Shifting An Automatic when towing.
Greetings all. New tow-er here. Does anyone have a link to some comprehensive yet easy to understand directions for manual shifting an automatic when towing. I mean, im guessing that's why we have "...
Forum Discussion
One thing to know is that your max HP and torque will be at a relatively high rpm, like maybe 5000, on non-turbo gas engines. A lot of the 4, 5, and 6 speed trannys have an overdrive gear that lets the engine lope along at about 2000 rpm. A hill will cause the torque converter to unlock, and the engine will gain about 500 rpm and some HP and torque. A steep enough hill will make the trans shift down and the gain will be more like 1000 rpm or so... again, more HP and torque are supplied. But when you tow a trailer, that torque converter unlocks much too frequently, causing friction and heat buildup that can damage the transmission. Therefore, people lock out overdrive (via a lockout button on some models, tow-haul mode on others, and still others by moving the shift lever). This prevents the torque converter from doing a bunch of unlocking-locking-unlocking.
Climbing a long, steep grade in the Rockies or someplace similar, shifting down even further can be advantageous for the extra HP and torque gain. Running at a slower speed but at 4000-5000 rpm is easier on the drive train. And when descending, always downshift similarly so the engine helps hold you back and you don't have to hit the brakes as often. Never ride the brakes down the hill, they'll overheat and you may become a runaway!
Climbing a long, steep grade in the Rockies or someplace similar, shifting down even further can be advantageous for the extra HP and torque gain. Running at a slower speed but at 4000-5000 rpm is easier on the drive train. And when descending, always downshift similarly so the engine helps hold you back and you don't have to hit the brakes as often. Never ride the brakes down the hill, they'll overheat and you may become a runaway!
