Down shifting a 4r70w
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 750
Likes: 94
From: Pagosa Springs CO.
Down shifting a 4r70w
99' F-150 4x4 5.4 HD tow package recently rebuilt 4r70w, "supposedly" all updated to Fords spec's. Never had a 4r70 before, but have had f150's and 250's with c6's hauled and towed with both , empty or loaded/towing have always manually down shifted up or down hills coming to a stop then back into drive.
Talking to a fellow 150 owner the other day about down shifting a 4r70 to slow on a hill or whatever, he was told NEVER down shift a 4r70 cause the internals will explode. I told him I believe that is incorrect, it's a truck , it's built to handle a little hard work.
So, I googled it, and mostly got mustang forums, pretty much all said the same thing, don't down shift... Hmm.
So guys, set me straight, am I doing bad?
When I down shift to 2nd the tach Never goes higher than 3-3.5 k
Thanks
Talking to a fellow 150 owner the other day about down shifting a 4r70 to slow on a hill or whatever, he was told NEVER down shift a 4r70 cause the internals will explode. I told him I believe that is incorrect, it's a truck , it's built to handle a little hard work.
So, I googled it, and mostly got mustang forums, pretty much all said the same thing, don't down shift... Hmm.
So guys, set me straight, am I doing bad?
When I down shift to 2nd the tach Never goes higher than 3-3.5 k
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,808
Likes: 2,604
From: The Shenandoah Valley
I have a C-6 In My '77, have used 4R70Ws in 3 police car in state law enf career, run the pi** out of them, we used them in training (brutal on a trans), have 4R70W in a '95Tbird 4.6 and a '01 Merc GM and a 4R75W in my '07 FX4 and it's been my understanding that it's the forced kick down from OD to 2nd that's so hrd on them, I will hit the OD button and have trans in 3rd before using passing gear if I anticipate the need. Never a hiccup yet ....
Have had that Merc since 2001 and several crosscountry trips, Rockies, etc. Police cars were '98, '00, '06 CVPIs. Many pursuits & high speed responses. I use the OD button freely on the highway.
Best thing for them is a cooler added and always good red Mercon V.
Have had that Merc since 2001 and several crosscountry trips, Rockies, etc. Police cars were '98, '00, '06 CVPIs. Many pursuits & high speed responses. I use the OD button freely on the highway.
Best thing for them is a cooler added and always good red Mercon V.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,103
Likes: 384
From: Southern California
The 4R70W tranny is a very, good solid tranny used in a variety of applications...T-Bird/Cougar, Mustang, trucks and LSC Coupe IIRR. Like all automatics, for every downshift you manually make, you in essence take away one up shift in the future. When running at not more than typically 40 mph, the OE recommend locking out overdrive (4th gear)....you will find many an owner will gripe about the tranny constantly hunting for a gear...that's why, that's the way they are designed. When towing, even on the freeway, lock out overdrive as well (per oe manual). Sometimes we all have to downshift (such as out of overdrive), the oe manual is very specific on this, just like a stick, give it a little bit of throttle 1st (to minimize drivetrain stress) then downshift, if done correctly, it should be smooth as silk.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,722
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
The computer controlling the transmission will not allow it to downshift if that shift would overspeed the engine. I've moved the shifter all the way down to the 1 position at 80 MPH. It does not shift to 1 until it slows enough to make the shift safely. And that's a LONG way from 80 MPH.
Once again, something I've never seen in a Ford owner's manual. Please show me where this exists.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 750
Likes: 94
From: Pagosa Springs CO.
Thanks for the replies,
I live in the Rockies so towing 5k lbs is strictly od lockout, I do on very rare occasions kick in OD on a LONG down hill with little to no throttle. I don't think I've ever gone from OD to 2nd , I don't drive that way.
As an example, on the highway at on a down hill at 55-60 in OD I'll lockout OD to slow down to make a turn at 20mph. I think my fellow 4r70 owner got bad information. They're not THAT wimpy driven correctly.
I live in the Rockies so towing 5k lbs is strictly od lockout, I do on very rare occasions kick in OD on a LONG down hill with little to no throttle. I don't think I've ever gone from OD to 2nd , I don't drive that way.
As an example, on the highway at on a down hill at 55-60 in OD I'll lockout OD to slow down to make a turn at 20mph. I think my fellow 4r70 owner got bad information. They're not THAT wimpy driven correctly.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,103
Likes: 384
From: Southern California
As far as the bull side of it goes, Mark I appreciate your expertise but, I was more referring to the drivers who drive their automatics like sticks...and there are those out there which are manually downshifting every time they come to a stoplight or are in traffic....that is where that old adage comes from at least down here in SoCal....I've seen shift levers from automatics are literally worn out.....and the cars only have 50k miles on them......I agree that this tranny is extremely well built, but, when the human element gets involved, things change....... and this is an old adage that even Chrisman still tells everyone today when one of his tranny's leaves his shop..... not that you can't, but just don't abuse it.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,722
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
The shifter was not designed to be moved that often. But it isn't a one for one exchange of downshift to upshift.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Pagosa Springs CO.
Thanks you Beechkid,
I see I do need to depress the accelerator when downshifting, makes sense, like a stick shift.
Mickey
I see I do need to depress the accelerator when downshifting, makes sense, like a stick shift.
Mickey
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