operators_manual

Coasting
WARNING
DO NOT coast with the transmission in
neutral or with the clutch pedal de-
pressed, it is a dangerous practice.
Coasting in neutral may result in dam-
age to your drivetrain when you try to
re-engage the transmission. You could
lose control of the vehicle which can
lead to an accident involving death or
personal injury.
Do not coast with the transmission in
neutral or with the clutch pedal depressed.
Besides being illegal and dangerous,
coasting is also expensive. It causes
premature failure or damage to the clutch
and transmission and overloads the brake
system. Coasting with the transmission in
neutral also prevents proper transmission
component lubrication. During coasting the
transmission is driven by the rear wheels,
and the countershaft gear (which lubricates
the transmission components by oil splash)
will only be turning at idle speed.
Descending a Grade
WARNING
DO NOT hold the brake pedal down
too long or too often while going down
a steep or long grade. This could
cause the brakes to overheat and re-
duce their effectiveness. As a result,
the vehicle will not slow down at the
usual rate. To reduce the risk of an ac-
cident which could cause death or per-
sonal injury, before going down a
steep or long grade, reduce speed and
shift the transmission into a lower gear
to help control your vehicle speed.
Failure to follow procedures for proper
downhill operation could result in loss
of vehicle control.
Engine Overspeed
CAUTION
To avoid engine damage, do not let the
engine rpm go beyond the maximum
governed rpm. Engine damage may
result if overspeed conditions occur.
NOTE
Often these recommendations are
secondary to maintaining an adequate
and safe speed relative to the sur-
rounding traffic and road conditions.
Operate the engine within the optimum
engine rpm range and do not allow the rpm
to exceed the maximum governed speed.
See your Engine Operation and
Maintenance manual for information
regarding engine rpm. When the engine is
used as a brake to control vehicle speed
(e.g., while driving down a grade), do not
allow the engine rpm to exceed maximum
governed speed. Under normal load and
road conditions operate the engine in the
lower end of the range.
The tachometer is an instrument that aids
in obtaining the best performance of the
engine and manual transmission, serving
as a guide for shifting gears. Refer to the
Engine Operation and Maintenance
manual for optimum engine rpm.
• If the engine rpm moves beyond
the maximum governed speed,
indicating an overspeed condition,
apply the service brake or shift to a
DRIVING - Driving Tips and Techniques
182 Y53-6126-1A1 (01/21)
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