7.3 shift point adjustment.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 111
Likes: 51
From 10 to 6 in two shifts is pretty abrupt....but usually only happens to me while on cruise. it tries too hard to maintain speed IMHO. If I have alot of up and down highway, I just manually shift.
when I first got it, it was worse through the low end when not towing...took it in to be re'flashed/programmed and the low end crap stopped.
The thing that annoys me more is the radical downshifting while towing down the off ramp or small downgrade. I definately manual shift then!
when I first got it, it was worse through the low end when not towing...took it in to be re'flashed/programmed and the low end crap stopped.
The thing that annoys me more is the radical downshifting while towing down the off ramp or small downgrade. I definately manual shift then!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 207
Likes: 171
Running tow/ haul mode defeats the skip shift. I run in manual mode when pulling trailers to prevent the mega down shift, drop 1 gear and let it pull, works great.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 708
Likes: 188
Gearing is 3.55. I haven't had a chance to hook to a trailer yet to see how it shifts, but I'm not pleased with the highway speeds shifting. It seems too sensitive to the engine load. I really noticed it running about 75-80 mph. Id come to a hill and it would drop to 8th, and then imediately to 6th. So Id be running like 1900-2000 rpm in 10, and I would think that I could lug it a little in 8 at like 2600-2700, but then it jumps clear to 3700 in 6th. I mean if i stomped on it to pass, Id understand, but I don't think that seem right.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 708
Likes: 188
I find Eco mode will make it shift less and the truck is ok losing a mph or two while
ascending a hill.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 343
From: PG, BC, Canada
I understand that modern engines rev, but its not necesary. The change from 8 to 6th gear is 1000 RPM. It makes plenty of power at 2700, or for that matter 3200 in 7th gear. The 7.3 is torqy enough it should be able to pull through some grade changes. I have two other fords with 10 speeds, that don't do this.
, if it was programed for a 4.30 and it works good... well it's good enough, even though it really isn't, again JMO. anyways... Your truck can't keep up the speed thus shifts down 2 gears, which isn't really a problem, 
but, it also ends up loosing too much speed because it didn't shift down "soon enough, to maximize gas mileage" thus, it now needs to also make up the speed it lost and shifts another 2 gears, which would not have been necessary if it would have shifted down sooner... JMO
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 140
Likes: 2
I was not towing when this was happening, that’s part of the reason I’m disappointed with the shift characteristics. I might consider a tune, but I’m not looking for additional performance, and I am really not that familiar with the tune process.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 2,337
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-10-speed.html
My 22 F250 with the 7.3 runs fine, I tow up to 11k and I have no issue with the transmission being too stubborn to downshift from 10th, or other obvious issues.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 1,669
From: NW Wyoming USA
The 3.55’s are the problem. Only thing you can do is put smaller diameter tires on to reduce the gear hunting. Been there, felt your pain. Cured it by trading it in for the exact same truck with 4.30’s.
I think you can shut the skip shift off by driving it in tow mode but then it’s going to do doing weird things because it’s going to think you’re towing.
I think you can shut the skip shift off by driving it in tow mode but then it’s going to do doing weird things because it’s going to think you’re towing.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,127
Likes: 1,646
It's a 10 speed transmission. Why are people upset it downshifts? The 10th gear is pretty tall, even if it goes to 9th or 8th it's no big deal.
One could argue if your 10 speed gas truck can go up and down all sorts of hills in top gear and never downshift, you could use a taller top gear.
One could argue if your 10 speed gas truck can go up and down all sorts of hills in top gear and never downshift, you could use a taller top gear.
I think where a lot of people get hung up with how much the 10 speed shifts is that they just aren't used to it when it comes to these trucks. Big trucks with lots of horsepower and torque didn't used to shift so much when they had fewer gears. With more gears the computer has more options to keep the motor in its power band, so it'll shift more to optimize the combination. It's not as big of an issue for the trucks with 4.30 gears, but ones with 3.55s seem to do it more, which is to be expected. It's a mileage gear not a pulling gear in a gas powered truck.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 774
Likes: 252
From: CNM
When will they implement AI for predictive cruise control and begin with just one gear downshift before the hill starts? CC is just playing catch up and has to downshift more, after the incline has begun...IMHO
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,674
Likes: 4,775
From: Itinerant
What could possibly go wrong. 🤔
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 343
From: PG, BC, Canada
the problem seems to be the not downshifting soon enough... and That is the transmissions programing mistake, because the vehicle looses more speed than it has to and now needs to make up that speed, thus 4 gears downshift required instead of just 3, or even just 2 if it would have shifted at the proper power requirements and lets say a 1MPH speed loss instead of the 3MPH speed loss that my trucks downshifting strategy seems to be set up for... 
EDIT; Many a time (every time) on the same hill in my area the truck goes down to 6th to "make it up that hill" on it's own... Many a time (every time) it also made it up that hill in 7th when I manually shifted it at the 1MPH speed loss point in each gear... So, IMO it's the shifting parameters that are a fail...
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 2,337
My FIL was coming from a line of several 6.7/6 speed combos (a couple F350's and an F450) that would rarely, if ever, downshift, so the fact that this truck shifted pulling basically any kind of grade surprised him, especially given the power the motor has. He had also ridden in my 6.4/6 speed Hemi that didn't shift pulling hills while empty. It wasn't so much that he was upset by it, but rather that it was a surprise to him. He lived with it for a year, a year and a half, before he decided to go back to a PSD. It performs how he expects so he's content with it.
I think where a lot of people get hung up with how much the 10 speed shifts is that they just aren't used to it when it comes to these trucks. Big trucks with lots of horsepower and torque didn't used to shift so much when they had fewer gears. With more gears the computer has more options to keep the motor in its power band, so it'll shift more to optimize the combination. It's not as big of an issue for the trucks with 4.30 gears, but ones with 3.55s seem to do it more, which is to be expected. It's a mileage gear not a pulling gear in a gas powered truck.
I think where a lot of people get hung up with how much the 10 speed shifts is that they just aren't used to it when it comes to these trucks. Big trucks with lots of horsepower and torque didn't used to shift so much when they had fewer gears. With more gears the computer has more options to keep the motor in its power band, so it'll shift more to optimize the combination. It's not as big of an issue for the trucks with 4.30 gears, but ones with 3.55s seem to do it more, which is to be expected. It's a mileage gear not a pulling gear in a gas powered truck.
Even with the 3.55 you have the torque multiplier closer to 3.9 with 6 speeds when starting off, with each higher gear being significantly lower than the 2-4th gears on the 6 speeds, and then 5-8th filling in the mid range. The higher 9th and 10th give the computer a choice when cruising. Ford can probably do a better job of programming the TCM on the shift points but we do have to remember the computer tries to anticipate what the driver wants.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 708
Likes: 188
I stay in 8th or 7th depending on the speed. Then I downshift 1 if I see a hill coming. I do wonder when they will develop this but it’s possible with a little driver input.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 774
Likes: 252
From: CNM
Not all drivers are willing to provide input and not all AI is evil scraprat, lol
