I bought an '06 psd with the 5 speed torqshift in May this year and love the **** out of it... only 111k miles, 1 owner, all freeway.

HOWEVER - lately I've been noticing it shifting weird... only when the engine is "cold" (hasn't run for 12 or more hours)... it doesn't like to shift right for the first few miles. If I let the truck warm up for more than 10 minutes, it seems not to do it, so I'm wondering if it's something to do with the temperature of the oil.

Main symptom is holding lower gears way too long and allowing the engine to rev too high... I either have to baby it to allow it to short shift with no acceleration, or if I get angry with it and mash the pedal, it takes off like a rocket.

Once the engine and trans reach "optimal" operating temperature, it shifts perfectly normal like it should. Why would this happen only when cold?

I do have a warranty purchased with the truck when I got it that basically covers all failures except those which are caused by overheating... good for 3 years and 30k miles. Truck has not overheated at all in the time I've owned it. Only towed an 18ft bayliner a few times, nothing more.

Thoughts right now are as follows, but always looking for input to help guide me!

1. Reset computer by disconnecting battery to re-learn shift patterns
2. Possibly flush trans fluid
3. Check for codes??

ALL INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Thank you in advance...

 

Moved to the 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel forum.

Since your issue is the TS transmission behind the 6.0L PSD, I moved your thread here for better responses.

 

Awesome... thank you! New to the structure of this site...

 

Won't help because the computer doesn't learn shift patterns. Those are hard coded. What it does learn is how hard/soft to make each shift. You will reset that when disconnecting the batteries, but not when the shift happens.
That will definitely help. You need a heated flush machine to flush this transmission. Some dealers have them, I have not seen one outside of a dealer.
That's ALWAYS the first place to go whenever there is a problem.

 

I've seen/heard this complaint quite a few times and there's a 99.99% chance that there's nothing wrong with your transmission. It's more than likely some injector stiction happening that manifests itself as a perceived transmission shifting problem. What kind of engine oil and filters do you use?

 

You say "Lately you have been noticing it shifting wierd..." as in it did not do this when you first got it? Just trying to clarify. My 04 F350 has always shifted slugishly at first start up each morning. I figured it was normal and just needed to warm up.

 

I thought this was normal behavior. Since the temps are in the 50's in the morning, my first mile is like this. I have no codes on the ScanGauge II.

 

I agree with this post, and if you have a block heater you can prove it out.

 

I agree with Tim with the stipulation that the proper maintenance has been kept up meaning filters, flush and proper fluid. If you wait till you have problems to do maintenace then you've waited too long.

 

+1

mine was bad injector orings

harsh shift, trans would seam to hunt for a gear when it got really cold

 

Thanks for all the replies!

I have changed oil once, using motocraft oil filter, wix (I think) fuel filters and Rotella 15/40 diesel oil...

My ambient temps have been pretty high... I live in the desert in the tri-cities of washington... been seeing 100 degree days until about a week ago...

Might schedule trans fluid flush with dealer... I have a silly warranty with selling dealer, but I doubt it'll cover any sort of maintenance, only failure...

Again, thanks for the input, any more is also encouraged and appreciated.

 

Think some more diesel kleen will help?

 

Stiction is an oil related problem with the spool valve in the injector. Diesel kleen won't help it but changing to 5w40 synthetic might.

FWIW--using fuel filters without the white aquabloc membrane is a bad idea. Home - Diesel Filters,Additives,brake rotors, and brake pads for Chevy, Dodge and Ford Diesel Trucks is a good place to get the OEM filters at a great price. Racor makes the fuel and oil filters and NTZ makes the auxillary trans filter.

 

Get the wix out of there ASAP. Use only Racor or Motorcraft for the oil anf fuel filters. Make sure you still have the stock filter cap. If not, get one.

 

So, I took the egr valve out to see if it needed cleaned? Should've taken a picture... at least a half inch of soot buildup on the bottom of the valve... cleaned thoroughly, also vacuumed out the hole in the manifold...

Truck runs smoother now... most noticeably when starting, and when tapping the brake to turn off cruise control... it used to lurch hard when I disengaged cruise, now, it's much smoother...