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Tow haul button question

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Old May 22, 2009 | 12:02 PM
  #1  
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Tow haul button question

I have just recently purchased a 2005 f-250 6.0L Power Stroke. When you push in the tow haul button what is suppose to happen? I 'm not sure its working. Can someone tell me if a light goes on in the dash and does it change the shift pattern in the trans or does it cut out overdrive?
Thanks
 
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Old May 22, 2009 | 02:13 PM
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You should have a "Tow/Haul Mode" light on the dash that illuminates when the button is pushed.

On acceleration it raises the shift points higher into the rpm band.

On deceleration it "holds back" and will downshift when you get on the brakes.
 
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Old May 22, 2009 | 11:47 PM
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The Tow Haul mode does a few things to help when towing or hauling a heavy load (mostly as Mr. Bricks stated) ...........

1) The shifts occur at higher vehicle speeds (RPM's) for a given acelerator pedal position to improve aceleration, reduce excessive shifting and increase coast braking.
2) Torque converter lock up at lower vehicle speeds for a given acelerator pedal position to improve transmission cooling and efficiency.
3) Upshifts temporarily delayed while decreasing acelerator position during hill cresting to reduce excessive transmission shifting and to prepare for possible grade braking downshift.
4) It increase in line pressure for shifts
5) With tow/haul mode on, you average 100* cooler egt's when you are in the throttle running 3k rpms and 29lbs of boost
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 06:01 AM
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If tow/haul mode works that well why don't we run it all the time? Is the bump in line pressure over what the programmer bumps it up?
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 06:45 AM
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Originally Posted by bismic
2) Torque converter lock up at lower vehicle speeds for a given acelerator pedal position to improve transmission cooling and efficiency.
The early '03s did have this. Then it was eliminated as part of the fix for the harsh coasting 3-2 shift. I argued against making that change, but what do I know? I lost.

Originally Posted by bismic
4) It increase in line pressure for shifts
No, it does not. It never did. There is no reason to increase line pressure for shifts towing or not. I know all of you think there is, but it isn't needed.
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
There is no reason to increase line pressure for shifts towing or not. I know all of you think there is, but it isn't needed.
I thought line pressure increases were important when you started increasing hp/tq output?
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 09:14 AM
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Originally Posted by tex25025
I thought line pressure increases were important when you started increasing hp/tq output?
I did too. Regardless, I appreciate the clarifications Mark.
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by tex25025
I thought line pressure increases were important when you started increasing hp/tq output?
Yes, it is important. Tow/haul doesn't increase horsepower or torque.

The transmission software is calibrated to match the pressure to the engine's output. If at the shift the engine is producing 300 HP it doesn't matter if it is in tow/haul or not. The right pressure for the shift will be there.
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
Yes, it is important. Tow/haul doesn't increase horsepower or torque.

The transmission software is calibrated to match the pressure to the engine's output. If at the shift the engine is producing 300 HP it doesn't matter if it is in tow/haul or not. The right pressure for the shift will be there.

I see what your talking about now, your just talking about tow/haul mode period. I gotcha now. Senior moment.
 
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Old May 23, 2009 | 10:43 PM
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Thanks for all your help and input Mark! Rep is well deserved.
 
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