Towing with an Automatic Transmission
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Pocono Mountains, PA
Towing with an Automatic Transmission
In 3 weeks I will be heading south to Florida with my 04 SD 5.4L Auto Trans (4R100) 4:10 rear with a 3,000lbs truck camper in the bed. I have read in other posts, plus the owners manual that you should not tow in Overdrive. I have a few questions maybe someone can answer. When I tow with O/D off , truck RPM's seem to run around 2,700rpm at 60mph. Is this o.k. to do on a 1500 mile trip? I also read about torque converter slippage, but I don't understand what that is. I also read something about driving in O/D does not allow the pump to pump fluid through the cooler fast enough because of low RPM's. Any info on this would be great.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Drain Oregon and Sacramen
Originally Posted by Pocono Super Duty
In 3 weeks I will be heading south to Florida with my 04 SD 5.4L Auto Trans (4R100) 4:10 rear with a 3,000lbs truck camper in the bed. I have read in other posts, plus the owners manual that you should not tow in Overdrive. I have a few questions maybe someone can answer. When I tow with O/D off , truck RPM's seem to run around 2,700rpm at 60mph. Is this o.k. to do on a 1500 mile trip? I also read about torque converter slippage, but I don't understand what that is. I also read something about driving in O/D does not allow the pump to pump fluid through the cooler fast enough because of low RPM's. Any info on this would be great.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
I'll help with what I can. OD is another gear, for our trans it is 0.72:1. When you disable OD, your left with 3rd gear being the highest and I belive it is 1:1 or there about. I don't think 3K is enough to worry about in the super duty as far as the trans is concerned. It is a little heavier than rated for the truck to load to, 1.5 tons in either a .75 or 1 ton.
I would try it and keep a good eye on the trans temp. If it runs much hotter than normal, I'd click OD off. However as long as the trans temp stays level, I'd save a little fuel.
I would try it and keep a good eye on the trans temp. If it runs much hotter than normal, I'd click OD off. However as long as the trans temp stays level, I'd save a little fuel.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,156
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From: Drain Oregon and Sacramen
Originally Posted by Pocono Super Duty
wlihntr,
I believe it's in the section "Driving your Vehicle". I'm going to go out to the truck and get the owners manual and read it again.
I believe it's in the section "Driving your Vehicle". I'm going to go out to the truck and get the owners manual and read it again.
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: colorado
Originally Posted by Pocono Super Duty
wlihntr,
I believe it's in the section "Driving your Vehicle". I'm going to go out to the truck and get the owners manual and read it again.
I believe it's in the section "Driving your Vehicle". I'm going to go out to the truck and get the owners manual and read it again.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,156
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From: Drain Oregon and Sacramen
Originally Posted by wlihntr
i just looked through the whole "driving your vehicle" and towing sections again ...i cant find anywhere where it says not to tow in OD
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 658
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From: Wayne, PA
Hey Pocono - I will be making the trip from SE PA to FLA at about the same time. I'm taking the tribe on a mouse hunt! I just spent the weekend converting from "winter trim" to "summer trim". Removed the snow equipment and changed from my BFG MT's to my BFG AT's.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Camden DE
I pull a 13500 lb 5th wheel in od. I had a new trans put in last year at AAMCO.They got it from ford.They said is I used the hevyduty converter they would warranty it 3yrs 50000 miles.so i went for it. They told me to leave it in OD when i tow.I hope I have been doing the right thing...The trans temp stays down about 150 to 175 deg...
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Senior User
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From: Pocono Mountains, PA
I have read so many different things on this subject, I don't know what is the correct thing to do. I read as long as the trans is not shifting back & forth, O/D is o.k. I also read that fluid temp has something to do with it also. But the thing I read about most is torque converter lockup & slippage and I don't understand what that is except it creates a lot of heat in the transmission.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Drain Oregon and Sacramen
Originally Posted by Pocono Super Duty
I have read so many different things on this subject, I don't know what is the correct thing to do. I read as long as the trans is not shifting back & forth, O/D is o.k. I also read that fluid temp has something to do with it also. But the thing I read about most is torque converter lockup & slippage and I don't understand what that is except it creates a lot of heat in the transmission.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 10
From: Drain Oregon and Sacramen
Originally Posted by 2x6 bulldog
I always tow in O/D unless I get into a hilly area and the transmission starts shifting in and out of O/D. I'll take it out until the terrain flattens out again. I tow a 13,000 lb fifth wheel.