crazyfritz
Columbia, SC
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I have an EOD w/ three speeds and overdrive when I'm on a flat grade I kick it in OD and it pulls great. I can even pull a small grade without adding throttle. I know from talking to people that OD isn't made to pull but what would make so different? I can say one thing for the transmission that I can put a load TC at over 3K#'s in it and it loves it, if I tow my enclosed w/out the camper with half that wieght it acts like an anchor. I haven't looked into it but there has to be something there.
FRITZ
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downtheroad
Puget Sound
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If it does not "hunt" (constantly shift up and down into and out of OD) I'd leave it it OD. Just watch the temps also.
Sounds like it is working just fine the way you are using it.
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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I have a friend who is a very good GM mechanic, and he told me as long as I have a tranny cooler and the tranny doesn't hunt or heat up, "go for it" His words exactly.
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crappie_fisherman
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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What does your owners manual state about use of OD when towing?
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Fritz, the overdrive gear is not real strong in the E4OD. It is typically not recommended to tow in OD with that transmission. Those transmissions are also alot more expensive to rebuild than an old Ford C6 or GM TH350/400 3-speed, so be careful with it on your trip.
I would take it out of OD for any long grades or strong head winds. If your tranny fluid is fresh and you keep it cool and it isn't locking/unlocking the converter or shifting back and forth between 3rd and 4th, using it in OD on the flats with your camper shouldn't give you any problems.
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crazyfritz
Columbia, SC
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The transmission doesn't jump back and forth at all. I actually have to watch it because it wants to shift into a higher gear at what I think is too early. If I want to force a down shift because the RPM's get down to around or even below 1500 I have to give it a good punch(3/4 throttle) and then if it is a steep grade I will manually hold a gear until I see the up shift coming then I'll manually upshift before hand so the trans does the work. I've heard that the modulator is adjustable on the side of the trans and can change firmness and timing of the shifts. I'm not going to take it on but I plan on having someone look at it when I find the right person. I saw the Banks transcommand and wonder if having the control is what I need. The truck is fine unloaded but trailering gives it the biggest challenge, the camper is not as big a problem. The camper is not as heavy as most it has a wet weight of 2400#+our goods. The engine doesn't burn any real oil, not enough to have to ever add any. I am going to start searching the Nashville area while I'm hear for a good trans man to look at it. Thanks guys.
FRITZ
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NHguy
NH
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I have a thought for you. If you need less throttle you are working the engine less, so sometimes a lower gear is OK. I found that even though my truck will hold OD, that it feels better to let the engine turn a little faster in drive instead of OD, unless I'm gliding or going along on flat ground.
You have a more traditional (lots of torque) engine so your vehicle may not behave as mine does. So my idea is just a thought.
Sometimes it's OK to spin the engine, and if socaldesertrider is right you might be dollars ahead to use D and save that OD for lighter loads.
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juzplanekrazy
Huntington Beach Ca.
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Get a trany temp gauge, that will tell you everything you need to know. I think you'll be amazed at what you think is fine and the gauge is telling you something else.
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summutt2002
Over here......no, over there!
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I'm still a little low on the learning curve with the sig TV (which is new to me) but after a couple of short trips with a lot of climbing, I am finding that if I drop out of OD when on grades in excess of 5%, the engine seems more comfortable. The tranny temp was no greater than 185 when on a sustained (10 mile) 3-6% climb to 7K', 80 degree ambient. On one stretch of sustained 5-6% grade to 10,750', 70 degree ambient, I got to 210 momentarily on the tranny as I approached the summit...consider this acceptable. I dropped out of OD on these climbs but kicked the OD back in most of the non-climbing time. Did about 300 miles on this experimental trip....13.7 mpg. TT weight was about 8K#.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Fritz, instead of forcing a downshift by flooring the gas and waiting for it to shift itself, downshift it manually while slightly letting off the gas during the shift. It's easier on the transmission that way.
1500 rpm is way too slow for towing with your 460. Even our 6.0L diesel loses alot of towing power when the rpm's go below 2000.
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