Manual mode to stay in a highway gear

[Stan H]

Manual mode just locks you in the gear. You can notice at times you’ll actually lose speed while doing it. The engine just doesn’t make the power to adequately pull 8th gear when head winds or hills are involved. The transmissions are designed to shift and I’d argue with 8 speeds, they intend it to do it frequently hence why there’s 2 overdrives.

Personally I feel the programming of the transmission is lack luster. For instance it wants to downshift too easily. Many times there’s just a slight hump in the road or similar that it can easily hold the gear it’s in if it would be willing to just drop 1-2 mph. For example 70 going to 68-69. But it’s as if Jeep programmed it to not lose any speed prior to a downshift. Many other vehicles will hold for a second, for example cruise set at 70 it’ll drop to 68 before downshifting. At least my experience with my jeep is if I’m set at 70, it refuses to be any lower than that.

With Cruise on that is exactly what it will do . Thats why I generally run it with my foot and when I come to a big hill pull scenario I just hold the fuel still 99% it don't shift for quite a way .especially 6th to 5th ..,.8th to 7th is quicker .

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[NC_Overland]

Hah. Go drive some other 8 speeds if you don’t like the programming. It’s damn near telepathic compared to a lot of the 8/9/10 speeds out there.

 

[gearhead22]

Hah. Go drive some other 8 speeds if you don’t like the programming. It’s damn near telepathic compared to a lot of the 8/9/10 speeds out there.

I’ve driven plenty, no real complaints.

 

[Badunit]

With Cruise on that is exactly what it will do . Thats why I generally run it with my foot and when I come to a big hill pull scenario I just hold the fuel still 99% it don't shift for quite a way

I never use cruise. For many hills I'll give it more fuel, just shy of what would make it downshift. I can tell when it is getting close to causing a downshift and can let off a little if I have to or let it downshift if that's the better choice. It might slow down a little up the hill, but so what.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I never use cruise. For many hills I'll give it more fuel, just shy of what would make it downshift. I can tell when it is getting close to causing a downshift and can let off a little if I have to or let it downshift if that's the better choice. It might slow down a little up the hill, but so what.

I love cruise. Wish everyone used it so we could avoid the speed up/slow down exercise. But adaptive cruise helps.

 

[NC_Overland]

I love cruise. Wish everyone used it so we could avoid the speed up/slow down exercise. But adaptive cruise helps.

The only thing I don’t like about adaptive cruise is sometimes I don’t realize how damn slow someone is going in the left lane and I end up driving too slow for too long.

 

[Badunit]

I love cruise. Wish everyone used it so we could avoid the speed up/slow down exercise. But adaptive cruise helps.

In my experience, cruise is too slow to respond to changes in road slope. It can't see ahead and predict. I see a hill coming and can start pressing the gas more before it slows down versus cruise waiting until it notices the vehicle slowing then giving it more gas than it should and causing an acceleration and sometimes an unnecessary downshift. It is the same problem in the other direction when cresting a hill where it speeds up then has to let off too much. I find cruise to be a painful and annoying experience. Great on flat roads I suppose, but not here, not for me anyway.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

In my experience, cruise is too slow to respond to changes in road slope. It can't see ahead and predict. I see a hill coming and can start pressing the gas more before it slows down versus cruise waiting until it notices the vehicle slowing then giving it more gas than it should and causing an acceleration and sometimes an unnecessary downshift. It is the same problem in the other direction when cresting a hill where it speeds up then has to let off too much. I find cruise to be a painful and annoying experience. Great on flat roads I suppose, but not here, not for me anyway.

Good point, it’s pretty flat where I am.

 

[Stan H]

I never use cruise. For many hills I'll give it more fuel, just shy of what would make it downshift. I can tell when it is getting close to causing a downshift and can let off a little if I have to or let it downshift if that's the better choice. It might slow down a little up the hill, but so what.

Bam , yes!!!

 

[remlemasi]

Two comments….

1) I’ve noticed recently that the 8sp is holding gears too long when accelerating gently. Like holding at 3-4k until I get tired of the noise and do a manual upshift. I’m guessing an adaptation reset procedure will help, but I haven’t done it yet.

2) I’ve been looking into a steeing wheel swap (392) with paddle shifters for reasons covered in this thread. I’m hoping it will make it easy to encourage a quick up or down shift as-needed without having to take my hands off the wheel and go into manual mode. In my experience with this same transmission in BMWs, it will keep the gear for maybe 10-20s and then go back to Auto. Can anyone confirm this is how it works with the Mopar ZF8?

 

[JTdiRtyD]

2) I’ve been looking into a steeing wheel swap (392) with paddle shifters for reasons covered in this thread. I’m hoping it will make it easy to encourage a quick up or down shift as-needed without having to take my hands off the wheel and go into manual mode. In my experience with this same transmission in BMWs, it will keep the gear for maybe 10-20s and then go back to Auto. Can anyone confirm this is how it works with the Mopar ZF8?

I added paddles to my Rubicon wheel and didn't need the 392. Not sure if the sport wheel is the same as the Rubi, I think the hoop is thinner. Theres a few threads around regarding this, but you might need to scour into high page numbers to get updated info.

The ZF in the Jeep does not act the same as in BMW. You can paddle shift while in D, but it puts it into manual mode and stays there. If you want it to go back to auto then hold the paddle for a second or so and it switches back.

 

[SRFRAT67]

7th is still overdrive. 6th is 1-1. All 3 are highway gears. These aren't wide ratio 3-4 speeds from the 80s. They are designed to shift a lot. The 3.6L doesn’t make peak torque until 4k rpms. You don't need peak torque to cruise along with a tailwind. Conversely a nice headwind pushing against this brick on wheels may need 7th or even 6th dead flat. It's not hunting gears, it's doing what a double overdrive automatic is supposed to do.

Upshifting at 2100rpms is the definition of lugging the pentastar. It's terrible for the engine, the oil pump never even gets in to high lift mode, and the pentastar isn't making any power at that point. You do you, but don't be surprised if your engine doesn't live a long life like that.

Nailed it Zachanadandy- I am on 4.10's, 35X12.5 heavy Nitto's and run a 211 pound smart cap and 171 pound RTT with 3 inch lift. Living in NW FL its relatively flat but always a good headwind, I hardly ever see 8th and it dosent seem to mind, still plenty of power dang gas mileage...well, I dont bother keeping track lol

 

[ChrisNLA]

I added paddles to my Rubicon wheel and didn't need the 392. Not sure if the sport wheel is the same as the Rubi, I think the hoop is thinner. Theres a few threads around regarding this, but you might need to scour into high page numbers to get updated info.

The ZF in the Jeep does not act the same as in BMW. You can paddle shift while in D, but it puts it into manual mode and stays there. If you want it to go back to auto then hold the paddle for a second or so and it switches back.

Nice to know it does that. I've considered adding the paddles to mine.

In my '15 SS Camaro, if you use the paddles with the trans in D (drive), it will upshift or downshift as requested, but after a certain amount of time it goes back to whatever gear it wants to be in and back to normal.

If you pull the shifter back to 'S' (Sport), then the trans will stay in whatever gear you select with the paddles indefinitely until you hold one of them down, then it will go back to auto shifting in Sport Mode.

 

[remlemasi]

I added paddles to my Rubicon wheel and didn't need the 392. Not sure if the sport wheel is the same as the Rubi, I think the hoop is thinner. Theres a few threads around regarding this, but you might need to scour into high page numbers to get updated info.

The ZF in the Jeep does not act the same as in BMW. You can paddle shift while in D, but it puts it into manual mode and stays there. If you want it to go back to auto then hold the paddle for a second or so and it switches back.

Thanks, and the other half of the reason for the upgrade is to get away from the skinny rubber wheel.

Too bad on paddles not holding the gear for a bit then returning to Auto, but it beats having to reach down, shift into M, up or downshift, then back into Auto again.

 

[NC_Overland]

Thanks, and the other half of the reason for the upgrade is to get away from the skinny rubber wheel.

Too bad on paddles not holding the gear for a bit then returning to Auto, but it beats having to reach down, shift into M, up or downshift, then back into Auto again.

Man. I didn’t know the base models had that. I can’t stand that plasticky feel and they already get sticky over time as the finish degrades.

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