F 150 trans questions

I am confused. You mention tow haul mode but don't seem to actually have it since you don't have the cooler, etc. Do you have the tow haul on/off button. Do you get the tow haul light?

300 RPM's is your torque converter, not gear shifting. If you really want to know what is going on with the 'shifts' get a Scangauge. You can then see what gear you are in and exactly when the torque converter locks/unlocks. GR is the transmission gear ratio and a SLP reading of 1.00 or .99 is torque converter locked.

dockmasterdave wrote:
It was really weird. It went from 2200 to 2500 to 2800, and kept shifting back and forth. I understand newer fords have "select shift" where you can force it to stay in any gear. Is even this small of a trailer really that big of a load? Its only about 1500 empty and maxes at just over 3000. I'm in south florida so no hills here.

Nothing weird at all. I towed a 7200lb 31' TT for 2.5 years and 10,000 miles with a 2010 F150 5.4 3.73 MaxTow. Same tranny as the 09.
Mine could never make up it's mind about what gear to be in. No OD lock out or select shift button so you're at the mercy of the tranny's mapping. I could be towing on the flats at 62-64mph in 6th, come to an overpass and it would drop to 5th then 4th then back to 5th till it crested the overpass then go to 6th and then back to 5th then to 6th. It would mostly stay in 6th like that until it hit a shadow or a slight breeze from the side or front then drop to 5th then to 6th, or it just might stay in 5th. Stupidest thing I've seen. Especially for a truck rated to tow 11,100lbs.

As far as tranny heat goes, with the towing package you get extra large tranny coolers, at least compared to the 08. In the 08 the tranny ran about 160 or so not towing then would go up to IIRC 18-190 towing. In the 2010 with the improved cooling the tranny ran about 190 all the time IIRC. Never heated up even with all that shifting back and forth or in the mtns. I'm guessing the used a different thermostat in the 09's and up compared to the 08's.

I would add the tranny cooler that comes with the tow package if you're still under warranty, if not a good after market equivalent will do fine.

I don't tow with OD on. Manual didn't say not to use cruise. I'm on perfectly flat land for hundreds of miles.Have the trans cooler but didn't get it installed yet. Trans temp was running perfect and trailer scaled about 2500lbs with a v nose. I'll just have to figure it out. The heat wasn't the problem. I was asking about the shifting. It's no problem to get the cooler on.

dockmasterdave wrote:
According to ford, with the 4.6 three valve, the tow rating is either 8000 or 8400 depending on axle ratio. It has the 3:73 gears. Some people are missing the point. The heat came after the shifting problem not before. I was watching the trans temp guage.

"Have trans cooler but it isn't in yet".
You stated you do NOT have the tow package, and NO trans cooler. The 8000lb tow rating is When PROPERLY equipped. Meaning it is rated to 8000 WITH the tow package (trans cooler, Power steering cooler, heavy duty alternator, brake controller, ect). NOT with out it. It HAS to HAVE the trany cooler to be rated to tow 8000lbs. With out it. It is more than likely rated to tow in the 2000 - 3000lb range. Go back, and read more. Adding a hitch does NOT give it the towing package.

And yes, The heating problem came AFTER the shifting problem. The shifting problem caused the heating problem. Get the tow package installed on the truck. The heating problem will go away. IF you do not tow in OD.

Don't know about the 2010 but I just traded my 04 f150 4.6l tow pkg 3.73 re ( 4 speed ). Manual said to not tow with od on. I think also cautioned against using cruise. I was towing about 4000lb TT. Would do ok with cruise on in flats but not in hills. Truck never overheated , engine or tranny, but it did not like hills. Actually it did ok with 4000lbs but I did not like the lack of power in the NC mountains. It or I would downshift in mountains and the truck would do ok w/o overheating, but too stressful for me. I never towed 4000lbs with od on.

According to ford, with the 4.6 three valve, the tow rating is either 8000 or 8400 depending on axle ratio. It has the 3:73 gears. Some people are missing the point. The heat came after the shifting problem not before. I was watching the trans temp guage.

Terryallan wrote:
BTW. With out the trans cooler / tow package. It is NOT rated to tow 8000lbs.

nor did the OP appear to change the rear end ratio, since it didn't have the factory tow package.
so now way can it tow 8000lbs.

I have an 05 F150 with 5.4 and big cooler tow pkg and limited slip 3.55 rear end.
I though most of the Pickups came that way.
I drove one with the 4.6, don't know what gears it had but it was dog.
If it is constantly slipping and locking it will wear out fast.
I would change the rear gears to 3.73 or perhaps 3.90 and correct the speedometer.
Change the trans fluid and filter and see what is in it.
You don't want the trans to say no out in the middle of nowhere, on a mountain or otherwise. Maybe your trans cooler is too small, also or clogged up. It sits up front below, at an angle the radiator.
Mu son towed a car on a trailer, for a friend about 260 miles each way twice. I checked the condition of the fluid and all was good but changed it anyway. It was about 150,000 miles at the time. Mid grade fuel towing that mush should help with power and mileage and lower engin temps or even premium. I don't know th parameters of the engine control computers though. You will want an extra leaaf in the rear spring pack. Talk to the /dealer and then shop for cheaper. You will want anti slip or limited slip in the rear end, if you don't have it. If nothing is damaged the gear change and bigger coolers and you should do fine. Make sure the Antifreeze or coolant is up to date and clean as well as the serpentine belt spinning at an average higher speed. The button is to lock out the last gear or overdrive. Towing 8,000 lbs don't leave it in overdrive except perhaps some verl level stretches.
chances are you have more than 8,000lbs. If you have seven lug wheels you have the heavy duty. The Salesmen are not up on this stuff. Sound like you don't. You need to increase braking. If nothing else chilled slotted rotors and compatible pads. If you can afford it I would go with Baer or other larger disc kid which would mean larger wheels unless your ten has 18 in or larger wheels, and might still need them.

I had a 150 with a 4.6 and it was only rated at 5,700 and only had a 4 speed transmission. I now have a 5.4 with 6 speed transmission. The tow button is the same as O/D off, it is designed to keep it from shifting too much. If I stop in route I usually forget to turn it back on until I feel the shifting.