Dodge 2010 Ram Pickup 3500 Diesel - Manual (Page 55)

DRIVE
This range provides all forward gears, including fourth
gear direct and fifth or sixth (if equipped) gear overdrive
(refer to “Overdrive Operation” in this section). Use this
range for most city and highway driving.
THIRD
This range should be used for driving in slight heavy city
traffic or on mountain roads where more precise speed
control is desirable. Use it when climbing long grades,
and for engine braking when descending moderately
steep grades. To prevent excessive engine speed do not
exceed 40 mph (64 km/h) in this range.
SECOND
This range should be used for driving in more severe
conditions and lower speeds than THIRD. To prevent
excessive engine speed do not exceed 25 mph (40 km/h)
in this range.
FIRST
This range should be used for driving up very steep hills
and for engine braking at low speeds 12 mph (19 km/h)
or less when going downhill. To prevent excessive engine
speed, do not exceed 12 mph (19 km/h) in this range.
NOTE: Use caution when operating a heavily loaded
vehicle in SECOND or FIRST gear selections in high
ambients as torque converter slip can impose significant
additional heat load on the cooling system.
Overdrive Operation
The Overdrive automatic transmission contains an elec-
tronically controlled fifth and sixth (if equipped) speed
(Overdrive). The transmission will automatically shift
from DRIVE to Overdrive if the following conditions are
present:
• the shift lever is in DRIVE;
54 STARTING AND OPERATING