F53 downshifting on hills

My F150 will try to maintain a constant speed going downhill. If I am doing 55 when I start down the hill the tranny will frequently drop to 5 or 4 when I take my foot off the gas even when the cruise is not on. If I apply even a little pressure to the gas pedal, the tranny stays in 6 and I gain speed going down the hill. With cruse on, I may end up in 3rd by the time I get to the bottom.

Keeps it from shifting into 3rd and having rpm's over 5000. I've tried keeping it in D and the speed creeps up. Manual is much better at maintaining a safe speed.

azdryheat wrote:
And I'll bet you were in cruise control, too. That is not how you go down a hill in a gasser. You want to be in manual control of the transmission, I like 4th gear.

What difference does it really make if the ECU decides to downshift to fourth or if you manually downshift to fourth? In either case, you're descending in fourth gear and using appropriate engine braking. It's okay if you prefer to shift manually, of course, but I don't see how that's the only appropriate method one could use in this case.

I think the computer will also downshift automatically for engine braking (under some conditions, at least) when tow/haul is engaged. Some other automatic transmissions on other vehicles will do so generally as a matter of course.

I was taught to drive by a old logger many years ago ,and he told me you go down a hill at the same speed you go up, so with my tow haul on i go down hill and tap my breaks when i need to slow down, most of the time i just maintain the same speed and never touch the breaks.Feels so good. and safe.

And I'll bet you were in cruise control, too. That is not how you go down a hill in a gasser. You want to be in manual control of the transmission, I like 4th gear.