Pulling with OD
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
Pulling with OD
I've been reading about guys pulling with OD on with the auto and complain about it shifting to much. I was wondering if the owner manuals say anything about this. Any auto I've been around you are not suppose to pull in OD, and the same goes with a manual transmission. Just wondering if the books said anything about it. Thanks for any info you can give me.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Taylorsville, Utah
Pulling with OD
I believe that my owner's manual says to leave it in OD. The only time that it recommends taking the transmission out of overdrive is when you want the engine compression to hold the truck back on a steep incline.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: G
Pulling with OD
I believe that you are allowed to tow in overdrive however, I think that this is more of a marketing game(to increase mpg's). From what I understand, I would never tow in overdrive. The shifting between overdrive and 3rd causes tremendous heat which will lead to a burnt out transmission. I tow with the O/D off. I would rather spend the money on the gas which is cheap compared to a new tranny.
Tim
Tim
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: South Dakota
Pulling with OD
Thanks for the info so far. I know a guy who worked in a transmission shop and he said you could tell when people would pull in OD because it gets hot and burns out the clutch. I didn't know how the newer transmissions were though. Personally, I preferr a manual for pulling anything. We currently have a pick-up with an auto and I'd preferr to use the one with a manual and smaller engine. But maybe that's because the one with an auto isn't a Ford.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Pulling with OD
The 4R100 and E4OD are both strong enough to pull in OD. The only time you need to take it out of OD is when the transminssion starts "hunting" for the right gear, this is what causes the heat build up and eventually leads to transmission failure. A good rule of thumb is to leave it in OD when towing in the flats but take it out when climbing or descending.
-Rich
-Rich
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 417
Likes: 7
From: Olympic Peninsula, WA USA
Pulling with OD
Webguyrich has the right answer. When the torque converter is unlocked (like when in reverse or shifting gears) the fluid gets real hot and could get burnt. When towing, the truck won't want to stay in overdrive and so will downshift on hills. That constant shifting will cook the fluid and consequently cook the transmission. So the correct answer according to Ford is to leave it in overdrive unless it's shifting, in which case you should lock it out of overdrive.
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2000 F350 CC DRW Lariat 4x4 LWB 4R100 V10 4.30ls with Torklift tie-downs/Superhitch and Rancho RS9000 and Ride-Rite air springs.
1998 Alpenlite Pendelton 11'10" Slide-in camper with all options.
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2000 F350 CC DRW Lariat 4x4 LWB 4R100 V10 4.30ls with Torklift tie-downs/Superhitch and Rancho RS9000 and Ride-Rite air springs.
1998 Alpenlite Pendelton 11'10" Slide-in camper with all options.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: G
Pulling with OD
Harald,
While I agree that it is Ford's "official" position that towing is acceptable in overdrive, I still strongly encourage anyone towing heavy loads to consider not using overdrive.
If you burn out a tranny or more specifically the bands in the tranny, just try and get warranty from Ford. The failure is not the tranny's fault but rather the user/operator. The advice to not use overdrive when the tranny begins to "hunt" for gears is very open to interpretation. One person may shift out of overdrive upon the first gear huntings; others may not. It is the latter that usual ends up in the service department telling the service writer that the manual "said I could."
While it is true that the 4R100 is a strong tranny, but it is not invincible. The first time you feel the tranny slipping is enough already to glaze/burn the bands. The trouble will escalate from there. Towing in overdrive is a judgement call. I personally would rather be safe than sorry, and that is coming from someone who has relatives that are mechanics.
Good Luck,
Tim
While I agree that it is Ford's "official" position that towing is acceptable in overdrive, I still strongly encourage anyone towing heavy loads to consider not using overdrive.
If you burn out a tranny or more specifically the bands in the tranny, just try and get warranty from Ford. The failure is not the tranny's fault but rather the user/operator. The advice to not use overdrive when the tranny begins to "hunt" for gears is very open to interpretation. One person may shift out of overdrive upon the first gear huntings; others may not. It is the latter that usual ends up in the service department telling the service writer that the manual "said I could."
While it is true that the 4R100 is a strong tranny, but it is not invincible. The first time you feel the tranny slipping is enough already to glaze/burn the bands. The trouble will escalate from there. Towing in overdrive is a judgement call. I personally would rather be safe than sorry, and that is coming from someone who has relatives that are mechanics.
Good Luck,
Tim
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