Down the hill fast !!

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Sep 24, 2004 | 05:13 AM

#16

lardman

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Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Chesterfield, Mi

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitzen25bm

wow didnt know that lardman, i did this before in my old car soapbox derby style to see how much speed i can catch before i reach my house, probably not a long enough street to do any damage though. (actually never even thought about the whole coolant thing.)

I can't say I have never done it either. I have done a lot of research in the towing area (that is why I got my 04, my 00 couldn't handle my trailer) and this came up, thought I would pass it along. It won't kill your trans if you do it once or twice. It takes time to break down the trans oil. For example, If I kept towing my 4200 lb trailer with my 00 4.6l 3.08 gears (mind you it was only rated for 2000 lb towing) and I babied the thing, it was suggested that I install a trans temperature gage and track the temperature of the oil because my floor pan would get HOT

. I don't remember the specifics, but I think they said you don't want to see 400 degrees for any period of time over a minute while towing. With those type of temperatures, it was suggested I change my trans oil every 15k miles because the heat breaks it down.

My mother in law uses neutral constantly! Around corners, before she brakes for a stoplight, down hills, any time she takes her foot off the throttle! Yes, she lived through the depression.

Sep 24, 2004 | 08:18 AM

#17

Dunk

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Joined: Jul 2004

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From: South Jersey

400 dgrees??? Trans oil starts to burn at about 250 degrees. By the time a trans would get to 400 degrees it would be cooked..

Sep 24, 2004 | 08:40 AM

#18

MX2004

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Joined: Jul 2004

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From: South Texas

lewism, I dont' have this problem with mine. I went up to Austin this past weekend, very hilly areas on the trip, had it on cc. When going down hill, it would keep its speed, I think it brakes by itself. I've felt this also on my friend's sentra.

About neutral...
It's always been my understanding that driving in neutral is not good... I think that's why you're not suppose to tow cars with the wheels they pull with on the ground. I never knew the real reason but I knew it could mess up your tranny. I never put my vehicles in neutral unless I'm at a stop light or waiting. Just my two cents.

Sep 24, 2004 | 08:49 AM

#19

lardman

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Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Chesterfield, Mi

Quote:

Originally Posted by MX2004

I think that's why you're not suppose to tow cars with the wheels they pull with on the ground.

That's exactly right. My friend needed new heads on his 9x thunderbird (RWD), He pulled the front wheels on a dolly and drove 80 miles to a family friend who was doing the work. When he got there, not reverse, no first. Without the tranny pump circing the oil, he burned it up. Had to pay an extra $800 for a rebuilt junk yard tranny. The car still isn't the same. If you are on a dolly, disconnect the drive shaft so the trans doesn't spin.

Sep 25, 2004 | 12:02 AM

#20

derbystud

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Joined: Jul 2004

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From: Nebraska

Lardman thats not true, fluid is pumped through your cooler in neutral. Im a trans tech at a Ford dealership. When the engine is running the fluid is being pumped through the cooler no matter where your shifter is. Some Chryslers dont pump fluid while in park. The reason trannys get burned up towing them is because the engine isnt running so fluid isnt being pumped through the tranny.

Sep 25, 2004 | 12:36 AM

#21

tdister

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From: central TX

I'm gonna have to agree w/ derbystud here.

Sep 27, 2004 | 05:11 AM

#22

lardman

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Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Chesterfield, Mi

First time I heard that. So fluid is pumped through your trans system so long as the engine is running. I'll have to look into that. Sorry if I gave bad info, it was based on some other techs I talked to and some other posts.

Sep 27, 2004 | 05:33 AM

#23

lardman

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Joined: Jun 2004

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From: Chesterfield, Mi

"Since the torque converter housing is directly connected to the engine crankshaft, the pump will produce pressure whenever the engine is running as long as there is a sufficient amount of transmission fluid available."
http://www.familycar.com/transmission.htm
Sorry about the bad info, I know not to trust the other guys...