttle input. The current (or recently-previous) generation of Ford E-series truck/van chassis (commonly used for U-Hauls moving van and Class C RVs) have an engine-braking feature, but all you have to do is step firmly on the brake once to engage instead of using the gear shift.
If you don't believe it, drive down Mt Washington (NH) in an automatic. Just plan on a brake job afterwards.
Jul 25, 2020, 3:26 pm
#79
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No doubt, and more connected to actually driving (hopefully).
One can use transmission braking on ATs though it doesn't seem as fluid as with a MT. I don't own a car with a true multi-speed (>3 real gears) AT so never got to try the +/` manual shifting enough in a newer, multispeed AT to see how it compares.
I've always done that (works better in big V-8s than in small displacement engines, I've noticed). Of course the gear ratio gaps in some ATs with few gears results in the engine being revved to high speeds, without any throttle input. The current (or recently-previous) generation of Ford E-series truck/van chassis (commonly used for U-Hauls moving van and Class C RVs) have an engine-braking feature, but all you have to do is step firmly on the brake once to engage instead of using the gear shift.
NV 431 (Mt Rose Highway) Reno-ish to Lake Tahoe on the Tahoe side is even better. One got used (or didn't) to the smell of burning brake pads. Most AT drivers don't know how to gear down.
One can use transmission braking on ATs though it doesn't seem as fluid as with a MT. I don't own a car with a true multi-speed (>3 real gears) AT so never got to try the +/` manual shifting enough in a newer, multispeed AT to see how it compares.
I've always done that (works better in big V-8s than in small displacement engines, I've noticed). Of course the gear ratio gaps in some ATs with few gears results in the engine being revved to high speeds, without any throttle input. The current (or recently-previous) generation of Ford E-series truck/van chassis (commonly used for U-Hauls moving van and Class C RVs) have an engine-braking feature, but all you have to do is step firmly on the brake once to engage instead of using the gear shift.
NV 431 (Mt Rose Highway) Reno-ish to Lake Tahoe on the Tahoe side is even better. One got used (or didn't) to the smell of burning brake pads. Most AT drivers don't know how to gear down.