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Using Manual shift feature on icy snowy roads?

Grey3liter4x4
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Grey3liter4x4 Enthusiast

Grey3liter4x4

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I do a fair amount of driving in snow and ice.  This is my first GM in a long while and I was curious if any of you have any tips on using the manual shift feature on the 10 speed transmission while driving on icy/snowy roads.  My previous vehicle was a Tundra and the manual shift feature worked really well on icy roads especially to assist with slowing the vehicle down.  Prior to the full onset of winter I'll be adding weight to the bed to help with traction as I've done with my previous vehicles.  I'm aso going to and test the feature in an icy parking lot at some point but wanted to see what some of you do when your faced with frozen roads.  Thanks 

Edited by Grey3liter4x4
aseibel Senior Enthusiast

aseibel

Posted
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driving on snow/ice covered roads = put it in 4 HI, and operate everything else like normal.

Why mess with manually shifting gears if the roads are actually dangerous? Just increase your stopping distance and use light braking pressure. Maybe buy some real winter tires instead of the garbage that GM gives you from the factory.

 

using your transmission to slow you down instead of the brakes does not change the fact that you are relying the same rubber-to-ice interface to control the vehicle.

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KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
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Antilock brakes are designed for that purpose. Engine braking on slick roads wouldn’t be advisable. I wouldn’t do it even with 4WD. I’ve used the Auto feature on slick roads. Never engine braking.


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Grey3liter4x4 Enthusiast

Grey3liter4x4

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42 minutes ago, aseibel said:

driving on snow/ice covered roads = put it in 4 HI, and operate everything else like normal.

Why mess with manually shifting gears if the roads are actually dangerous? Just increase your stopping distance and use light braking pressure. Maybe buy some real winter tires instead of the garbage that GM gives you from the factory.

 

using your transmission to slow you down instead of the brakes does not change the fact that you are relying the same rubber-to-ice interface to control the vehicle.

Thanks for the replies!  Yes that is pretty much what I do, 4 HI and I've already changed out the tires to snow flake rated tires.  The situation where I've used engine braking to assist with stops are usually at slow speeds and slight declines requiring a stop.  It's not so much my driving its people around me.  There are inexperienced and dangerous drivers that either brake too hard or are driving like idiots (too fast for the conditions, following too close to others, and hard braking in front of you).  Its just the reality of the town I live in.  There is a ski resort near the town and when the snow is good people are crazy to get to the mountain.  There are also icy downhill sections of heavily traveled roadway where engine braking really helps in slowing you down without having to risk sliding from taping your brakes. 

Salsa De Piña Enthusiast

Salsa De Piña

Posted
Posted

As anyone who's driven a front wheel drive stick shift in winter will tell you, engine braking the front wheels in snow is a great way to lose all steering control.  Use your ABS.  That's what it was designed for.  Now, if you're in 2Hi, engine braking on the rear wheels won't send you into the ditch backwards, but why bother when you have some of the latest technology keeping you pointed in the right direction?  You're probably shouldn't be going fast enough to have to worry about brake fade.

 

Does the 10 speed let you start out from a stop in 2nd gear?  That's the real benefit to manually shifting your own gears on ice.

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