A tall body combined with a 6 sp transmission and relatively small engine is going to equal lots of hunting between gears.
Cargo Van Dodge ProMaster
- Thread starter vanman10x2
- Start date
My thoughts also ....but is this shifting happening more at lower speeds like 62 to 65 mph .....I ' m guessing at 68 to 70 mph it doesn't happen as often .....reason behind my guess is the sweet spot on my chevy 6.0 is 67 to 68 mph almost no downshift. ...63 to 65 some downshift ......?
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You've got a cube, right? Do you have the 6 speed?
2008 model ....I 'm almost sure its the 5 speed ...it shifts just like my 2006 did and it was the 5 speed..
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My friend's promaster is not doing too good. He said that last week the transmission developed something like a shudder while changing gears, or something like that. Took it in to get it checked, and of course the dealer didn't know anything since it did not throw any codes. They charged him for a fluid change and told him that all looked like it should. 30k miles if I remember correctly.
Now, my theory on the transmission downshifting at every sight of a hill. To me it seems like they have to shift like this since the small gas engine doesn't have the low rpm torque that the diesels or to a lesser degree the big v8 gas engines have. So, every time there is a need for some pulling power the engine needs to get up to the higher torque which unfortunately is at high rpm. So, to accomplish this they downshift like crazy.
I don't know, I might be a little biased since I drove diesel cars and trucks since I was a teenager, but I love diesels with their low rpm torque. Just yesterday I was driving my little 2.7 litter diesel sprinter with 2000 lbs in the back up the Monteagle, TN mountain at my regular 57 mph, and the engine was purrrrring like a kitten, with not even a hint of downshifting. And all this while still averaging 26 mpg. Other than the whining of the turbo, you don't even notice that the engine works harder than on flat land. To each his own, but I will never buy anything less than a diesel.
Now, my theory on the transmission downshifting at every sight of a hill. To me it seems like they have to shift like this since the small gas engine doesn't have the low rpm torque that the diesels or to a lesser degree the big v8 gas engines have. So, every time there is a need for some pulling power the engine needs to get up to the higher torque which unfortunately is at high rpm. So, to accomplish this they downshift like crazy.
I don't know, I might be a little biased since I drove diesel cars and trucks since I was a teenager, but I love diesels with their low rpm torque. Just yesterday I was driving my little 2.7 litter diesel sprinter with 2000 lbs in the back up the Monteagle, TN mountain at my regular 57 mph, and the engine was purrrrring like a kitten, with not even a hint of downshifting. And all this while still averaging 26 mpg. Other than the whining of the turbo, you don't even notice that the engine works harder than on flat land. To each his own, but I will never buy anything less than a diesel.
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
At 5,600 miles, my 159" extended has averaged 19.7 mpg overall and is getting better... just got 19.87 mpg hauling 2,490 lbs. 390 miles...
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.1? really..what was that a better tail wind or more drafting....LOL.....I am sorry but .1 is almost meaningless at this point....it could have been filled the last time down a whole 3 oz or filled more by 3 oz. Or just warmer weather will increase fuel mileage. Now if it hit 20 consistently I'd be more impressed.....Owned Dodges all my life I am a Chyrco nut....
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
.1? really..what was that a better tail wind or more drafting....LOL.....I am sorry but .1 is almost meaningless at this point....it could have been filled the last time down a whole 3 oz or filled more by 3 oz. Or just warmer weather will increase fuel mileage. Now if it hit 20 consistently I'd be more impressed.....Owned Dodges all my life I am a Chyrco nut....
You're a $printer nut!
What's more important is that's it's the first time it's hauled that much weight, which is about as much as a $printer can haul legally, including driver and equipment... although my Promaster can haul another 1,600 lbs. or so! I know you are not impressed but I am, seeing the mpg was so high despite the heavy load!
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that or a Ford Escort or Chevy Cavalier.......LOL
Met w/ chrysler corporate engineer yesterday at the dealer. He mentioned the transmission in the promaster is same as what's in a dodge caravan. Winnebago is using the same transmission in their rvs soon so time will tell how well this trans holds up. He is having dealer body shop look at my pro because it's getting water in side slider door and rear door. He said the alignment of doors will be an issue though it's much improved from the prototypes. He says dealer pays $20-25K for a promaster. Keep that in mind when negotiating. He worked for Mercedes 10 yrs ago on the sprinter and still gets calls from Mercedes dealers wanting 2 know how fix sprinters because Mercedes fails to provide dealers w/ needed info, materials such as books maps of electricals etc etc. I asked about the brake squeak at low speeds, he said they will be redoing the brake system in future, pad wears uneven due 2 the design. The manual trans, he said that's not what it's intended for. It's just to help up a hill and he's not confident it's much use and said he wouldn't use it. He said I'm the 1st 1 to take issues 2 corporate and they are trying 2 catch up 2 ford w/ customer satisfaction, look 4 chrysler 2 improve that image. And he wondered how I reached chrysler CEO personally, he can't even reach him. LoL
westmicher
Veteran Expediter
My run yesterday was a little faster (about 64 mph) with a fair amount of respectful drafting resulted in a surprising 23.81 mpg. I will see if that's repeatable.
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Must of been the small model of Winnibago....LOL...I had a Caravan back in the late 80's . must have done a million kilometers on that sucker...never once had a tranny problem....I abused the heck out of it....
My record is 32.4 mpg.....so there.....poke poke....
My record is 32.4 mpg.....so there.....poke poke....
With my competitive nature, if I had cruise I would try to beat your record, but my foot says let OVM have this one
Best I remember getting was just over 28.
With my competitive nature, if I had cruise I would try to beat your record, but my foot says let OVM have this one
Best I remember getting was just over 28.
Hush Don't tell Westie.....LOL
But I had a steady 50 mph and gusts to 60 mph tailwind coming out of SD at 55mph on US 12 out there....so my wind resistance was pretty much 0....or in the negative...only happened once.....
It always Blows when you leave SD.....
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