Towing performance
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Towing performance
Any input will be appreciated.
I have a 97 Expy, 5.4L, 3.73:1. When towing a 6500lb trailer on level ground, OD is out of the question and any small incline at all and I will begin to decelerate down to 45mph before shifting into 2nd gear. I can pull a pretty good hill in second keeping it going 45 (3600 rpm). I have recently put new plugs in (that was fun), replaced the fuel filter, PCV, installed a K&N (modified the stock airbox), and installed a 3" Flowmaster exhaust. The engine seems to run great with decent milage and uses no oil. Does this sound about right?
thanks
Britt
I have a 97 Expy, 5.4L, 3.73:1. When towing a 6500lb trailer on level ground, OD is out of the question and any small incline at all and I will begin to decelerate down to 45mph before shifting into 2nd gear. I can pull a pretty good hill in second keeping it going 45 (3600 rpm). I have recently put new plugs in (that was fun), replaced the fuel filter, PCV, installed a K&N (modified the stock airbox), and installed a 3" Flowmaster exhaust. The engine seems to run great with decent milage and uses no oil. Does this sound about right?
thanks
Britt
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 736
Likes: 1
From: Texas, USA
Towing performance
Your performance is about right. Don't be afraid to take your Expy up to 4K rpm or higher and hold it there. Mine shifts automatically to third at about 4500 rpm. The Triton engine is designed for low wear at high revs with roller tappets, close tolerances, etc. In Colorado and other places in the West many times I"ve run for hours at 4K rpm or higher. I've towed 5K lbs with a cargo of 1200 lbs over all the highest, steepest passes in the lower 48 with no problems.
Using high revs, you get more horsepower and more torque for the job. The cost is slightly less gas mileage, and you will use more oil. I've got 112K miles on my Expy and usually use 1 qt per 5K miles when not towing. When towing at higher rpms I change at 3K miles and it still uses a quart.
At 11K ft and 7% grade you will be in low gear, and you will maybe do only 30mph because of the altitude, but you will pass a lot of slower vehicles and there is always slow vehicle passing lanes in those locations. No one else is going much faster because of the lower posted speed limits in those places.
Incidently, the engine and tranny have never heated more than normal, even in the summer, and I have only the factory towing package.
Hope this helps.
Using high revs, you get more horsepower and more torque for the job. The cost is slightly less gas mileage, and you will use more oil. I've got 112K miles on my Expy and usually use 1 qt per 5K miles when not towing. When towing at higher rpms I change at 3K miles and it still uses a quart.
At 11K ft and 7% grade you will be in low gear, and you will maybe do only 30mph because of the altitude, but you will pass a lot of slower vehicles and there is always slow vehicle passing lanes in those locations. No one else is going much faster because of the lower posted speed limits in those places.
Incidently, the engine and tranny have never heated more than normal, even in the summer, and I have only the factory towing package.
Hope this helps.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Delaware
Towing performance
Originally posted by tsdrallyer
Your performance is about right. Don't be afraid to take your Expy up to 4K rpm or higher and hold it there. Mine shifts automatically to third at about 4500 rpm. The Triton engine is designed for low wear at high revs with roller tappets, close tolerances, etc. In Colorado and other places in the West many times I"ve run for hours at 4K rpm or higher. I've towed 5K lbs with a cargo of 1200 lbs over all the highest, steepest passes in the lower 48 with no problems.
Using high revs, you get more horsepower and more torque for the job. The cost is slightly less gas mileage, and you will use more oil. I've got 112K miles on my Expy and usually use 1 qt per 5K miles when not towing. When towing at higher rpms I change at 3K miles and it still uses a quart.
At 11K ft and 7% grade you will be in low gear, and you will maybe do only 30mph because of the altitude, but you will pass a lot of slower vehicles and there is always slow vehicle passing lanes in those locations. No one else is going much faster because of the lower posted speed limits in those places.
Incidently, the engine and tranny have never heated more than normal, even in the summer, and I have only the factory towing package.
Hope this helps.
Your performance is about right. Don't be afraid to take your Expy up to 4K rpm or higher and hold it there. Mine shifts automatically to third at about 4500 rpm. The Triton engine is designed for low wear at high revs with roller tappets, close tolerances, etc. In Colorado and other places in the West many times I"ve run for hours at 4K rpm or higher. I've towed 5K lbs with a cargo of 1200 lbs over all the highest, steepest passes in the lower 48 with no problems.
Using high revs, you get more horsepower and more torque for the job. The cost is slightly less gas mileage, and you will use more oil. I've got 112K miles on my Expy and usually use 1 qt per 5K miles when not towing. When towing at higher rpms I change at 3K miles and it still uses a quart.
At 11K ft and 7% grade you will be in low gear, and you will maybe do only 30mph because of the altitude, but you will pass a lot of slower vehicles and there is always slow vehicle passing lanes in those locations. No one else is going much faster because of the lower posted speed limits in those places.
Incidently, the engine and tranny have never heated more than normal, even in the summer, and I have only the factory towing package.
Hope this helps.
This reply of yours surely helped me out. What can I say but WOW and double WOW
I've always been afraid to rev up higher than 2500 rpm for fear of over-revving the engine. Talk about built Ford Tough. I really appreciate your input and replies, keep 'em comingAn appreciative expy owner
Dan
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, Ohio
These posts are consistent with my performance as well. I was towing a 24' enclosed trailer with a 3200lb road racing car in it. I don't know the net weight of the trailer but can guess it's somewhere around 4000lb, this inlcudes a fully stocked tool box, extra set of tires, ect.... So this puts me in the 7500lb range. Let me tell you, I definitely knew that I was pulling something. With that said though, my Expy pulled it like a champ
I'm in agreement with tsdrallyer when he said that he's run for hours at 4K rpm or higher. I too have been in that situation, thinking wow man, this thing has been in third gear for an aweful long time. Still pulling strong though, I live in Cleveland, and my races are in Michigan, PA, and Va. there are some grades. All in all you will not hurt an engine by running it in the upper RPM ranges, we do it all day long in the race car. In my opinion if you baby the truck and don't take it up there, then one day you have to accelerate and explore the upper range the motor it might not like it. If anything at least once every other week, maybe sooner, while getting on the freeway, I put her to boards just to clean it out and make sure there are no problems. PS even with my foot flat into it, my truck shifts before 4500.
I'm in agreement with tsdrallyer when he said that he's run for hours at 4K rpm or higher. I too have been in that situation, thinking wow man, this thing has been in third gear for an aweful long time. Still pulling strong though, I live in Cleveland, and my races are in Michigan, PA, and Va. there are some grades. All in all you will not hurt an engine by running it in the upper RPM ranges, we do it all day long in the race car. In my opinion if you baby the truck and don't take it up there, then one day you have to accelerate and explore the upper range the motor it might not like it. If anything at least once every other week, maybe sooner, while getting on the freeway, I put her to boards just to clean it out and make sure there are no problems. PS even with my foot flat into it, my truck shifts before 4500.
