Rpm
Tuned
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 376
Likes: 22
From: Ustoned
I've pulled several hills that dropped it into 3rd and we were around 5500 at times while it worked thru the gears.
I prefer to wind them out rather than lug them while towing.120k on it now and runs like a champ still.
Griz
I prefer to wind them out rather than lug them while towing.120k on it now and runs like a champ still.
Griz
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 385
From: Oregon
Same here. RPM = HP
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 30
Short bursts to red-line don't bother me. (WOT to get around someone, or pulling a short rise)
Moderate runs at 5,000 rpm are totally fine. (say 10 minutes or less in the mountains).
Long runs at 3,500 rpm are completely safe (all day long into headwinds on the highway)
Lugging with no real load isn't horrible, but heavy loads are not well sustained by lugging (diesels excepted). "lugging" must be defined for each case and what each specific engine is designed to live through.
The 6.2L engine program will typically make the engine "lug" lower than I like while in normal drive mode and running empty; to a point of being annoying. The 6.2L is heavily over-square; bore is much larger than stroke and has big valves. She's made to rev!!!!
Moderate runs at 5,000 rpm are totally fine. (say 10 minutes or less in the mountains).
Long runs at 3,500 rpm are completely safe (all day long into headwinds on the highway)
Lugging with no real load isn't horrible, but heavy loads are not well sustained by lugging (diesels excepted). "lugging" must be defined for each case and what each specific engine is designed to live through.
The 6.2L engine program will typically make the engine "lug" lower than I like while in normal drive mode and running empty; to a point of being annoying. The 6.2L is heavily over-square; bore is much larger than stroke and has big valves. She's made to rev!!!!
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 73
Likes: 1
The really steep sections are typically less than a couple of miles. I pay close attention to the engine and transmission temps - never been an issue even on the hottest summer days. Really impressed with this powertrain.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 764
Likes: 30
I am about to embark on our first trip out west with my current truck (signature line). I've made many trips out west into/trough the Rockies with my 2006 Dmax and was always impressed with it's ability to pull my RV and never feel "slow".
I'm hoping my F-250 gives me the same safe, strong feeling. My general pre-trip gut feeling is that I'll have to rev her up to make her move, but that is exactly what the 6.2L is designed for; sustained rev's with low stress on the rotating assy (over-square) and cams (shaft/rollers).
I'll put together a report of sorts upon return in a few weeks.
I'm hoping my F-250 gives me the same safe, strong feeling. My general pre-trip gut feeling is that I'll have to rev her up to make her move, but that is exactly what the 6.2L is designed for; sustained rev's with low stress on the rotating assy (over-square) and cams (shaft/rollers).
I'll put together a report of sorts upon return in a few weeks.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 32
From: Maryville, TN
Whatever it takes to maintain the speed limit. I've never once worried about it. With that said, even with 10k hooked up, living in East Tennessee at the base of the smokys, I rarely see more than 4-4500k. Using manual mode really helps. Most of your steep mountain interstate passes will have a lower speed limit, so it's not like you have to maintain 70mph.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 387
Likes: 105
Any RPM all the way up to redline all day long, that's the way I drove my '11 6.2L. Ran perfect for a hundred sixty thousand miles, did replace one right side exhaust manifold that cracked/warped at around a hundred twenty five thousand miles. I live at 7000 feet, towed 10k lb travel travel all over the West running 75 to 80 miles an hour. I bet that engine had over a hundred hours of 5500-6000 RPM run time when I sold the truck and bought a new 18 6.2l. I went with 4.30 gears this time and with the both horsepower and torque peak moved down in the RPM range it seems like my new truck can pull a gear taller pretty much everywhere. I did change my oil every 5000 miles and used the best synthetic available on my 11 6.2 liter.
Last edited by MBuckholz; Sep 13, 2018 at 11:13 AM. Reason: Spell
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 797
Likes: 262
With the accelerator? To the floor in whatever gear is necessary for however long it is necessary.
Downshifting? It won't let you do anything stupid like drop to 1st on the highway going 85. Pretty sure even in M it will upshift if you get going too fast for the gear downhill.
Any modern vehicle is programmed not to let you blow it up.
Downshifting? It won't let you do anything stupid like drop to 1st on the highway going 85. Pretty sure even in M it will upshift if you get going too fast for the gear downhill.
Any modern vehicle is programmed not to let you blow it up.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 21,195
Likes: 306
From: Near Salmon Arm BC
With the accelerator? To the floor in whatever gear is necessary for however long it is necessary.
Downshifting? It won't let you do anything stupid like drop to 1st on the highway going 85. Pretty sure even in M it will upshift if you get going too fast for the gear downhill.
Any modern vehicle is programmed not to let you blow it up.
Downshifting? It won't let you do anything stupid like drop to 1st on the highway going 85. Pretty sure even in M it will upshift if you get going too fast for the gear downhill.
Any modern vehicle is programmed not to let you blow it up.
My employees tow heavy in my company pickups regularly.
I feel certain that there is nothing I could ever do to them, that hasn't happened already by staff.
I just plant my right foot to the floor on steep hills, with a heavy trailer in tow, and leave it there. The modern transmission in these trucks are going to keep the engine from hurting itself. These 6.2s pull hard, very hard, I can frequently pass slower traffic climbing a 9% grade with a 14k lb trailer behind me. I can usually maintain the speed limit and pass the gutless vehicles in the slow lane.