Tow with O/D on or off? And what about downshifting?

[myredracer]

Have had our 2000 Ford F150 since 2003. In the near decade that I've driven it, I've never used the little on/off button on the end of the shift stalk, even when I've towed a car or large pile of lumber with my car trailer. It has relatively low mileage and I don't want to damage the tranny at this point and I certainly don't want to get stranded on the far side of the country.

Now that I will be towing a TT that weighs around 4,000 lbs and for long distances at freeway speeds, I need to know what to do with the little button.

I am rather confused as to whether to tow in overdrive or not. There seems to be conflicting info out there from what I've read on Google. On our longest trip yet last weekend, we drove about an hour on the freeway at around 60mph. It tows great and doesn't hunt between gears. Got nearly 11mpg too. But it does seem underpowered at times say when going up mild inclines and I'd like to switch out of O/D. I does seem quite apparent that it IS okay to shift out of O/D on steeper hills to maintain power and speed. It feels like it would be better to turn O/D off sometimes because the RPMs feel too low. But maybe that's just the way it is?

If you have the option of driving with the O/D on or off (depending on speed, incline, etc.) is gas mileage affected much one way or the other?

Is there a really clear answer on this? And what's the recommended practice for manually shifting into a lower gear when going up or down a steep hill and does it matter if you do this while O/D is on or off?

I've also read that you can manually lock out the overdrive. I have no idea what this is about and how to do it. It sounds like damage to the tranny is caused by continuous hunting between gears while in O/D?

[TURBS]

tow/haul mode short version is it doesnt allow the converter to fully lock up and raises all your shift points so that it builds more rpm before shifting when starting from stop.
I only run o/d when on perfectly flat hi way . otherwise third it is .
and I all ways run tow/haul mode .

I have rebuilt my share of transmissions all be it earlier models with overdrive and almost every tow vehicle tranny that was run in overdrive smoked the clutch pack .

yeah yeah I know theres guys that have run o/d for 6 million miles and never used tow haul mode with no problems .
but now a days why take a chance . most transmissions run upward of 6 grand ! diesels add another 2 grand !
do what ya want but IMO no o/d and use tow haul !

[21C1]

New F150's use 6th gear in tow haul mode. My truck uses 6th gear on the highway with 8500# behind it. I am guessing if the Ford Engineers thought it was detrimental they would have programmed the tow haul mode to not use 6th gear.

What does your owners manual say?

[RonLynnJr]

I only use O/D (like f1100) when on flat roads and at highway speeds (60+ mph). As soon as I feel the engine start bogging down I let off the fuel and select tow/haul.

[Gquist]

I would not use overdrive with a 4k trailer, you will gain no fuel economy and the lugging is hard on the transmission and engine, Ford didn't have the tow\haul in those years so simply press the button to turn od off. You might get by using it on flat roads and tail winds, you can feel when it is struggling to tow the trailer,

[TURBS]

My manual says do not use overdrive while towing.

[Triguy]

I just know this isn't going to be popular but I keep it simple and I tow according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

My Sequoia has a tow/haul mode and they recommend it. I use it. I also followed the recommendations with my Ford F-150 and Jeep Grand Cherokee when I owned those. I did not tow with O/D with those vehicles.

Frankly, I trust the manufacturer more than Google. So what's your manual say?

[Bunkfamily]

The older OD tranny..pre 05ish doesnt have tow/haul...just locks out overdrive. We have near 235000 miles on a 99 with the same tranny, it has towed, plowed and worked its whole life and still has the original tranny. The trick is to shut the OD off every time you start the truck, the only time the tranny should actually be in overdrive is if your traveling at a constant speed over 40mph for a good distance. Basically you should experiment, 4000 lbs is quite light but dependant on gearing and driving style, grades etc, you will not want the tranny shifting constantly. If the truck will hold the speed you choose to travel in overdrive then do it, if it looses speed then downshifts your better off to lock it out until your at a higher rate of speed.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Bunkfamily

The older OD tranny..pre 05ish doesnt have tow/haul...just locks out overdrive. We have near 235000 miles on a 99 with the same tranny, it has towed, plowed and worked its whole life and still has the original tranny. The trick is to shut the OD off every time you start the truck, the only time the tranny should actually be in overdrive is if your traveling at a constant speed over 40mph for a good distance. Basically you should experiment, 4000 lbs is quite light but dependant on gearing and driving style, grades etc, you will not want the tranny shifting constantly. If the truck will hold the speed you choose to travel in overdrive then do it, if it loofunses speed then downshifts your better off to lock it out until your at a higher rate of speed.

Funny ! the two 1993 f250's in my shop both have tow haul
Mode on shift lever?

[Crusader]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

My manual says do not use overdrive while towing.

X2

[myredracer]

f1100turbo: great info. Thanks. Pardon my thickness though, but just what is tow/haul mode? Is that what you call turning off the O/D?

It seems to me that our truck and tranny seemed happier when O/D is turned off except when the road is fairly flat or downhill, so that's what I'll do. Not sure if it makes much of a difference with gas mileage to keep the revs down as low as possible.

I was reading on an F150 forum that one owner had a bunch of techs at his dealer's shop tell him to do the opposite of what the Ford manual said to do.

[myredracer]

BTW, when I bought the truck used (dealer lease return), it didn't come with an owner's manual and I never bothered to find one. So, I can't look up what it says to do. Even then, some Ford techs have said to do the opposite. Argh.

[OldCoot]

My 05 Silverado has it on the end of the shift lever and I NEVER pull anything with the OD engaged. Trannys are too expensive to have rebuilt. Also have had Mobil 1 synthetic put in the tranny and rear end. Have used it in every vehicle I've owned since 1978 and Smokey Yunick suggested it when I talked to him in Daytona.

[TURBS]

As I said before tow haul mode does two things
1) it prevents the torque converter from fully locking up.
2) it raises the shift point rpm to a higher level to build more rpm before shifting.
And on Chevy diesels with Allison trans it provides engine braking to slow vehicle.

[Gquist]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Funny ! the two 1993 f250's in my shop both have tow haul
Mode on shift lever?

The button on the end of the shift lever on older fords just locks it out of od, they only have (park-reverse-Neutral-overdrive-2-1) on the shift lever itself, so the button just locks out od, It seems to me it would have made more sense to have it like the Chevys and have all 4 gears on the lever then the tow\haul button to raise shift points and pressures,

[Bunkfamily]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Funny ! the two 1993 f250's in my shop both have tow haul
Mode on shift lever?

either somebody transplanted the shifters or your mistaken, its Overdrive. the tranny in your 1993 is aode first year for the electrinic od and since I have 7 92 to 97's in my fleet that all say overdrive.......im gonna cry foul

[Gquist]

Originally Posted by myredracer

BTW, when I bought the truck used (dealer lease return), it didn't come with an owner's manual and I never bothered to find one. So, I can't look up what it says to do. Even then, some Ford techs have said to do the opposite. Argh.

Here's is a link for free online manuals
http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...d=&kevin=rules

[Bunkfamily]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

As I said before tow haul mode does two things
1) it prevents the torque converter from fully locking up.
2) it raises the shift point rpm to a higher level to build more rpm before shifting.
And on Chevy diesels with Allison trans it provides engine braking to slow vehicle.

you are correct here but not till 2004 on the fords man.......prior it just locked out overdrive.....

[Bunkfamily]

New 5-Speed TorqShift Automatic Gives Customers More of Everything | Ford Motor Company Newsroom

[TURBS]

Foul accepted! Sorry 2 o3's
I stand corrected ........
Its tuff to remember my fleet when I'm spouting off at the mouth.

As long as were talking fleet I might as well hi jack this puppy
1 2007 gmc 1500 4x4 tow haul
1 2005 Chevy 2500 hd tow haul
2 2001 Chevy 2500 hd tow haul
2 1993 f250 non turbos
2 1996 k2500
1 1993 f350
2 2003 f250 turbos
1 1989 c2500
1 1995 c1500
1 1998 r2500