Paddle shifters - when do you use them?

[pprass]

Although we have had our MY15 TDV6 for 5 months and driven it 23,000 kms in that time, I am still learning how to use all of its functions.
For instance - under what circumstances do you use the manual paddle shift? I have been experimenting with it while towing the van and found it useful when going down a steep winding mountain road, to drop down a few gears and let the engine brake the rig rather than fading out the wheel brakes. I also tried it when 4wding going up a steep loose gravel track and found that I got a bit more control, but it was very marginal.
So how do others use the paddle shifters and under what conditions?
Peter

[cjc_td5]

Hi Peter.
I have a MY14 with the 8 speed auto and paddle shift also.
I use the paddles very rarely but have found them useful when towing to hold a gear in undulating terrain. I have also used them on the beach when the D4 wanted to hold a lower gear but it was a more pleasant drive to go up a gear and use the torque to power through.

Cheers,
Chris

[Graeme]

I often used them on my D4's 6-speed to up-shift early to use torque rather than revs and do the same with the 8-speed on my RRV, almost never to down-shift.

[Pickles2]

Had 'em in a couple of cars, never used 'em.
Pickles.

[jonesy63]

How about to hold it in first gear or second gear, while in low range? Maybe you guys aren't taking them offroad enough. :p

[RHS58]

Rarely use the paddles.
If I do, it's often by accident.
SWMBO for some reason is always bumping the paddles, and has decided the only way to undo the D4 being stuck in gear is to pull over, turn off and restart. This is despite being advised a number of times the proper way to undo her inadvertent gear selection. Sigh.
Ron

[Grentarc]

I often used them on my D4's 6-speed to up-shift early to use torque rather than revs and do the same with the 8-speed on my RRV, almost never to down-shift.

I find that I am using the up-shift function quite often on a certain 50 km/h stretch of road to and from work each morning/afternoon. The 'box wants to stay in whatever gear is almost 2,000 rpm, so I up-shift into a more comfortable 1,300 rpm. It doesn't object and try to go back down a gear, so we both seem to be happy with my selection.

[spottedreptile]

When do I use paddles?

a) Barrelling down the inside lane of a roundabout trying to get ahead of the bloke in the F250 blocking everybody. Every second counts.

b) Italian tune up on the acceleration ramp. Doesn't everyone do this? :)

c) Seriously, use them as you wish, common sense of course. They're good when you need to change but don't want to take hands off the wheel. We've had them for years in various cars, and now miss them if they're not there. I don't use them all the time, I switch between drive, sport and paddles, and I like having the choice.

[LandyAndy]

I use it to hold a speed on steep decents,rather than the brakes.
Not used the D4 alot off road yet,really enjoyed using the paddleshift to keep it in the gear I wanted on steep up and down sand tracks,brilliant!!!
Andrew

[Mungus]

Have a read of this thread.


http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/208670-paddle-shifting.html

[Graeme]

In Drive rather than Sport, does using paddles in the latest 8-speed immediately revert to full auto or does the box stay in temporary manual mode until torque and throttle conditions for normal auto are met? My now-gone 2010 D4's 6-speed initially stayed in the temporary manual mode until normal conditions were met after paddle use (my home-grown version) but a s/w update at the end of 2012 altered the change logic to revert immediately to full auto.

My 2012 RRV's 8-speed goes to temporary manual mode when paddles are used so I'm wondering if it too would immediately revert to full auto with the latest TCM s/w version. Staying in temporary manual mode has its advantages but I'm being caught stopped at lights in 2nd rather than auto 1st.

[LRD414]

My 2014 8 speed reverts to auto when normal conditions are met when using Drive. Not sure for Sport but I think it holds the gear.

Scott

[Mungus]

Graeme,
From the thread link I posted previous to yours (at the same time probably).


In normal auto mode after a paddle shift it will change back to 'D' after about five seconds if left alone. In 'S' it wont change back to auto after the paddle shift unless you do hold the up paddle. I have been caught out holding a gear when using shift in 'S' mode.

[LandyAndy]

I think you will find they start in 2nd anyway Greame;);););)
Havent used sport much either,I drive like an olde bastard and it goes well enough in drive;);););)
Andrew

[LRD414]

I use it to hold a speed on steep decents,rather than the brakes.

Not used the D4 alot off road yet,really enjoyed using the paddleshift to keep it in the gear I wanted on steep up and down sand tracks,brilliant!!!

Andrew


I'm the same, using it selectively on steeper sand tracks. But for dirt/gravel/rock l do like using HDC rather than paddle if the descent is steep enough. It's amazingly good at holding a speed and walking down difficult/steep terrain. It's a bit of a leap of faith initially to trust it but it's worth it.

Scott

[Mungus]

I still use paddle shift a fair bit in 'D' mode. (not daily but nearly) As per the old post linked earlier, it is very good in suburban areas or when merging or assisted engine braking. I am used to it! Change down one or two gears (or three or four) and up as required, then hold up paddle for 2 sec to get back to auto 'D'. Sport by itself is good enough though as well for suburbia and roundabouts/cornering. Add Llams to the equation set 20mm lower and whilst it's no sports car at 2.5t, it certainly makes for better handling, cornering with less body roll and I instantly notice the steering is more direct.


and yeah you probably guessed mine has not been bush yet. I new it wouldn't for the first year or two until setup.

[LandyAndy]

I'm the same, using it selectively on steeper sand tracks. But for dirt/gravel/rock l do like using HDC rather than paddle if the descent is steep enough. It's amazingly good at holding a speed and walking down difficult/steep terrain. It's a bit of a leap of faith initially to trust it but it's worth it.

Scott

Not tried HDC yet,had it in the D2,WAY too fast,I realise these are much better,yet to play with it.Put the handbrake on at 80kmh yet???,no I havent tried that either:o:o:o
Andrew

[Graeme]

In normal auto mode after a paddle shift it will change back to 'D' after about five seconds if left alone. In 'S' it wont change back to auto after the paddle shift unless you do hold the up paddle. I have been caught out holding a gear when using shift in 'S' mode.So that's different logic again as the D4 now will even change back down straight after an up-shift if it doesn't like the conditions yet the RRV will hang onto the higher gear until auto conditions are met or significant throttle usage triggers a down-shift or revs drop below the threshold for the gear.

My RRV always starts in 1st when in Drive, as did the 6-speed D4 even if only for a few metres on light throttle.

[LRD414]

Not tried HDC yet,had it in the D2,WAY too fast,I realise these are much better,yet to play with it.Put the handbrake on at 80kmh yet???,no I havent tried that either:o:o:o
Andrew

Yes I have :o:o At Gordon's drive day. That too was a major leap of faith :)
You really need to give HDC a go. Definitely not too fast.

Also, I've been meaning to give Llams -20 a go around town like Mungus mentioned. I wondered if it would sharpen things up.

Cheers,
Scott

[Grentarc]

.

Also, I've been meaning to give Llams -20 a go around town like Mungus mentioned. I wondered if it would sharpen things up.


I tend to have my Llams set to Low most of the time around town, not sure if it is psychological or not, but feels tighter with the numerous roundabouts I deal with in Wagga. Also my wife finds it easier to get in and out of the car at this height. Only really switch it up when going on dirt roads, and then switch it straight to the +30 setting

[LandyAndy]

Another time I used to use the paddles was on cruise control out of the city on the way home going up Bedfordale Hill,its steep 80kmh limit.It wanted to change down several gears,Ive tought it to hold 80kmh in 8th by paddeling up,it no longer down shifts;);););)
Has plenty of torques to pull it up the hill at 1000rpm:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
Andrew

[cjc_td5]

Not tried HDC yet,had it in the D2,WAY too fast,I realise these are much better,yet to play with it.Put the handbrake on at 80kmh yet???,no I havent tried that either:o:o:o
Andrew

HDC in the D4 is excellent Andrew. You can adjust the HDC speed using the cruise control buttons.

Cheers,
Chris

[pprass]

...If I do, it's often by accident.
I was doing the same Ron when I first got the vehicle. It was when I turned the steering wheel sharply to park or get out of a park - I had to change my grip on the wheel and re-position my hands so that I didn't accidentally hit the paddles.
Peter

[pprass]

...You really need to give HDC a go. Definitely not too fast....
I used HDC for the first time when going down Mount Nameless, Tom Price WA and I have to tell you it is certainly not too fast - as a matter fact it is snail pace so I switched it off so that we could be back at camp before a search party was sent out to find us :p I guess that is when I could have used the paddle to drop down to 3rd, but I bet the revs would have been close to the red line.
Peter

[pprass]

.... You can adjust the HDC speed using the cruise control buttons.
What! :eek:
Wish I had known that :(

[Melbourne Park]

I tend to have my Llams set to Low most of the time around town, not sure if it is psychological or not, but feels tighter with the numerous roundabouts I deal with in Wagga. Also my wife finds it easier to get in and out of the car at this height. Only really switch it up when going on dirt roads, and then switch it straight to the +30 setting

The proper way is to set the LLams to raised mode, and just go straight across the roundabout. Quicker too and less wear on the steering ...

:)

[LRD414]

What! :eek:
Wish I had known that :(
The cruise control button application is in the Owner Manual, along with some other good stuff. But I found I had to play around to get a smoother technique with engaging HDC.

As you say, it starts out at quite a slow speed, suitable for very steep inclines and so can be quite a jolt when turned on if you're moving fater than that speed. But if you hold down the "+" cruise control button while turning it on, the vehicle stay closer to current speed. Then release the button when you're at the desired descent speed. If you overshoot, use the "-" button to slow it down a bit.

Once you get the hang of it, it's smooth to go from a paddle selcted gear to HDC or just from normal Drive to HDC.

Scott

[Melbourne Park]

I use the paddles a lot.

When towing, you'll get 17% better fuel economy when using the paddles, and also viewing the instant fuel gauge, and trying to keep the instant fuel economy steady. This is aided a lot by slowing down a bit going up inclines, and speeding up on the other side of the incline... and using the highest gear possible.

I am not sure though if using 8th is bad for the gearbox. But using the paddles will avoid torque converter usage, which heats the gearbox, so overall using the paddles not only saves heaps of fuel, but also may keep the box cooler.

In traffic I'll also grab lower gears for engine braking if a red light appears up ahead, hence avoiding braking.

On my vehicle the gears do stay on - once I thought the power was poor, and then I realised the revs had dipped below 1100 Rpm and that low there is little grunt. The gearbox had held onto 8th. If I pull the right hand paddle towards me and leave it there for a second or two, then the full auto is restored. The full auto will also restore if I use the paddles just once; but if I use them a few times, it holds the manual mode until I hold the right paddle towards me for a second or two. Putting the box in neutral and back to D also neutralizes manual mode.

[Grentarc]

The proper way is to set the LLams to raised mode, and just go straight across the roundabout. Quicker too and less wear on the steering ...

:)
I should probably get a compressor guard before doing that, they have these pesky signs in the middle naming the streets :rolleyes: