Towing with HJ60 diesel auto

Thanks Pete,
I use 4th (5th) all the time when not towing. Approx. 2000rpm at 110km/hr. Fuel consumption averages 14l/100km on bitumen and dirt.
I'm confused as to what the lockout is and why should revs drop when it engages.
What gear do you recommend I use when towing?

Lock up mate, not lock out lol. Any mechanic on here will explain it better then me but here goes. To help with fuel economy in the eighties autos where designed with a lock up facilty. This feature minmised slipage (this is why your revs drop) and aided fuel economy. My wifes auto Nullarbor(Jackaroo) is the same and it does act like and extra gear as when you are climbing a hill it first unlocks and the revs rise a few hundred rpm. If Robin Miller is around I am sure he can explain it better then me.
Cheers Pete

Thanks again...starting to make sense.
Sounds like I can tow in 4th if not too heavy and on bitumen but may have to use 3rd for heavy work or offroad.

Ralph I think that covers it. With my man 5 speed the moment I have to put my foot down I downshift to 4th, so you treat the auto the same . Also on Sal s auto if only med towing I engage the power button which stops it trying to hold a high gear.
Cheers Pete

Hi Ralph'

Most autos later than about the 1970's incorporated a "lockup" feature on the torque convertor. Now the torque convertor is a real handy bit of kit for driving on sand or inching your way up a steep and rocky hill without slipping your clutch as sometimes you have to do in a manual. The problem was when highway or freeway cruising the operation of the torque convertor, even though in these situations it was ALMOST locked it still "slipped" slightly and produced heat and higher fuel consumption. Along came the lockup clutch which by the way had been used for many years in more expensive auto transmissions. All it does is stop the convertor acting like a convertor and eliminates the slippage that all torque convertors have. Obviously you still want the advantages that an auto has at low speeds so in MOST transmissions the lockup feature does not operate until top (4th or 5th) gear has been engaged. When the lockup clutch engages it feels like another gear has been selected but actually all that has occured is the "slip" of the convertor has been taken away.

Without getting too technical I hope that helps.

Cheers
Pop

Thanks Pop,
I think I have a good understanding of how things work now.
My question still remains, if I tow in 4th gear the 'lockup' will engage/disengage automatically, will that damage the gearbox?
Do I just bite the bullet and tow in 3rd?
Ralph

Ralph,

The lockup clutch in most automotive type transmissions is not designed as a particularly heavy duty component. It is mainly intended to eliminate the torque convertor after the vehicle has reached cruising speed. If it was me and I was towing a significant load with an auto I would tow in the highest gear that did not allow lockup engagement. AFAIK the transmission in your vehicle is direct 1:1 in 3rd with 4th an overdrive.

Cheers
Pop

Ralph ,your A440F auto trans is only a 4sp. However the 4th gear has a similar output to the 5sp manual.
The auto does not have the low down 1st gear that the manuals have.

Thanks Ross and Pop,
Have got it pretty well sorted now. Will tow in 4th with light loads and 3rd for heavy loads.
Ralph

These transmissions last a lot longer with an aftermarket oil cooler added to them.
Cheap and easy mod you can do yourself.