Hello to all! Hoping to pick some brains and get some answers. We recently traded our 2008 f250 6.4 (nothing but issues starting) for a new 2012 f250 6.2 (gas) understandably towing and torque is different but it seems abnormal that in tow/haul mode the trans would bypass 3rd and slam into 2nd on even the slightest grade. It would then sit in 2nd often revving well over 5000 rpm even upon leveling out. We finally finished the trip manually shifting, but lost the engine braking feature in doing so. Planning on taking it to Ford but I know they won't be able to duplicate this without towing. Any thoughts/experience? Thanks!

My 2012 is the 6.7 diesel, but it does not even drop from OD on slight grades. And it smoothly downshifts on greater grades, never skipping a gear. I don't think what you are experiencing would be normal even for a gasser.I had an intermittent problem on a 2004 SD only while towing. So I hooked up an implement trailer with a tractor on it and went to the Ford dealer. He connected his portable diagnostic monitor and off we went. Problem showed up, he noted the problem, back to the dealer, replaced the EGR valve, back on the road within the hour. Maybe your service tech or manager would do the same.

Your tranny may need to be reflashed. FWIW I had a 10 F150 5.4 6sp w/o the select shift feature. It would do the same thing going over overpasses. It would shift from 6th to 4th then to 5th until it went over the overpass. It always seemed to shift down one extra gear before finding the right one. I ended up fixing the situation with a 12 Ram CTD:)BTW how much weight are you towing?

Thanks for the replies, towing approx. 8500 lbs.(loaded weight) and well under 2800 lb. payload. Really shouldn't be an issue for a HD truck- be it diesel or gas. We knew it would be a different experience than our diesel, but 2nd gear seems a little extreme considering we did fine on similar inclines in 4th gear in manual mode. Maybe we'll take it in to dealer trailer and all!!!!

My F250 6.2 likes to drop gears and wind up pretty easily. Torque curve on these engines appears to be abysmal below 3000rpms. That said pulling a decent load I feel the trans does a good job of picking the right gear for the conditions possibly with the exception of hanging up a little too long in a lower gear after cresting a hill. But that is only the case if the road is straight and fast and you're lookin to gain some steam going downhill. On slower or winding roads it seems appropriate. I'd get it checked out if its dropping too low or hanging too long in that gear. If its only replicated by towing then set it up w the dealer to bring your truck in for a loaded up test drive over a cpl hills.

tbred wrote:...new 2012 f250 6.2 (gas) understandably towing and torque is different but it seems abnormal that in tow/haul mode the trans would bypass 3rd and slam into 2nd on even the slightest grade. It would then sit in 2nd often revving well over 5000 rpm even upon leveling out. We finally finished the trip manually shifting, but lost the engine braking feature in doing so. Planning on taking it to Ford but I know they won't be able to duplicate this without towing. Any thoughts/experience? Thanks!I am assuming you are referencing a descent, not ascent? If it was a descent, the trans will hold in that gear until you provide a bit of acceleration. The trans dropped into 2nd gear as you had it in Tow/Haul mode and you were applying braking hard enough to where it chose 2nd, along with your revs must be within range for 2nd.Providing acceleration, on your part, should signal to the trans to stop holding the gear it is in as you don't require engine braking any longer.Once you are aware of how it works, it can be quite effective.EDIT: Just noticed this in your additional post...so ignore my response as you were referencing incline.tbred wrote:...but 2nd gear seems a little extreme considering we did fine on similar inclines in 4th gear in manual mode...

Tow /haul mode questions | Good Sam Community

goducks10
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Your tranny may need to be reflashed. FWIW I had a 10 F150 5.4 6sp w/o the select shift feature. It would do the same thing going over overpasses. It would shift from 6th to 4th then to 5th until it went over the overpass. It always seemed to shift down one extra gear before finding the right one.
I ended up fixing the situation with a 12 Ram CTD:)

BTW how much weight are you towing?
BB_TX
Nomad
Aug 08, 2013
My 2012 is the 6.7 diesel, but it does not even drop from OD on slight grades. And it smoothly downshifts on greater grades, never skipping a gear. I don't think what you are experiencing would be normal even for a gasser.
I had an intermittent problem on a 2004 SD only while towing. So I hooked up an implement trailer with a tractor on it and went to the Ford dealer. He connected his portable diagnostic monitor and off we went. Problem showed up, he noted the problem, back to the dealer, replaced the EGR valve, back on the road within the hour. Maybe your service tech or manager would do the same.

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