Any drivetrain gurus out there?
Recently on a cross country trip, 2017 Ford f250 6.2 liter, I encountered a long uphill grade. Not terribly steep, just long. The transmission, even in tow haul, shifted frequently and, since I had ...
Forum Discussion
How much slower than 35 mph would you like the guy to go? Those types of reccomendations come from folks that irk the majority of drivers by putzing along as slow as humanly possible, imo.
As much as some would like to think, new vehicles still require or at least need some intelligent/qualified input from the driver when tackling more than a Sunday crooze with no load.
First, yes your truck was likely giving all she had. 35mph with an 8000lb wind sail up hill is not out of the question to dog down a gasser. My 6.2s were in 2nd at close to redline to maintain 50mph up 8% grades at moderately low altitude with less trailer than you were pulling. They wouldn't hold 3rd gear.
Second, yes tow haul mode pretty well dummy proofs shifting for those that can't even shift an auto trans, but there are situations where you SHOULD use manual gear selection, like your case, if the road is twisty and or the grade isn't consistent, truck only knows why it feels at the moment, not what is going to happen 5 seconds later. So to keep it from shifting all over itself, do the thinkin for it. You and your transmission will be happier!
IMO you shouldn't smell gear lube after pulling that little trailer. There's only 2 conditions that lead to the smell getting out. 1 being a leak and the other being the differential getting much hotter than it should. That's almost definitely a sign of something amiss with the rear end. I've hammered enough pickups like a Rottweiler humpin a poodle to be certain you don't smell gear oil if everything is ok.
As much as some would like to think, new vehicles still require or at least need some intelligent/qualified input from the driver when tackling more than a Sunday crooze with no load.
First, yes your truck was likely giving all she had. 35mph with an 8000lb wind sail up hill is not out of the question to dog down a gasser. My 6.2s were in 2nd at close to redline to maintain 50mph up 8% grades at moderately low altitude with less trailer than you were pulling. They wouldn't hold 3rd gear.
Second, yes tow haul mode pretty well dummy proofs shifting for those that can't even shift an auto trans, but there are situations where you SHOULD use manual gear selection, like your case, if the road is twisty and or the grade isn't consistent, truck only knows why it feels at the moment, not what is going to happen 5 seconds later. So to keep it from shifting all over itself, do the thinkin for it. You and your transmission will be happier!
IMO you shouldn't smell gear lube after pulling that little trailer. There's only 2 conditions that lead to the smell getting out. 1 being a leak and the other being the differential getting much hotter than it should. That's almost definitely a sign of something amiss with the rear end. I've hammered enough pickups like a Rottweiler humpin a poodle to be certain you don't smell gear oil if everything is ok.
