Downshifting – Ram Trucks 2007 3500 (Diesel) User Manual
Page 305
Mode
2 to 3
3 to 4
4 to 5
5 to 6
Accel &
Cruise
15 (24)
25 (40)
40 (64)
45 (72)
Downshifting
Moving from a high gear down to a lower gear is
recommended to preserve brakes when driving down
steep hills. In addition, downshifting at the right time
provides better acceleration when you desire to resume
speed. Downshift progressively. Do not skip gears to
avoid overspeeding the engine and clutch. For accelera-
tion at speeds less than 15 mph (25 km/h), 2nd gear is
recommended.
CAUTION!
When descending a hill, be very careful to downshift
one gear at a time to prevent overspeeding the engine
which can cause valve damage.
To prevent clutch and transmission damage, your vehicle
should be downshifted at speeds no greater than those
listed in the Maximum Recommended Downshifting
Speed chart.
Maximum Recommended Downshifting Speeds
Gear
Selec-
tion
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
Maxi-
mum
Speed
10 mph
(16
km/h)
19 mph
(31
km/h)
32 mph
(51
km/h)
50 mph
(80
km/h)
68 mph
(109
km/h)
STARTING AND OPERATING
305
5