ASH8

Here lies the problem with you guys with tranny problems and noises....

Mazda like ALL other car makers do not, I repeat DO NOT condone downshifting, ONLY in emergencies should anyone downshift to help slow their car down.

Brake pads are far cheaper to replace than transmissions.

Yes, boy racers and racing car driver downshift on the race track, but these racing teams replace gearboxes every 2 to 3 events.

NO Car manufacturer should and will not support a free for all warranty replacement when downshifting (particularly) at high RPM is abuse.

Also the added cost of much higher fuel consumption with DS.

Use your brakes!, thats what they are designed for......... stopping.

PS: Throw out bearing or thrust bearing noise at idle and in neutral is NORMAL as the bearing only takes load when one changes gears.

Sigma

If you're truly a "Downshifting GURU" then you should be able to downshift with almost no unusual wear or abuse on the transmission at all. It's downshifting without rev-matching or downshifting at RPMs that are too high in the resulting lower gear that destroy a transmission. Downshifting in and of itself is not a bad thing to do.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

whatever

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

how can you drive a car without downshifting?? you need to start getting actual facts before posting up bullshit like that.

what do you do when you want to pass someone? automatics downshift, BMW SMG trannies down shift, they all engine brake too. there is absolutly nothing wrong with downshifting.

ASH8

Using your gears in downshifting to slow you car down puts strain on your box and engine even if you "match" RPM.

What do you think brakes are for?

Downshifting is a bad driving habit.

As an ex- Mazda Warranty claims officer, I can assure you that NO where in your owners manual does it suggest the use of downshifting (engine braking) apart from in emergencies.

I listed my advice to those of you who are having tranny problems, as their trannies are usually bullet proof, for NORMAL use.

No Car manufacturer suggest the use of engine braking or DS.

If you have a warranty complaint then Mazda are within their right to void the tranny warranty if abuse is clear in evidence.

ASH8

Of course you downshift, but not to brake your engine, Automatic transmission DO NOT downshift to engine brake!

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

no car manufacturer suggests that you shouldn't ds either. a/c causes strain on your engine. bogging your car puts strain on the gearbox and engine. warranty clerks just don't know except what they read and what they're told...

JeRKy 8 Owner

You wrote your first post all wrong. Anyway with manual cars I always use the engine to slow down and so have most people I know...and never have had any problems.

As far as I'm concerned your post is bullshit to me. BUT ...if one or two years pass and I end up having problems with my RX-8's transmission because of "my bad habit" of engine braking, you'll be the first person to get a nice hicky on his *** cheek from a heterosexual male (mwa).

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

you wanna bet??

wintergrn

Sooo... If I'm heading uphill in, say, 3rd gear, and I crest the hill and coast down the other side still in 3rd, then I'm abusing my car by engine braking. Yeah, that's it.

ASH8

Yes if needed you downshift a gear (one usually) to overtake, but you DONT downshift down EVERY gear to pull up to a stop.

In automatics you manually downshift if you want to, but what for, only to brake.
But, in Drive (D) an auto does not downshift to BRAKE!

Continually downshifting at high RPM will damage ANY gearbox.

DANomite you can show me where any car manufacture (in their manuals) suggest downshifting to stop their car apart from emergencies, I will give you $1000.00

I have been a driver for over 30 years both manual and Auto and have worked in the car industry for 20 years.

Read what I write before you talk of any BULLSHIT!

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

did i say the manuals suggested downshifting?? no i didn't. i don't care if you drove 30 years either. why don't you start a poll and see how many people agree with you.

Sigma

Total Bullshit. If that is what they teach you warranty guys it's no wonder everything gets blamed on "abuse".

7000RPMs is 7000RPMs. It doesn't matter if I'm doing it in 3rd gear at 80mph or if I'm going 60mph and downshift into 2nd. It's no different to the transmission, it has no idea that you're downshifting if you're properly double-clutching to get the layshaft spinning. It's al the same to the transmission. In fact a properly engaged downshift probably puts less strain on drivetrain components, particularly the clutch, than a regular street start from first.

My neighbor drives an old Accord and downshifts more than anyone I know. Downshifts through every gear, every time, and drives his car very hard. He has 480,000 miles on his car, original transmission, ZERO problems. In all that time he's only on his second clutch.

The problem with downshifting isn't "strain" that it puts onto the gearbox, it's the fact that you're running prolonged amounts of time at high RPMs. When accelerating, you're generally not staying in the 7000+ RPM band for every long, downshifting prolongs the amount of time you're in that range, perhaps indefinitely if you're really shifting to hold that powerband no matter the speed. That is damaging to a transmission if you don't use proper transmission fluids and allow it to cool regularly, but the actual act of downshifting is absolutely not putting unwarranted abuse on a transmission.

A fact that in an of itself means nothing. Mazda doesn't have to explicitly state everything that you're allowed to do, only what you're not allowed to do.

Well here's a news flash, the RX-8 transmission is FAR from "bulletproof". That's both Automatic and Manuals. We know it, dealers know it, and Mazda knows it. Many dealers have multiple transmissions on order for standing repairs. It's why every year everyone hopes that the next model years are going to have stronger transmissions.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

or pick a thread any thread. btw if you are an auzzi how can you comment on mazda na?????


just want to know.

beers

ASH8

I will give any Rx-8 owner $1000.00 if they can show me that MAZDA suggests in their workshop manuals or owners manuals that downshifting (engine braking) is recommended apart from emergencies.

I am refering to owners who downshift in normal driving on level roads and go from 6 to 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 gears to SLOW their cars to a stop, without using their brakes until the very end or at traffic lights.

This will prematurely shorten the life of your tranny, clutch, engine and give you poor fuel consumption.

ASH8

I Repeat No Car Manufacturer Will Recommend The Use Of Downshifting To Egine Brake Your Car.

Sigma

Will you stop saying "suggests"?

Mazda doesn't "suggest" nor "recommend" that I stop my car before rear-ending the guy in front of me. Perhaps they should put that in their manual.

It's an Owner's Manual, not an Instruction Manual. It's not Mazda's job to teach someone how to drive a stick. It's their job to tell you how NOT to drive their stick. So, perhaps you can find where in Mazda tells (not "suggests", tells) not to downshift.

Im_DANomite

iTrader: (1)

mazda DOESN'T suggest downshifting. but they don't say it's bad for you car either!

who the hell doesn't use their brakes for stopping? it's a combination of downshifting and the brake!!!!

thanks for the info. where's your cape, captain obvious?????

swoope

iTrader: (5)

i will give 1k dollars if you can convince me your avitar doesnt downshift!!!!!!!

go back to the neon forums.

btw you were with mazda for 20years or 10 in your profile.

beers

Sigma

I'm looking through the Owner's Manual for where Mazda says that downshifting is "abuse". I've got to tell you that it's not in here.

In fact, not only does the Owner's Manual not tell someone not to downshift, but the Manual provides TIPS on when NOT to downshift. Sounds like tacit approval that downshifting is alright to me, as long as you don't do it how they say not to. It does say that sudden engine-braking, i.e. a bad downshift caused by improper rev-matching that jerks the drivetrain (just as I stated), is bad, particularly in adverse weather conditions.

ASH8

Of course"SMART ****" pro drivers downshift and use brakes in racing, but they change trannys/ engines lile a pair of socks!.

My advice is only that to you YOUNG Bucks who are having tranny problems and warranty issues. Think what you want and respect your elders...lol
God you Yanks are so bloody up youselves.

BTW I had my 48th birthday last thursday.
And I dont tell everyone everything in profiles either.
And to the other Yank, Mazda have been in Australia longer that the USA, I started in 1974.

Sigma

Oh, wait, here's a little statement from the Owner's Manual...

"When you must slow down or on a steep upgrade downshift before the engine starts to overwork. This reduces the chance of stalling and gives better acceleration when you need more speed"

ASH8

Sigma....

I am refering to BRAKING using the engine on a regualr basis, you know exactly what I mean smart ****.

Razz1

Ok, I'll take you up on that bet! In fact I just got done reading the Auto Club Magazine on the train. (Triple AAA)

They specificaly state to down shift in an automatic when going down hill.

I bet you I can find the same or similar sentence in a Mazda manual concerning their SUV/truck model. Maybe even in one of their car manuals.
In fact I think every automatic I have bought recomends down shifting to the next lower gear ( usually 3rd) when goin down a steep grade such as a mountain.

In fact I know several motorcyclist who downshift and they replace their transmissions every year......... I fact I do that with my Gold Wing. That's seven transmissions I have replaced! Because I down shift. Oh I abuse my motorcycle cause I'm fat. My tranny can't handle my big fat ****....

When I drive my 8 I always push in the clutch and put it in neutral before I stop and if I'm on the highway I just drift over to the shoulder. When I'm stopped I just put it in 1st and accereate fast until I pass the car I orginaly had intended to pass!

Sigma

Sorry, I wasn't clear before....

The Owner's Manual provides tips on how NOT to Engine-Brake. It doesn't say that Engine Braking is bad. In fact, by telling how NOT to Engine-Brake, that's tacit approval of the practice, as long as you don't do what they say not to do.