Downshifting - Dodge 2009 Ram Diesel Owner's Manual Supplement

68 STARTING AND OPERATING
Maximum Recommended Up-shift Speeds
Gear
Selec- L to 2 2 to 3
tion
Maxi- 7 mph 15 mph
mum (11 (24
Speed km/h) km/h)

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.
3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6
25 mph 40 mph 45 mph
(40 (64 (72
km/h) km/h) km/h)
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a
slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
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, and / or clutch disc
damage even if the clutch pedal is depressed.