I was cruising Facebook today and ran across a post talking about adaptive transmission learning (in general, not even about Fords), and it brought a question to my mind. I was Google searching and FTE came up and then I FTE searched and found another thread about transmission oil temperatures and that brought another question to mind. And I didn't know @Mark Kovalsky was still around, but I saw him posting in the other thread. Good to see you again Mark. Mark is about the smarted transmission guy I've ever known. I used to post a lot in the 96 to 07 Super Duty forum and the 6.0L Diesel forum, but haven't been around much for the last few years (or more).

I recently took possession of Dad's truck. The 1996 mentioned below in my signature. He bought it back in the early 2000's and last year, when we had to take away his drivers license, they transferred the title to me. Dad passed away in February and I went and got the truck around the first week of this month.

So, my first question... How hot is too hot? We put the standard gauges in (boost, EGT and TFT) when Dad bought the truck. The TFT probe is in the test port. E4OD transmission, of course. At the time, we were never able to figure out what the upper limits of transmission oil temperature were.

The temp rarely even gets high enough to move the needle, which starts at 140. When shifting a lot or running without the torque converter locked it starts to climb, but I don't think I've ever seen it break 250, or maybe even 230. I can swear by that. Other than the 265 mile trip back from E. Oregon bringing it home, it's been a long time since I've driven this truck much.

Anyway, I'm wondering what I should be on the lookout for.

The other question, the one that got me started on this whole thing, is does the TCM or ECM do any adaptive learning. Dad always had a problem with slow parasitic drain on the batteries when it sat for long periods of time, so he installed a set of battery cut off switches on it. I use a battery maintainer on the 2004, for the same reason, slow parasitic drain. I'm thinking I'll probably do the same with Dad's, but I'm not sure. If there is any adaptive learning going on, the battery disconnects are a bad idea.

Thanks guys.

 

batteries need to be new and same age, check the stickers
they will discharge if your battery terminals are corroded and sometimes with a loose ground

some cleaning tips
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ou-cranky.html

 

nothing adaptive or learning in these trucks.

 

The batteries are pretty new and were bought together. I do need to do some cleanup on the terminals. But, from experience with my truck, I know that given enough time you're still going to lose some charge. I don't know how long it was with Dad's, but on mine it was a couple weeks and then I'd not have enough to get a good crank. I know on the 2004 there are a couple modules that have to stay at least partially active. PCM keep alive memory for one and the VSM to watch for incoming key fob signals. There may be other's but I'm not 100% sure. I'm not sure what the 1996 has.

 

Thanks. I'll have to debate in my mind whether I want to just stick with the battery disconnects then, or go ahead with the battery maintainer.

The maintainer requires me to run an extension cord out to the truck. The disconnects make me open the hood every time I want to use it, and again when I'm done.

 

mine sat for 2 months and started up fine with GPs at 32f

do the cleaning
try the test

i would look to see what is draining the batteries after the tests

dont need disconnects, can wire in a GPR to keep them separate, campers do that often

 

There was no adaptive in 1996.

You can run the transmission up to 220°F all day long with no problems. You can go up to 250°F for up to 1/2 hour at a time,

 

Cool. Thank you.

I doubt this truck is going to see that kind of work again. Other than the occasional job of helping relocate an RV in the park, it's most likely going to be a propane hauler.