torqshift tranny
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Harvest, AL
torqshift tranny
I recently bought a 2003 F-250 with the 6.0 PSD and the TorqShift tranny. I love this truck! 
We have a 30' travel trailer that weighs about 6500 lbs. I towed it for the first time earlier this week. The truck handled it great! 
Much better than my old '89 F-150 with a 5.0 engine and 193K miles!
With the tranny in Tow/Haul mode, it doesn't shift into overdrive until I'm running about 60 mph. On two lane roads with a speed limit of 55, the engine is racing. I can turn off the Tow/Haul mode and the tranny will shift into overdrive. The 6.0 PSD pulls the trailer well in 5th gear at 55 mph. My fuel economy drops dramatically when the tranny stays in 4th gear.
Here's my question. For the amount of weight and wind drag I'm pulling, do I need to tow the trailer in tow/haul mode regardless of speed? Even though the 6.0 PSD sounds and feels like it handles the load alright in overdrive, am I putting too much strain on the engine and on the overdrive gear?
We have a 30' travel trailer that weighs about 6500 lbs. I towed it for the first time earlier this week. The truck handled it great! Much better than my old '89 F-150 with a 5.0 engine and 193K miles! With the tranny in Tow/Haul mode, it doesn't shift into overdrive until I'm running about 60 mph. On two lane roads with a speed limit of 55, the engine is racing. I can turn off the Tow/Haul mode and the tranny will shift into overdrive. The 6.0 PSD pulls the trailer well in 5th gear at 55 mph. My fuel economy drops dramatically when the tranny stays in 4th gear.
Here's my question. For the amount of weight and wind drag I'm pulling, do I need to tow the trailer in tow/haul mode regardless of speed? Even though the 6.0 PSD sounds and feels like it handles the load alright in overdrive, am I putting too much strain on the engine and on the overdrive gear?
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I just returned from a trip to the coast pulling a TT that weighs
around 6000 #'s loaded, 31ft long. I used the tow/haul
mode very little, mostly just trying it out. I got 12.4 mpg
towing without using the T/H mode. I will use it when
towing to the mountains. The truck did not strain towing
this camper in overdrive mode. When full pedal was applied
through an intersection while towing from a dead stop,
it did spin the rear tires, so watch out.
around 6000 #'s loaded, 31ft long. I used the tow/haul
mode very little, mostly just trying it out. I got 12.4 mpg
towing without using the T/H mode. I will use it when
towing to the mountains. The truck did not strain towing
this camper in overdrive mode. When full pedal was applied
through an intersection while towing from a dead stop,
it did spin the rear tires, so watch out.
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Junior User
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From: Harvest, AL
eharman, thanks for the good news of your travel experience. I have towed my trailer once on short trip that was mostly two-lane roads. My mileage was 11 mpg. But that wasn't very accurate because I also had some miles with no trailer behind the truck.
One thing I'm wondering about. With the tranny in tow/haul running about 55 mph and the rpms at 2K, I wonder if the engine uses more or less fuel with the tranny in overdrive running 55 mph and the engine turning about 1500 rpms. At first, it would appear that the engine would use less fuel in o/d. But, if I have the accelerator pressed closer to the floor to make the engine pull, is it really using less fuel? I don't know. What do you think?
One thing I'm wondering about. With the tranny in tow/haul running about 55 mph and the rpms at 2K, I wonder if the engine uses more or less fuel with the tranny in overdrive running 55 mph and the engine turning about 1500 rpms. At first, it would appear that the engine would use less fuel in o/d. But, if I have the accelerator pressed closer to the floor to make the engine pull, is it really using less fuel? I don't know. What do you think?
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Joined: Oct 2003
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I would think that the extra strain on the motor wouldn't be worth a few pennies for fuel.
I am new to this site but my experience with my new 6.0 PSD is great so far, I am a contractor who hauls a 8x20' trailer that weighs between 7500 and 8500, my truck now has 1900 miles and about 1500 with the trailer
I use tow/haul more than not! If anything use use it just because of the engine breaking!!! WOW! what a difference,
I had to turn my trailer breaks way down from my other truck, almost half. When pulling anything kind of heavy getting things to slow down without burning through brakes just seems like cheap insurance to me. The tow/haul was put there for a reason, I would just use it.
I am new to this site but my experience with my new 6.0 PSD is great so far, I am a contractor who hauls a 8x20' trailer that weighs between 7500 and 8500, my truck now has 1900 miles and about 1500 with the trailer
I use tow/haul more than not! If anything use use it just because of the engine breaking!!! WOW! what a difference,
I had to turn my trailer breaks way down from my other truck, almost half. When pulling anything kind of heavy getting things to slow down without burning through brakes just seems like cheap insurance to me. The tow/haul was put there for a reason, I would just use it.
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From: Harvest, AL
cars, you're right about the engine break feature of the TorqShift. A few days ago while towing our camper, I used the tow/haul mode going down a steep hill and only hit the breaks once. When the tranny down-shifted, the engine slowed the truck and camper to 45 mph and held it there. The same is true with normal stops as well.
My former trucks ('89 F-150 2 WD, '83 Ranger 4WD) had manual transmissions. So, I would shift up when the engine sounded like it was racing. Although the F-150 wouldn't dream of pulling the camper in 5th gear.
I guess I'm getting used to the engine running at higher rpms than I expected it to.
The 6.0 turns more rpms than I expected. Several years ago, I borrowed a friend's F250 and his camper. The diesel in that truck ('97 model) turned less rpms. I guess IH shortened the stroke on the engine. This was probably done to quieten the engine.
Thanks for the thoughts about using tow/mode or not. The extra strain on the engine isn't worth the few pennies saved in fuel, if it saves any at all.
A few days ago while towing our camper, I used the tow/haul mode going down a steep hill and only hit the breaks once. When the tranny down-shifted, the engine slowed the truck and camper to 45 mph and held it there. The same is true with normal stops as well. My former trucks ('89 F-150 2 WD, '83 Ranger 4WD) had manual transmissions. So, I would shift up when the engine sounded like it was racing. Although the F-150 wouldn't dream of pulling the camper in 5th gear.
I guess I'm getting used to the engine running at higher rpms than I expected it to.
The 6.0 turns more rpms than I expected. Several years ago, I borrowed a friend's F250 and his camper. The diesel in that truck ('97 model) turned less rpms. I guess IH shortened the stroke on the engine. This was probably done to quieten the engine.Thanks for the thoughts about using tow/mode or not. The extra strain on the engine isn't worth the few pennies saved in fuel, if it saves any at all.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
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I know with the tow/haul as the truck slows down it will downshift on it's own... but did I read something that says when in tow/haul mode if you tap the brakes when slowing that it will signal the tranny to downshift at the next proper engine speed?
Way cool feature !
And all are reporting the new flash eases the 'firm' 2 to 1 downshift... gotta get in there to flash mine !
Way cool feature !
And all are reporting the new flash eases the 'firm' 2 to 1 downshift... gotta get in there to flash mine !
New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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Silly question, I have read a bunch of stuff talking about getting flashed.
I'm not exactly sure what that is???? could you please explain?
I'm not exactly sure what that is???? could you please explain?
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Junior User
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From: Harvest, AL
jdadamsjr, that's right, when you tap the brake pedal in tow/haul, the tranny down-shifts to the next lower gear. If that gear isn't enough to slow the truck, tap the brake and she down-shifts again. I agree, it's a great feature!
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
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Thanks Jeff !
Am I in danger of an 'overrev' if I tap it down to first at 60 ???
I hope it's smart enough to not LET me be that stupid !
Re reflash....
The new 6.0L in Ex's and SD trucks are a lot more computer controlled and they are 'reflashing' the computer with new code...
Like with MOST software releases, there are adjustments/ enhancements/updates that they are doing...
We've ALL had to do it for our pc operating systems...
remember DOS, win, win 3.1, win nt, win xp, etc...
They are changing the internal instructions to the computers to update the programming and adjust parameters like timing, pilot injection, etc...
I'm bringing mine in today to get it done... Heard great results with improved (or regained) fuel mileage and power...
Am I in danger of an 'overrev' if I tap it down to first at 60 ???
I hope it's smart enough to not LET me be that stupid !
Re reflash....
The new 6.0L in Ex's and SD trucks are a lot more computer controlled and they are 'reflashing' the computer with new code...
Like with MOST software releases, there are adjustments/ enhancements/updates that they are doing...
We've ALL had to do it for our pc operating systems...
remember DOS, win, win 3.1, win nt, win xp, etc...
They are changing the internal instructions to the computers to update the programming and adjust parameters like timing, pilot injection, etc...
I'm bringing mine in today to get it done... Heard great results with improved (or regained) fuel mileage and power...
Last edited by jdadamsjr; Oct 13, 2003 at 09:26 AM.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
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From: Harvest, AL
jdadamsjr,
From what I understand, and based on my limited experience thus far, the TorqShift tranny will downshift when you tap the brake. However, it will not downshift if the rpms are already too high. It downshifts so the engine works as a brake to save the brake pads. If I remember correctly, there information about this in the 6.0 Supplemental Owners Guide that should have come with your truck. If it's not in there, then I read about this on Ford's web site. They have a page dedicated to the 6.0 PSD and the TorqShift tranny.
Let me know about the 'flash'. It makes sense, but I haven't heard about it.
From what I understand, and based on my limited experience thus far, the TorqShift tranny will downshift when you tap the brake. However, it will not downshift if the rpms are already too high. It downshifts so the engine works as a brake to save the brake pads. If I remember correctly, there information about this in the 6.0 Supplemental Owners Guide that should have come with your truck. If it's not in there, then I read about this on Ford's web site. They have a page dedicated to the 6.0 PSD and the TorqShift tranny.
Let me know about the 'flash'. It makes sense, but I haven't heard about it.
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I read a test report on the SD with Torqeshift. The magazine doing the test had a ford engineer with them. They put the transmission in reverse while doing 65mph (forward). The electronic control just put it in neutral.
I am not going to test it myself.
Tim
I am not going to test it myself.
Tim
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