E40D Towing question........
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E40D Towing question........
I got a 93 F350 cew cab dually with 163k on the truck and motor and the tranny was replaced at around 119k by the previous owner. I have owned the truck for about 5 years. I have been told that it is ok to tow in OD as long as its not steep hills. But I have talked to 3 of my buddies that rebuild trannys and one is a ford guy. He told me if I want to rebuild it to go ahead and tow in OD. He stated the passages for the oil in 1st 2nd and 3rd grears are 1/4 " for OD its 1/8 so it not getting as much oil. SO what the heck should I or should I not tow in OD. My buddies say nope NEVER. Now what? Can some of you who have the same tranny and have towed with it in OD chime in and help me out. I am going to put a larget aluminum tranny cooler.
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From: Albuquerque
The problem with the E4OD is that with OD off, the tranny will shift fine up the gears and peak at 40-45 mph. If you are running OD, the tranny will try and fish for the lower gear if you are hovering at that 40-45 mph. If towing uphill I would turn OFF the OD. If you are on level ground towing I think it is fine to use OD IMO.
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
The E4OD was designed for towing in overdrive (OD gears are the largest in the trans). The worst that could happen is the trans will start to hunt between 3rd and 4th gear, which can quickly build up heat. If it starts to hint between gears, than it should be locked out, but normally the PCM is smart enough to make the right choices.
The best thing you could do for your trans is install a temp gauge, and let the reading be your guide.
BTW, the overdrive gears are the closest to the pump, and the first to get lube, so the rest of the passages would have to be larger to evenly distribute the fluid.
The best thing you could do for your trans is install a temp gauge, and let the reading be your guide.
BTW, the overdrive gears are the closest to the pump, and the first to get lube, so the rest of the passages would have to be larger to evenly distribute the fluid.
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Thanx for the
Originally Posted by David85
The E4OD was designed for towing in overdrive (OD gears are the largest in the trans). The worst that could happen is the trans will start to hunt between 3rd and 4th gear, which can quickly build up heat. If it starts to hint between gears, than it should be locked out, but normally the PCM is smart enough to make the right choices.
The best thing you could do for your trans is install a temp gauge, and let the reading be your guide.
BTW, the overdrive gears are the closest to the pump, and the first to get lube, so the rest of the passages would have to be larger to evenly distribute the fluid.
The best thing you could do for your trans is install a temp gauge, and let the reading be your guide.
BTW, the overdrive gears are the closest to the pump, and the first to get lube, so the rest of the passages would have to be larger to evenly distribute the fluid.
insight guys I think I will try that. What is the best optimal temp that the tranny should run at. I have never towed in OD but on some of my trips the rpm on the truck on regular drive its too high and I don't want to make my engine run on high rpms for long periods of time. The most I would tow is when my dad and I go to a car auction about 2.5 hours away from our house. Other than that I do little towing around the area nothing to far.
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Anything between 100F and 200F is safe, with the ideal being about in the middle of that range. The higher you go past 200F, the greater the danger, with 250F being the max you can hit intermitently without risking damage, but I would back off at 210F.
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Lead Driver
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Originally Posted by chach3835
. Looks like you've got yourself a real keeper there.
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From: Byron New York
I agree with David85 the biggest problem they really had with the E4OD was the stock torque converter was JUNK! If it has been rebuilt maybe the previous owner went the extra mile and got the RV torque installed. The lockup clutches in the stock torque would let go and contaminate the rest of the transmission and well it's history. Big Big cooler and a temperature gauge. I like to put the sensor in the pan it accomplishes 2 things. Those stupid pans E4OD and C6 never had drain plugs and the oil pan is a heat sink which if that oil is hot that is what is being drafted into the pump.
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Ford cut a lot of corners when they released the E4OD in its first version, but the TC was basicly a time bomb. I don't know what the the actual stats were, but the failure rate under waranty was bad enough that ford started making revisions to the E4 by the second year of production.
I have read that the stock converters have turbine blades that were crimped together, instead of welded. Descent aftermarkets are spot welded, with the better standard being furnace brazed. The lockup clutch is undersized to begin with, but the apply piston is also underdesigned and prone to cracking which relieves fluid pressure and causes the already weak clutch to slip. All of this and more combined to give the E4OD, and to some digree, ford, a bad wrap. Its no wonder why they call it the 4R100 these days.
With all of the recomended updates, and a good TC, I think the E4OD is at least as strong as the older C6, though I have taken some flak for saying that before.......
I have read that the stock converters have turbine blades that were crimped together, instead of welded. Descent aftermarkets are spot welded, with the better standard being furnace brazed. The lockup clutch is undersized to begin with, but the apply piston is also underdesigned and prone to cracking which relieves fluid pressure and causes the already weak clutch to slip. All of this and more combined to give the E4OD, and to some digree, ford, a bad wrap. Its no wonder why they call it the 4R100 these days.
With all of the recomended updates, and a good TC, I think the E4OD is at least as strong as the older C6, though I have taken some flak for saying that before.......
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ON the color
Originally Posted by David85
DUDE!! Nicely done! I've never seen metalic flakes in white before, or is it pearl, either way it looks awsome. Mine has a way to go before it looks anything like that . Looks like you've got yourself a real keeper there.
. Looks like you've got yourself a real keeper there.
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Must be nice to have access to that kind of facility.
I'd just be happy if I had a clean room for painting. when I redid my f150, bugs kept sneaking into the shop to get high on the fumes, eventually they would end up rolling around in the wet surface till I had to pick them out with a needle (one piece at a time). I can tell you it was a real test of patience.
I'd just be happy if I had a clean room for painting. when I redid my f150, bugs kept sneaking into the shop to get high on the fumes, eventually they would end up rolling around in the wet surface till I had to pick them out with a needle (one piece at a time). I can tell you it was a real test of patience.
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I am mostly done with the truck on the outside. There are a few things I want to do to the truck. Run dual exhaust to make her breath better, possibly a turbo upgrade prefer used one. Also a updated new reman tranny. If I decide to keep her for a long time I will do the turbo and tranny upgrade. I plan on doing the exhaust and bigger air intake in the next month. This should help. Also instal a tranny temp gague and larger TC.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Campbell River, B.C.
Originally Posted by chach3835
I am mostly done with the truck on the outside. There are a few things I want to do to the truck. Run dual exhaust to make her breath better, possibly a turbo upgrade prefer used one. Also a updated new reman tranny. If I decide to keep her for a long time I will do the turbo and tranny upgrade. I plan on doing the exhaust and bigger air intake in the next month. This should help. Also instal a tranny temp gague and larger TC.
If you end up getting a remaned trans, I would get as many upgrades as possible, a turbocharged 7.3l IDI (or 6.9 for that matter) can put a powerstroke to shame if built right.
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