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How do I know if I have to down-shift going uphill?

Sorry if the question is dumb. I have a poker run on Saturday and there is a fairly steep valley on the route. I "threw a rod" on this hill 2 or 3 years ago, and I think maybe the engine was lugging up the hill. So would someone please explain to me how and when down-shifting is done going uphill. Do I just shift into second if the RPMs drop too low and then take it slow?

Thanks. I don't want to wreck another engine. The other engine was low on oil, so of course that didn't help. This time I'm going to stop at the bottom of the valley and check the oil.

The truck is a '52 with a 216 and a 4:11 rear. The tires are 215/85/16.

Once you start loosing power, down shift and get the RPM's back up...if the power drops again, down shift to 1st gear and crawl up the hill. It's a feel thing, don't lug the engine...

Mike B

You can usually tell if it's lugging too hard or straining a lot. Then just drop to the next lower gear and proceed to the top. It should pull easier in the lower gear and not have to work as hard. That being said, don't over rev it then either. You should also be able to tell if it's over revving or winding too tight. If you've driven the truck a lot you should have a feel for it and be able to tell where it's "comfortable".
Hope that made sense.

Good, it's clear, thanks. It seems to me there's a bit of a trick to it. It maybe needs a little gas so it will shift smoothly?

Yes. When you go from third to second, you need to get increase the engine RMP to where it would be if already in second. Same when going from second to first. Like Mike said, it's a touchy/feely kinda thing. You'll get the hang of it.

Your bad luck with your old engine just has you gun shy. All engines ultimately die of old age. These high torque engines were designed to do a lot of work under horrible conditions. If your current engine is in good repair, drive it as it was intended to be driven. Hard. (Within reason of course.)
Carl

It made it up the hill without exploding. And I didn't downshift because I really didn't feel like it needed it.

But it got very hot towards the top of the hill, the needle really climbed and approached 210. So I pulled over and let it cool down for 15 minutes. Maybe I need to have the rad re-cored.

There are hills in Saskatchewan?

I lived there four years; the joke was that prisoners could never break out of jail because it was so flat that three days later the cops could still see them on the horizon.

Actually, not saying the radiator doesn’t need refreshing but downshifting and getting the rpm into the mid 2,000 range can help by speeding up the fan, moving more air through the radaitor. And you’re not lugging the engine. Proper shifting makes for a happy truck!

.

It would always be good to find a quiet, gentle hill to practice up and down shifting on.

If your water get hot in your truck, turn the heater fan on for the few moments it takes to get to the top of the hill.

Ed