Is this working the truck too hard?

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
This brings up a question; some vehicle lose speed going up the grade but others do not or lose very little. This is when the throttle is held steady and there is no up shift. Does that depend upon the vehicle weight and the available engine torque at that particular rpm/speed?


Sure. It's going to depend on the load (influenced by vehicle weight, speed/drag, and grade) and the available engine power at given engine speed and throttle position.

 

[The_Eric]

I agree with the rest of the posters, but will add that you should make sure it's tuned up.

-Air filter
-Fuel Filter
-PCV Valve
-Plugs/Wires

The fuel filter is often overlooked and will make your truck feel a bit soft in the midsection if plugged.

 

[Stewart Fan]

Overdrive has really skewed peoples perception of whats ok for their engine.

My dads old '90 Chevy dually had a 454 with 4.10 gearing and a 3 spd transmission (no O/D).

At 65 mph it was turning something like 3800 RPM. It would run that speed for hours at a time while towing his travel trailer. Didn't hurt anything but his pocketbook when he had to fill up.

You want to hear something that will make you cringe,listen to a Duramax when it uses its grade braking to slow a large travel trailer on a steep grade.

The RPM will jump to 4000 after a couple taps of the brake. Sounds like she is gonna blow,but its designed to operate that way.

 

[rslifkin]

I've seen marine 454s run 3200 rpm for hours on end at cruise (around 2/3rds throttle) and still be healthy and happy 1300 hours (and 27 years) later, using maybe a 1/4 - 1/3 of a quart of oil in 50 - 70 hours of use.

 

[morris]

i would run ZDDP in the oil. i think the zinc is needed

 

[Vikas]

Originally Posted By: rationull
Originally Posted By: Vikas
This brings up a question; some vehicle lose speed going up the grade but others do not or lose very little. This is when the throttle is held steady and there is no up shift. Does that depend upon the vehicle weight and the available engine torque at that particular rpm/speed?


Sure. It's going to depend on the load (influenced by vehicle weight, speed/drag, and grade) and the available engine power at given engine speed and throttle position.


I always associate vehicle responsiveness or power to its ability to hold speed at the same throttle position going up the grade. Logically, I understand that all it is really telling me is its torque at that particular rpm. I suspect most of us think of a vehicle which keeps the speed on the grade as more "powerful" even if the reality is different.

- Vikas

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: Vikas

I always associate vehicle responsiveness or power to its ability to hold speed at the same throttle position going up the grade. Logically, I understand that all it is really telling me is its torque at that particular rpm. I suspect most of us think of a vehicle which keeps the speed on the grade as more "powerful" even if the reality is different.

- Vikas


Given that most road vehicles (or at least most comparable vehicles in a similar class) are pretty much geared to travel efficiently at similar speeds, that doesn't seem like an unreasonable way to look at it in practice.