2018 FR3 30DS Downhill Braking

[fritzg2]

Just completed maiden run to Lake George, NY. While on the road and needing to slow on a hill I would apply the brake. The engine would immediately rev to about 3500 RPM and if I applied again would go higher. Scared me when happened. Is this normal with the Ford F53 V10

[Carl17]

The main reason for tow haul mode is to provide engine braking. Every time you touch brake it will shift to lower gear. Look up on Ford website for detail use of tow haul mode. Yes its very unnerving . You can turn it off .

[ben31]

This is for an F150, but it applies to yours, too. Yes, braking will downshift for you each time you press the brake. It is better than wearing out or overheating your brakes.
Slow down as you come to the hill and it shouldn't raise the RPMs so high.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hw_Ifv4-6U

[drivmsafe]

Originally Posted by fritzg2

Just completed maiden run to Lake George, NY. While on the road and needing to slow on a hill I would apply the brake. The engine would immediately rev to about 3500 RPM and if I applied again would go higher. Scared me when happened. Is this normal with the Ford F53 V10

Yes. This is normal. The trick is to not press the brake pedal too hard to keep it from over downshifting. When I start downhill (when in tow mode) I usually let the coach slow beforehand so I don't have to brake as much. A hard push on the pedal signals the tranny that more downshift is needed. If you push the pedal more than once in quick succession it'll downshift more.
You just need to experiment to get a feel for it.
Going uphill in tow mode will also cause downshifting at a different point that normal because the shift patterns are changed by the computer. Again, experimenting on this will give you a better feel.

[dwayneb236]

Love my engine brake. Made driving to California stress free for me.

[b1barnes]

Remember the V10 red lines at 5200-6000 under no load depending on the year. So running at 3500 down hill is not bad. There are 1.3 million of this engine type in the field. Max HP is at 4700 and climbing mountains I have run there for long periods with no issues.

Good engine except for the noise which FR could do a better job of insulating.

[bes]

I had a conversation with a truck mechanic who knows the F53 chassis inside and out---You can not overrev this engine, it's basically idiot proof. I live in Vegas and go from 2000 to 9500' elevation and back in the 100+ heat. I have never seen the temp guage rise going up or down hill and I rely on the tow/haul mode always. The V10 is so frickin loud someone should figure out how to make a gas pusher, but it seems bullet proof.
Barry

[PenJoe]

What has not been mentioned is that lightly pressing the gas pedal releases engine brake mode. Another press on the brake pedal will bring it down one gear. Another press of the brake pedal, down another gear.

[drivmsafe]

Originally Posted by bes

I had a conversation with a truck mechanic who knows the F53 chassis inside and out---You can not overrev this engine, it's basically idiot proof. I live in Vegas and go from 2000 to 9500' elevation and back in the 100+ heat. I have never seen the temp guage rise going up or down hill and I rely on the tow/haul mode always. The V10 is so frickin loud someone should figure out how to make a gas pusher, but it seems bullet proof.
Barry

I agree that the V10 is a hard working engine. One "important" thing to keep in mind (a friend found out the hard way). That "gauge" you're referring to, along with the oil gauge, is actually only an idiot light. By the time it goes into the danger zone....too late.
I added different pressure gauges for peace of mind. BEWARE, if you do this, be sure to add a "T" and keep the original electric sender so's not to confuse the computer.

[Bluepill]

FWIW, you can get an OBD2 Bluetooth scanner for under $30 that will display all sorts of powertrain data on a tablet.

https://youtu.be/WOQLh1iGN60