What kind of gas mileage on your TV?

[FreedomTracker]

OK... I called my local Ford service dept advisor and confirmed the following:

• OD is same as 6th gear (2012)
• OD is most efficient gear for maximizing MPG
• TV will NOT go into OD/6th gear when Tow/Haul button engaged
• Cruise control (CC) makes engine work a little harder and could increase operating temp. Although not a big problem assuming correct GVWR.

CONCLUSION: for best MPG while towing, do not use CC or Tow/Haul button... If you do use CC, watch your temp guage.

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by FreedomTracker

CONCLUSION: for best MPG while towing, do not use CC or Tow/Haul button... If you do use CC, watch your temp guage.

Very interesting information, although I did suspect that I would get better gas mileage in OD. Maybe I'll use the tow/haul button less often. Use it only when the truck is searching for gears.

[BlakeB]

Originally Posted by FreedomTracker

OK... I called my local Ford service dept advisor and confirmed the following:

• OD is same as 6th gear (2012)
• OD is most efficient gear for maximizing MPG
• TV will NOT go into OD/6th gear when Tow/Haul button engaged
• Cruise control (CC) makes engine work a little harder and could increase operating temp. Although not a big problem assuming correct GVWR.

CONCLUSION: for best MPG while towing, do not use CC or Tow/Haul button... If you do use CC, watch your temp guage.

I would think a second opinion is in order. I cant imagine the "searching" for gears would be a good thing to do if you're trying to keep the trans temp down.

I guess it's all going to depend on the weight of the trailer though.

[Herk7769]

On the flats I press Tow Haul "OFF" let the trans upshift to OD and turn it back on. That way I get the benifit of OD and the locked transmission.

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by herk7769

On the flats I press Tow Haul "OFF" let the trans upshift to OD and turn it back on. That way I get the benifit of OD and the locked transmission.

Lou , does it stay in OD after you do that maneuver ?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

Lou , does it stay in OD after you do that maneuver ?

Yes. My RPM drops about 250 revs when I do this. It will downshift on the tow haul "step" if it needs to. On the flats it never does.

[ng2951]

I find it hard to believe that you can get better fuel economy with your foot as oppose to CC. It may be under high loading and mountainous terrain CC could easily have trouble managing power better than the Mark I brain/foot control. PID controllers can only do so well, especially when the feed forward is not available to CC.

However, outside of those conditions CC has got to be able to manage MPG better than the foot. I will certainly have more data about this later this summer. On the hills the Dmax/Allison/CC seems to work very well together. This might be totally different at higher altitudes and much longer grades.

I would say with a gasser, I would not be surprised if that were true. The gasser is going to spin up/shed a lot more under high load conditions. The engine is going to rev up on the hills and then shed crossing the peak and then drop very low on the downhill side. I know my Taco did that a lot in New Mexico.

[rotorhead1250]

I'm out here in NM and I mostly drive without cc on, just to take advantage of a little downhill assist. My diesel egt's get a little hot trying to maintain speed with the cruise on when going up hill, so I just prefer to drive it using the ol foot. Keeps me focused too. Constant scan of the gauges.