Settle this for Sequoia and 4Runner owners...

Bedlam wrote:
You may also want to manually downshift before an uphill grade so you are in more of the power band when climbing. The automatic will not downshift until there is sufficient pressure which may be too late.

This is true. I think those that say they they just let it do what it needs to do probably should do more reading on how a auto trans works.

There is a reason why heavy duty truck automatic/automated transmissions rely on GPS coordinates to downshift because the trans computers are not smart enough to know when it is going up a hill. It only knows pressures, throttle input, and rpm. So it generally downshifts after it is too late and needs to use more engine power to regain momentum especially when in cruise control.

Bedlam wrote:
You may also want to manually downshift before an uphill grade so you are in more of the power band when climbing. The automatic will not downshift until there is sufficient pressure which may be too late.

I usually try to gain speed so I'll have that momentum going uphill.

You may also want to manually downshift before an uphill grade so you are in more of the power band when climbing. The automatic will not downshift until there is sufficient pressure which may be too late.

They make automatic transmissions so they will shift automatically. I use mine that way and it does just fine.

BurbMan wrote:
How is this specific to 4Runner and Sequoia? FWIW, it's good a practice to downshift going uphill too...otherwise if you have to lift off the throttle for any reason the transmission will upshift, then when you get back into the throttle it will downshift again. If you select the lower gear it will stay there and your lag time to power is less.

The debate is on a forum among owners of Toyota Sequoia and 4Runner.

Not sure, nor part of the debate whether other trucks have these features and capabilities -- which are effectively auto and manual shifting modes.

But you do have a point although I assume that the shift to lower gear is just to regain momentum and maintain previous pace or speed (not going any faster for the gear to get to higher gear).

How is this specific to 4Runner and Sequoia? FWIW, it's good a practice to downshift going uphill too...otherwise if you have to lift off the throttle for any reason the transmission will upshift, then when you get back into the throttle it will downshift again. If you select the lower gear it will stay there and your lag time to power is less.