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3rd gear driver.
I don't agree with manually shifting the box, the computer does it better. BUT, I do most of my around town driving in 3rd gear.
In 3rd the planetary gear sets are locked together as a solid shaft for a 1:1 ratio, to give an overall ratio of 3.7 (or so). It is much more lively in traffic and fuel consumption is better, alternator charges better, lights are brighter.
The main reason is that, most of the transmission heat is produced in the torque converter, when it has to multiply torque. Which it has to do a lot of, when driving around town in D. The overall ratio in D is a very high 2.5:1. This causes the converter to do a lot of torque multiplication to reduce the overall ratio to a lower ratio, (the converter can go to a 2:1 reduction), producing a lot of heat in the process. As we all know heat is the transmission destroyer.
When I come to any conditions that is not high speed cruising, I go back to 3rd. Especially in the hilly country.
Make it easy on the transmission, and your wallet.
Harvey.
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One Arm Bloke.
Tell it like it is!
95 Lsi. Bordeaux Pearl, Aust. RHD.149,000Kls Subaru BBS wheels.
97 Liberty GX Auto sedan. 320,000Kls.
04 Liberty 30R Auto Premium. 92.000kls.
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