V-10 6-speed Shifting Pattern

Jerry B. · 06-10-2018, 01:54 AM

I may be over thinking this whole thing but does anyone know of an existing guide/chart giving the rpm’s for downshifting to lower gears from the drive position on descents? Better yet any recommendations from the experienced. Thanks in advance.

nosticks · 06-10-2018, 11:21 AM

Just use tow/haul mode and tap the brakes for downshifts. It won't let you over rev it.

Bob Denman · 06-10-2018, 12:29 PM

Yup! The computer will protect the engine: you're good to go!

scrubjaysnest · 06-10-2018, 01:36 PM

I find the down shifts occur to early and to far down especially in tow/haul.
When the budget allows plan get the stuff to re-program the shift patterns.

Muggs · 06-10-2018, 01:36 PM

Tow/haul mode works great. When I am towing it does save a lot of wear on brakes. The uphill down shifts can be startling at first, 3500 to 4500 RPM sounds like a lot but modern engine design and computer controls give a great range of flexibilty. If you tap brakes went coming to a light/stop it will downshift.

The old camaro I tow on racecar trailer routinely sees 7,600 RPM in a stock 1972 chevy block.

Bob Denman · 06-10-2018, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

I find the down shifts occur to early and to far down especially in tow/haul.
When the budget allows plan get the stuff to re-program the shift patterns.

Those downshifts occur in order to help protect you...

...just sayin'...

vkb · 06-10-2018, 02:43 PM

Ron sez that 6 speed trans. keeps getting smarter and smarter...it seems the more miles we put on it, it becomes intuitive of how he drives .. using the tow/haul mode is essential.

Beau388 · 06-10-2018, 03:15 PM

Max computer limited RPM for the V-10 has always been 5,250 rpm. Since the gas engine has a much lower compression ratio than a diesel, there is much less engine braking available at the same rpm. The only simple way to supplement the friction brakes is to use the engine's compression.

vkb · 06-10-2018, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beau388

Max computer limited RPM for the V-10 has always been 5,250 rpm. Since the gas engine has a much lower compression ratio than a diesel, there is much less engine braking available at the same rpm. The only simple way to supplement the friction brakes is to use the engine's compression.

agree

Ron

Jerry B. · 06-10-2018, 04:11 PM

Thanks for the info guys. Just want to be safe. Appreciate your time.

Sanford · 06-10-2018, 05:14 PM

We installed the 5 Star tuning system, and it helped with power as well as smoother shifting when in tow mode.

gmtech16450yz · 06-10-2018, 05:23 PM

Here does this help? lol.

I'm really impressed with this Ford drivetrain and the power of the V10, but I am kinda bummed that they don't have the control and software of the GM 6L90 or the Allison. Just having total control over gear selection simply by pushing a button on the shifter like GM has had for years would be nice.

The stock '17 6 speed calibrations are pretty good though. Not like the super conservative and neutered engine calibrations are. Yikes! We took our Vegas (tuned by me) to dinner last night with 5 people on board and I raced a Prius from a stop light. We chopped it! haha. Beat him by one motorhome length. lol.

Bob Denman · 06-10-2018, 05:26 PM

Thanks!

I like lots of Charts...

SuperD · 06-10-2018, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanford

We installed the 5 Star tuning system, and it helped with power as well as smoother shifting when in tow mode.

We also installed the 5 Star Tune, can’t say enough good things about it. Much better and firmer shifts, better acceleration, a little better mpg.

DenverTransplant · 06-10-2018, 10:01 PM

The 6 speed in tow/haul mode downshifts based upon your braking. We have a moderate downgrade to a main road as we leave the house and I can get it to downshift twice just by braking. After the first downshift it will downshift again (to 2nd I think) when I brake again.

We cross the Continental Divide several times a year going over the I-70 tunnels. Going up we can usually hold about 40 MPH westbound at around 3000 RPM. Eastbound climb out of Silverton is steeper so we slow down a bit more and the transmission tends to downshift, speed up, shift into a higher gear and then downshift again as it can't keep up. I generally can't just mash it down as some trucks are going pretty slow (sometimes 10-15 MPH) on that grade and traffic in the next lane is doing 60.

Going downhill tow/haul is great. The engine is screaming but speed is easy to control with only tapping the brakes occassionally. Last trip down into Denver we did pick up a engine misfire code at just about the "Truckers, you aren't down yet" sign but it cleared on the first engine restart and we haven't seen it since.

We we first got the coach, it had a programming fault that prevented tow/haul downshifts from working right. Brakes were really hot by the time we got to the bottom of Vail Pass. Ford had a TSB out to reflash the ECM and its worked fine since then.

Bob Denman · 06-10-2018, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperD

We also installed the 5 Star Tune, can’t say enough good things about it. Much better and firmer shifts, better acceleration, a little better mpg.

I may have to see if I can get this little gem back on my "Wish-List"
(The Missus nixed it on the first pass...

)

SuperD · 06-10-2018, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I may have to see if I can get this little gem back on my "Wish-List"
(The Missus nixed it on the first pass...

)

Their customer service is Great! I wasn’t happy with the Tune I received, I called, explained what parameters I wanted changed, had the new Tune by email in less than 30 min!!! Been super happy with the results!

JamieGeek · 06-10-2018, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperD

Their customer service is Great! I wasn’t happy with the Tune I received, I called, explained what parameters I wanted changed, had the new Tune by email in less than 30 min!!! Been super happy with the results!

Yeah loved the 5-star tune I had in my F-350.

kwplot34 · 06-11-2018, 04:10 AM

Question. Our 2016 E450 has the 5 speed, love the tow haul feature and engine breaking. The question is, when it down shifts for engine breaking and I go back to the throttle sometimes it takes quite a while to up shift. Any secrets on getting it to up shift a little quicker?

abjbrtd · 06-11-2018, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwplot34

Question. Our 2016 E450 has the 5 speed, love the tow haul feature and engine breaking. The question is, when it down shifts for engine breaking and I go back to the throttle sometimes it takes quite a while to up shift. Any secrets on getting it to up shift a little quicker?

I turn the tow/haul off, after the up shift I turn it back on.

When our speed starts to climb a quick momentary firm push of the brake peddle will get the transmission to quickly shift down. On a long down hill I may do it 2 or more times.

You may also like: