Towing in O/D
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 49
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From: East Central Illinois
Towing in O/D
Good morning. I also posted this question in the V10 forum. I recently purchased a 2002 F250 CC 4x4 V10 3.73. I pull a 29ft Jayco travel trailer, loaded around 7000-7500lbs. Does anyone pull this kind of weight in O/D or is that a big NO NO??? I wouldn't dream of it in my old F150 Super Crew 5.4 4x4 3.55. Thanks, Steve
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 201
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From: Royse City, TX
You could install a Transmission Temperature Guage and keep an eye on it while you tow. Then you wouldn't have to wait for audible signals to let you know that your transmission is straining.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,307
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From: MARYLAND
Originally Posted by Pocket
You can tow in O/D all day long. When the trans starts hunting for gears say going up a grade, then lock out O/D. The constant gear hunting is what builds up heat and wears out the trans.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 49
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From: East Central Illinois
Thanks for the info. What's nice on the F250 in the trans. gauge being part of the dash cluster. I will try it out this weekend. We are headed to Indiana for a weekend camping trip. (level interstate most of the way) The flat Midwest....Thanks again! Steve
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,743
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From: Peoria, IL
The trans temp gauge in the dash cluster is a glorified idiot light. It reaches the center of normal at about 125°and doesn't move at all until over 200° from what I have been told. Then in a matter of seconds it goes from the center of normal to overheated, and you have already overheated the transmission before you can stop. Aftermarket trans temp gauges are the only way to go if you are going to tow or haul.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 514
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From: Northern Colorado
Beerstalker is right - get an additional trans temp guage! My factory gauge didn't go into yellow until about 230. Couple months later and I was replacing the trans (not just from that single occurance, but did happen to notice the comparison at that time).
New User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 17
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From: Northern MN
I was curious about the gas mileage with O/D on or off. I would think that at some point depending on the weight and aerodynamics of the trailer, winds, terrain, etc. that it would be more economical with O/D off. Has anybody tested this with an instantaneous MPG readout? My truck doesn't have one.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
I tow 8,000# fairly regularly with my 94 F250 460 4.10 E4OD 4x4. I always tow in OD unless the tranny hunts gears. My tranny temp guage usually reads around 180-190 while towing after about an hour of steady towing. IN extreme heat, head winds and hills and high freeway speeds it might kick up to 200-210.
I use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF.
Just my experience.
Jim Henderson
I use Mobil 1 synthetic ATF.
Just my experience.
Jim Henderson