at what rpm are you lugging the engin?
 

I was driving the ML320 to the mountains this weekend. I left it drive (and did not use the manual down shift). I notice when I am going up a steap hill I lose speed to about 40-45 mph while the rpm drops to 2000-2200, when I give it more gas it stays at these speed and rpm, until I give it a lot more gas and then the higher gear kick in.

My question is on the ML engins is driving up a steep hill at 2000-2200 rpm lugging the engin (therefore shorting engin life). Or should I make it a habbit to use the manual down shift to avoid these situation. Or these is not problem flooring the engin at 2000-2200 rpm.

The reason I stay in drive (not using the manual shift) is because the vehical seem to drive smoother and more powerful (i.e. takes the hills more effortlessly) when in drive (and not me shifting)

After all these years still learning how to drive these things.

thanks

blau

ML will drive itself automatically
 

The driving method you are using should not hurt the car, but a downshift is sometimes necessary to make smoother time up a hill ...... The auto trans should handle any situation it encounters I believe .... Ben Carter

2,000 rpms under partial throttle is not really lugging the engine.