2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup Owner Manual Diesel - Page 225

STARTING AND OPERATING 225 together and the overall close ratios enable the driver to optimize available engine power with road speed. For improved clutch life, all six forward gears should be used. For steady highway driving with light acceleration, 6th gear is recommended. When shifting from 4th to 5th gear, apply side effort away and forward without pushing hard enough to engage Reverse gear. Shifting from 5th to 6th requires the same side effort or the lever will return to center resulting in a shift into 4th gear and damage the transmission, clutch, or engine. You should use low gear when starting from a standing position if under a heavy load. To shift into Reverse, come to a complete stop. Depress the clutch and pause briefly to allow the gear train to stop. Move the shift lever from the Neutral position straight across and up into Reverse. Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal, or attempt to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch pedal partially engaged, as this will cause abnormal wear on the clutch. Downshifting Moving from a high gear down to a lower gear is recommended to preserve brakes when driving down steep hills. In addition, downshifting at the right time provides better acceleration when you desire to resume speed. Downshifting progressively. Do not skip gears to avoid overspeeding the engine and clutch. For acceleration at speeds less than 15 mph (25 km/h), 2nd gear is recommended. 5