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  #1  
Old 09-05-2003, 02:45 PM
tscott
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Lugging- how bad is it?

Years ago I was told that lugging the diesel is the ultimate sin. I religiously shift down. But how bad is it? Can I let my 1980 240D drift down a grade at 35 in 4th gear? At that speed I do not feel the engine bucking like a horse, but if I stepped on the gas I probably would. How about some opinion from people who, by training or experience, are in a position to know?

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Old 09-05-2003, 07:19 PM
ForcedInduction
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All the teachers/instructors/mechanics/techs have told me very clear, LUGGING IS VERY BAD. Ex. a 9-speed freightliner in 5th going 35mph. If I even thing my 617 is starting to struggle, I shift down.

Lugging really isn't much of an issue in automatics, the TC can slip or it will automaticaly shift down. Lugging is more of a danger to manuals since they can't shift alone.
From what I've seen and been told, it causes alot of stress in the crankshaft from it trying to stall (Much like slowly pressing the stop lever very slowly)
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Old 09-05-2003, 07:37 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: eastern ND
Posts: 657
Yes, lugging a diesel is bad. But let's make sure we're lugging. Most people shift down too early, either from lack of knowledge or failure to plan ahead. Wears the clutch, transmission, and fuel budget unneccesarily.

Coasting downhill is not lugging: you have your foot off the throttle and you're letting the engine's compression hold the vehicle back.

Cruising on the flat may or may not be lugging. If so then you'll feel the engine struggle, see smoke, and see the engine temperature go up. Here's the trick: keeping the throttle steady and no car complaints means you're fine. Adding more throttle and the car complains means you're lugging. A real light throttle addition and no complaints means you're fine, although it may take until next week to get up to speed. daBenz will easily cruise at 32-33mph in 4th gear, but gets shifted down a gear when it's time to accelerate. My last road truck would let me cruise three gears higher than the gear I needed to accelerate. Try this on the way down: coast until the car chugs (you'll be amazed how slow it can go), then shift down. You may even be able to skip a gear if you need jackrabbit acceleration in a jam. Practice makes perfect.

Thinking and planning ahead makes a happy diesel.

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