I have a 2019 Winnebago travato RV the chassis is built on a 3500 ram ProMaster with automatic transmission. I want to use the manual low drive feature to engine brake while going downhill. I've been told different things about doing this one is it's bad for your transmission just to save your brake pads. I know you can't do major damage to the transmission because it won't let you go into a low drive unless you're driving at the proper speed. I also have a tow drive button but when engaged it doesn't put the drive into low like I would do manually. Is this a feature I should not be using can you explain if it's bad for the transmission to continuously go into low drive downhill.
The engine brake is for helping you to control the vehicle (in the case of emergency to avoid heat up the brake pads) and it put strain on the transmission. You better off using the brakes than the engine brake since brakes are way less expensive than the transmission.
ram ProMaster with automatic transmission
I really hope it’s NOT the 9 speed.
never use the engine braking on the 9ZF, you generally want to be very gentle with that transmission - they have proven to be very troublesome from other fiat models.
Break pads cost not that much compared to rebuilding the Fiat Ducato’s ( branded in the US as “Ram ProMaster”) 9 speed automatic.
This is why I always buy vehicles with manual transmissions. Built in engine braking.
If brakes get hot, good bye vehicle in worst case scenario.
I found a video that explains proper engine braking downhill. Hope it helps.
I'm curios how it affects transmission too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDD8x1C4RAU
