2013 F150 Ecoboost transmission hiccup?

My trans temp has hit 205, but that is worst. Engine temp has made it to 228 on a 6% grade that was 5 miles long. Ambient air temp was actually 106°. I dropped my speed back to 45 and 4th gear and it dropped down to 216, give or take.

I have never hit limp mode, but I keep a close watch on engine temp and let off a bit when I see it climbing.

The only time my truck downshifts on downhill grades with T/H NOT engaged is when CC is on and it coasts faster than the set speed. Then it will automatically down shift. I don't necessarily like that either..

I usually disengage CC on downhill too, towing or not.

Mitch

Thank you for all that replied. Takes load off my mind. Never had tran. temp has never been over 194. Again feel much better. Thanks everyone.

In a recent 1000mile round trip I studied parameters (using my scangauge) of shifting with tow/haul engaged vs normal. Here are my observations with tow haul engaged:

• Truck will hold a gear for longer before downshifting. Typically 88-92% load is when a downshift occurs. If cruise is engaged, it will actually spike to 100% load before downshift.
• Torque convertor stays locked up MUCH longer. In fact, I don't think it will unlock until 4th gear.
• Upshifts are triggered at slightly higher speeds
• MPG is better due to convertor staying locked longer and less shifting
• An upshift WILL NOT happen until load drops below ~45%, give or take
• Engine braking engagement varies according to the amount of brake you are giving at the time. More brake equals quicker downshifts
• Engine temp tends to stay warmer with higher load. Downshifting a gear and turning some additional rpm will drop the temps a bit (Mine runs 200-210 unless I'm pulling a long, steep grade)
• trans temp stays cooler due to less TC slip and less shifting

Just a few observations. YMMV.

When towing in hilly country with "tow haul" on, my 2011 F-150 will occasionally stay in a lower gear (usually 2nd) and start to rev. until I do something to wake it up. Usually I switch to the manual shift option an back to drive.

The whiz bang electronics are great but they are not fool proof, it seems that every once in a while the computer simply get fooled or just guesses wrong. When that happens I have to be the dad and correct the errant child.

Fortunately, it seldom gets fooled and when it does it is no longer a surprise.

Trans is part of drivetrain warranty, 5yr/60k miles.

3/36000 bumper to bumper.

I'll say this - the trans is VERY robust and an excellent unit. So much so that I cannot recall hearing of a trans failure in these trucks. Not saying it can't happen, of course. It is very rare.

I suppose it's possible that it is programmed to downshift when a trailer is hooked up, even if tow/haul isn't engaged. I haven't personally observed it, but I tow with tow/haul engaged.

By the way, I do recommend engaged tow/haul while pulling the trailer. You will get better mpg, shift points, and all around better shifting while pulling. Torque convertor stays locked up longer, no hunting for gears, etc.

Its a shame our Ford dealer knows so little about what they sell. In this particular instance anyway. I would like to thank everyone who has responded. My truck was not in tow/haul mode, what I was thinking is what would happen when I tow my small TT this fall for turkey season. Again thank you for answers it has really helped. if it happens again I will detail specifics of when it did it and go from there. I do believe the transmission should still be under warranty till 50,000 miles. I have a long ways to go being disabled and not using it much.

If tow/haul or cruise is engaged, perfectly normal operation. Truck is attempting to maintain speed.

Hill decent control is typically low speed over rough terrain. I am not sure if your truck has that. You do have engine grade braking. 4000rpm is nothing for the engine, especially at no load/downhill. You can choose to use your brakes instead, but people were paid a lot of money to design your truck to do exactly what you experience.

Mine does the same. It can be annoying. Take it off cruise control and T/H to stop it. I'll reengage T/H again when I'm coasting.