Manually shifting the transmission- is it okay long term?

6795 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by skr9, Apr 3, 2018

karlfevans

Discussion Starter · Mar 23, 2018

This is my first automatic transmission, and so far I like the way it shifts. I don't operate in M mode, but I do use the paddles quite often to downshift while going down hills (there are lots in Hill Country).

I usually downshift until the engine revs are about 3,000, so I am not rapidly shifting down gears.

Do you think my downshifting is harmful to the transmission over the long term?

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TiSport

· #2 · Mar 23, 2018

Thinking you’re good...

I’m thinking you’re good on the downshifting and generally I would expect the transmission to handle a lot of manual shifting. Not that there is a any relationship to whoever made my prior car’s, Mazda 3 GT, transmission, but I ran that auto-trans in manual from mile one to mile 167k in 4 years, and never had any issue with the transmission.

When driving and using the paddles, in either auto or manual, I do try to respect what the engine would be doing, and use the accelerator as if I were shifting with a clutch to minimize any undue jerking around...

(All that said, I did get the 8 year warranty package.). :devil

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1265

· #3 · Mar 23, 2018

no problem at all for transmission this kind of automatic converter is solid and permit mistake and failure during running, the internal fail safe strategy is robust

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SailDrive

· #4 · Mar 23, 2018

push it & have fun with it. The computer should keep you from doing anything too egregious. If you do manage to break it, that's what the warranty is for.

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Scalewoodman

· #5 · Mar 23, 2018

Haha-- I'm treating ours like a museum piece- it's what I do-- and part of what I enjoy when I have that rare couple of hours of free time to putter in the garage attributed to mental health.

In about 25 years I'll be sitting around in a folding chair under a shade tree with a bunch of old guys (and gals-- you) smoking a pipe at an Alfa Club reunion ruminating about the good old days.

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SailDrive

· #6 · Mar 23, 2018

Scalewoodman said:
Haha-- I'm treating ours like a museum piece- it's what I do-- and part of what I enjoy when I have that rare couple of hours of free time to putter in the garage attributed to mental health.

clearly, I've seen what you get for MPG :devil

joking aside, I would love to treat mine like that, but the truth is I work a lot, and it's my primary vehicle, so it gets used (and loved / appreciated, but used first)

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karlfevans

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 26, 2018

Thanks guys! Your responses are comforting. I like using the paddle sifters to downshift. It gives me some of the manual transmission joy.

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Scalewoodman

· #8 · Mar 26, 2018

Early specs for both Guilia and Stelvio called out a 6-speed manual and then when released only the ZF 8-speed was included both for pedestrian and Quadrfoglio versions. The reception has been good for the ZF trans and there didn't seem to be much of a performance trade-off, if any, either (for you sport drivers). We may finally be at the tipping point where automatic trans performance is actually better than manual transmissions-- certainly a long way from DynaFlow!

The other thing that is encouraging is due to the acceptance of this trans- including high performance powertrains (Hellcat, SRT, etc.), future support is assured both independent and factory shops.

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SailDrive

· #9 · Mar 27, 2018

Scalewoodman said:
We may finally be at the tipping point where automatic trans performance is actually better than manual transmissions-- certainly a long way from DynaFlow!

Not even counting the sequential gearboxes used in race and rally cars, We crossed that point years ago with DCT (Dual Clutch Transmissions). It's been a long time since a fully manually shifted transmission was faster than the top of the line automatic transmissions. What has recently changed in the last 8-9 years is that we now have torque converter and single clutch transmissions which are shifting at nearly the same levels of performance as the sequential and DCT transmissions were doing just a decade prior. The ZF8 we have is now the 2nd generation of these modern transmissions which brings automatic transmission performance levels which previously belonged to super cars down to average sports cars. While nothing will ever replace the joy and fun of raking through the gears of a manual transmission and the reward of a perfectly executed rev match down shift, the truth is that for performance the new classes of automatics are going to beat a manual every time. Manuals might still have a slight edge on efficiency and lower losses, but not by that much.

ZF Website said:
Less fuel consumption, more convenience and performance – to achieve these goals with its successful transmission, ZF developed a completely new concept in the current version. With four wheel sets, the 8HP has only five shift elements. In combination with three multidisk clutches and two brakes, it achieves higher efficiency than comparable transmissions. Since only two shift elements are opened per gear, drag losses are significantly minimized. This effect is supported by the use of a new parallel-axis vane cell pump. By integrating an electric oil pump, the 8HP now has an extended start-stop and coasting function

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Docfee

· #10 · Mar 27, 2018

ZF8 is almost bulletproof.

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SailDrive

· #11 · Mar 27, 2018

BTW, here's a really good breakdown of the transmission, and also shows why it is so reliable, all gears are always meshed. you never couple and decouple a single gear in this transmisssion, it's 100% shifted by clutch packs changing the effective gear ratios as it re-routes power through different planatery gear sets (which are also one of the strongest / most reliable gear types)