Overdrive and towing a trailer

[Joe-FL]

Based on pulling a heavy fiver with the new Ford 6.7 diesel, and now traveling cross country in a MH equipped with this gasser V-10, I probably will not be making any mods to the engine. I have read about the 5-star tune and other mods for these engines but you are never going to make them perform like a diesel.

When we were full time and putting over 20,000 miles on a year traveling the diesel was the way to go, and it would not have mattered it we were pulling a fiver or driving a large MH. When it came time to be part time travelers, maybe 4 months max and less than 8,000 miles a year, then for my money gas was the way to go because it was hard to justify the extra expense of a diesel engine.

IMHO the V10 unmodified will get me up and down the hills/mountains just fine. It is a proven reliable engine I can put some miles on and do a little of the servicing on myself.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Joe-FL

Based on pulling a heavy fiver with the new Ford 6.7 diesel, and now traveling cross country in a MH equipped with this gasser V-10, I probably will not be making any mods to the engine. I have read about the 5-star tune and other mods for these engines but you are never going to make them perform like a diesel.

When we were full time and putting over 20,000 miles on a year traveling the diesel was the way to go, and it would not have mattered it we were pulling a fiver or driving a large MH. When it came time to be part time travelers, maybe 4 months max and less than 8,000 miles a year, then for my money gas was the way to go because it was hard to justify the extra expense of a diesel engine.

IMHO the V10 unmodified will get me up and down the hills/mountains just fine. It is a proven reliable engine I can put some miles on and do a little of the servicing on myself.

When I put the 5-Star on our Super Duty I was fully aware that it would never be a Diesel. Just wanted to eek out that little extra performance--besides the real benefit of the 5-Star tune is the transmission shift point modifications.

[Joe-FL]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

When I put the 5-Star on our Super Duty I was fully aware that it would never be a Diesel. Just wanted to eek out that little extra performance--besides the real benefit of the 5-Star tune is the transmission shift point modifications.

I can understand the desire for better shift points when using cruise control, or anytime for that matter when in hilly or steep terrain. I can control my own shift points pretty good with the gas pedal and no cruise. The biggest downfall of the gas engine is going down a 6% or better grade. With my diesel the engine braking would hold me back to a desired speed, with this V10 in tow/haul I still have to push a little brake once and awhile to take some speed off. I suppose the 5-Star Tune could help that a little but I am fine without it. I know to stay off the brakes enough so they don't overheat.

Being a part time RVer the performance of the V10 just isn't a huge priority to me. I will spend money on suspension upgrades to make my rolling turd handle better but it runs "okay" for me right now.

[Chance]

Spark ignition engines provide limited braking, so the heavier the motorhome the less it can slow it down. In my experience I could get the engine close to redline with a standard transmission, so I doubt controlling shift points would have helped much if at all. There is just so much you can do.

Even if you could tweak the drivetrain what's it going to accomplish -- descending a little faster once in a very long time? I'd bet it wouldn't save me 5 minutes a year. I'd rather slow down and use one lower gear if it even came to that.