Shifting an Auto Trans manually?

Question

will the car accelerate faster with a stock transmission when shifting from 1 to 2 to 3 to D, instead of just flooring it on D?
The car is 2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

Answer 1

It is not good for your car, but I know of people who on occasion "neutral drop" it - that is flooring it in neutral and then pushing it right into drive. Can result in the cool peeling out effect. But listen to the dude who says just drive and be safe.

Answer 2

It'll make you feel like it's faster because you'll be able to rev the engine higher in the low gears. However, most automatics are set to shift at the optimum shift point, where "optimum" takes into account such things as engine torque and power curves, fuel economy, and shift smoothness. Some newer cars have a "power" switch that moves the shift points higher, which is essentially what you would do by manually shifting through the gears.

Answer 3

As long as you have a Tachometer and know what red line is in your particular engine set up (based on the intake manifold and heads and exhaust and throttle body) then you can shift it manually.

You may not do anything but wear out the engine faster that way and super heat the tranny fluid. All automatics will stay in the lowest gear possible depending on the position of the accelerator pedal (Throttle position sensor in the throttle body) and not shift to the next highest gear until you hit red line or ease up on the gas pedal.

Good Luck!

P.S. Even top fuel cars have automatics and the big rigs are slowly converting to automatics to get the best MPG's.

Answer 4

It probably wont make alot of difference if oyu are just flooring it because the transmission will allow the engine to rev up higher between shifts if you have the gas to the floor.

If yo uare on a circle track, you might want to keep it in 1 or 2 depending on the lenght of hte track and how many RPMs give you the most pull off the corners...
If you are drag or street racing, you should just keep it in drive.

Answer 5

You may be able to get off the line a tiny bit quicker (holeshot) by locking the tranny in 1st. On many of the trannies I've seen, well auto trannies in light duty truck (half-1ton) is that the line pressure is slightly higher and more clutches are applied when locked in 1st, and 2nd, versus being in OD.

This may or may not hold true in your case, I'm guessing you have a 4L60E tranny. IIRC, this tranny will act as stated above ( I know it does on the Dodge 47RE and RH), but you never know till you hit the drag strip and get some times each way!!!

Answer 6

Stop trying to be a boy racer, put your car in Drive and drive, and stop being stupid, you are going to get someone killed.