blackpaladin67

This may seem like a very strange feeling, but run with me for a minute.

After getting the full exhaust work done, I have noticed considerable increases in grunt and get up and go in the lower gears.

However , I have also noticed that that when the car hits fourth gear in the auto , it now seems happy to hang onto it forever and will stay attached to it between even at around 50 kph .. While doing only like 1400-1800 rpm, rather then drop down into a lower gear.

Maybe it has always been like this and never really noticed because until I had the mods done on the exhaust, I never really heard what my engine was doing unless I put the boot in.

Well now that I can hear my engine all the time because, my exhaust is rather loud.

Has anybody else with an auto experience this phenomena? The engine haggin on to high gears at very low revs?

maximaxus

Mine does the same thing. It will almost get to the point of labouring the engine before it changes down, which could be annoying if your exhaust is louder than normal.

My guess is it will stay in 4th gear under light throttle until the road speed drops below a certain value, the engine speed drops below a certain value (appears to be around 1200rpm from my experience) or the throttle is increased. I don't like this, so I keep it in 3rd until around 80km/h - the torque converter doesn't lock-up in 3rd so you have more converter slip which I've found means better engine response and it doesn't affect fuel economy too much.

RHMax

I think it's normal on autos. It seems the engine is making enough torque for the speed that it doesn't need to downshift. Also. it could be the reduced or lack of back pressure, but I don't know.