GMT800 5.3 was struggling up the grapevine (CA)

[Mark-23]

I'm betting it's just the way you are geared/transmission peak areas and given the incline it will have to shift a few times just to maintain speed.

 

 

First off I wanna say this! I loved the damn song! This was my first time hearing the song and I really really enjoyed it too thank you very much!! I already downloaded the MP3 version to my iPhone!

 

Second off can you please breakdown the gear/ transmission peak areas to me?

 

What did you mean by that what do you think I should do?

[Chris]

On the steep sections of the grapevine with my 3.42 gears I drop it to 3 and leave it until I hit the peak

[Mark-23]

On the steep sections of the grapevine with my 3.42 gears I drop it to 3 and leave it until I hit the peak

What do you mean you drop it to 3? And leave it?

[Chris]

Pull the shift lever from drive to 3

[diyer2]

What do you mean you drop it to 3? And leave it?

 

Pull the shift lever from drive to 3

Sorry dude but....Really. You didn't understand.(Mark23) Same thing I said. Pick a gear by rpm and leave it.

How can you fix the problem if it was found if that statement was over your head?

[Chris]

 

Sorry dude but....Really. You didn't understand. Same thing I said. Pick a gear by rpm and leave it.

How can you fix the problem if it was found if that statement was over your head?

I was telling him based on experience. I make the drive over that mountain about once a month.

[diyer2]

My comment was not directed at you Chris.

[Mark-23]

 

Sorry dude but....Really. You didn't understand.(Mark23) Same thing I said. Pick a gear by rpm and leave it.

How can you fix the problem if it was found if that statement was over your head?

I think one of the problems might have been that I kept it on drive and I didn't put it in the lower gears...

 

Hell I don't even know how to use the lower friggin gears. You might want to educate me on how to use every single gear in the 5.3

 

P.S. I'm only a Noob, so please don't fight over me. I love everyone on this thread trying to help me!

[Mark-23]

I was telling him based on experience. I make the drive over that mountain about once a month.

I enjoyed the drive as well I love driving through mountains and scenic roads ect that kind of stuff.

 

However I didn't know that I had to pick a Gear and maintain the speed and gear... I'll pick a lower gear next time and keep at it brother

[Mark-23]

Not enough info IMO. Could be nothing wrong, it is what it is.

Have you had this vehicle over the vine before? This would be a baseline if so, and now it's a dog?.

Instead of letting the trans. up shift, down shift(may cause it to get hot) pick a gear according to rpms(3-4k?) and leave it. It may not be able to keep up to speed without running it hard.

Did you see any semi's pulling the vine? They were in a chosen gear regulated by rpm's.

I live in Colorado, tow sometimes and you can't always keep up to speed unless you're going to run it hard and sometimes you can't get up to the speed limit.

If you're so tight on money I would be more concerned about it being reliable and not keeping up with traffic on the vine.

Now my dumbass gets it!!! You meant pick a lower gear and maintain speed!!

 

The truth be told I don't know how the gears affect the RPM and speed I really don't now...

 

That's how new I am to GM vehicles!!

 

I really am sorry for the frustration!

[redvett]

Doesn't apply to just GM vehicles. All vehicles have transmissions and many gear ratios so find the gear that lets you make the mountain.

[Mark-23]

Doesn't apply to just GM vehicles. All vehicles have transmissions and many gear ratios so find the gear that lets you make the mountain.

Ok well in general how and when do I use each and every one of the lower gears other than drive?

[muddkatt]

Ok well in general how and when do I use each and every one of the lower gears other than drive?

 

You can pull the shifter all the way down until its in 1, then shift the shifter up one click to 2, then shift to 3 and then D.

[r1byker]

Or, you just leave it in "D" and let the transmission do the downshifting. You mentioned that newer GM trucks are going faster than you; that's because GM keeps increasing the horsepower on that motor. If yours is like mine ('05 Suburban), it makes 295 HP. I think the newest 5.3's are making 355 HP. That's a big difference.

[r1byker]

Well, going southbound, the grade is 6%, which is the maximum allowed for an interstate. The other consideration is that the higher the altitude, the less the oxygen available; even a couple thousand feet makes a difference.