Have a 97-02 series f 150. wanting to tow a utility trailer with approx. 1100 pounds including the trailer. Should I leave transmission in OD 1500 rpms at 55 or 2200-2300 in 3rd? Not very hilly area and the vehicle has around 115000 miles. 4.6 engine no towing package. This would be a highway trip. What is best for the engine and transmission?
Transmission towing question
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1100 lbs isn't much, it should be fine in OD, but anything much heavier or with hills i would leave OD Off.
Having owned a 97 and a 99 in a similar configuration, the answer is let the truck tell you. If it keeps dropping out of overdrive, then by all means lock out O/D and drive. The engine will run all day at those revs, no problem.
If it will hold O/d without frequent shifting, then go that route. Sold my 99 with 193,000 on it doing just that. It'll tow fine, just slow...
If it will hold O/d without frequent shifting, then go that route. Sold my 99 with 193,000 on it doing just that. It'll tow fine, just slow...
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Let the engine and transmission decide. You will know very quickly once you reach highway speeds if the engine is lugging or not. I would wait to see how the truck performs and decide accordingly.
Would a temerature gauge help?
Thanks for your responses. I will try it out and see how it does in OD.
My friend has a '97 w/ the 4.6L. He tows a 1,000 trailer all the time. We have rolling hills and steep mountain roads. He only occasionally locks out the OD.
As the posters have said here, let the vehicle tell you.
On another note: we did a pan drop and filter change. His filter (rock catcher) looked serviceable enough but the fluid had gotten quite dark in 17 years (with only 52K).
Something like 60% gets renewed when doing a pan drop.
I think a aux. trannie cooler and temp. gauge would be ideal on his truck. Kira
As the posters have said here, let the vehicle tell you.
On another note: we did a pan drop and filter change. His filter (rock catcher) looked serviceable enough but the fluid had gotten quite dark in 17 years (with only 52K).
Something like 60% gets renewed when doing a pan drop.
I think a aux. trannie cooler and temp. gauge would be ideal on his truck. Kira
Originally Posted By: Kira
My friend has a '97 w/ the 4.6L. He tows a 1,000 trailer all the time. We have rolling hills and steep mountain roads. He only occasionally locks out the OD.
As the posters have said here, let the vehicle tell you.
On another note: we did a pan drop and filter change. His filter (rock catcher) looked serviceable enough but the fluid had gotten quite dark in 17 years (with only 52K).
Something like 60% gets renewed when doing a pan drop.
I think a aux. trannie cooler and temp. gauge would be ideal on his truck. Kira
The Amsoil website will tell you the amount changed with a pan drop. In many cases its more like 1/3.
Amsoil ATF is a great ATF to use in any towing situation (assuming its spec'ed for the vehicle) since its synthetic.
My friend has a '97 w/ the 4.6L. He tows a 1,000 trailer all the time. We have rolling hills and steep mountain roads. He only occasionally locks out the OD.
As the posters have said here, let the vehicle tell you.
On another note: we did a pan drop and filter change. His filter (rock catcher) looked serviceable enough but the fluid had gotten quite dark in 17 years (with only 52K).
Something like 60% gets renewed when doing a pan drop.
I think a aux. trannie cooler and temp. gauge would be ideal on his truck. Kira
The Amsoil website will tell you the amount changed with a pan drop. In many cases its more like 1/3.
Amsoil ATF is a great ATF to use in any towing situation (assuming its spec'ed for the vehicle) since its synthetic.
1100 lbs on a F150? Are you kidding? I tow my 2200 lb boat and trailer with a 4 cylinder RAV4 and it has no trouble going into OD, pulling at 65-70 mph all day. Before I has surge brakes, I was more concerned with stopping, not going.
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As long as it's not hunting back and fourth or having to unlock the torque converter ... it's fine.
Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Let the engine and transmission decide. You will know very quickly once you reach highway speeds if the engine is lugging or not. I would wait to see how the truck performs and decide accordingly.
This. You didn't say what gear ratio you have, if larger tires than stock are on the truck or whether or not you have a transmission cooler.
Let the engine and transmission decide. You will know very quickly once you reach highway speeds if the engine is lugging or not. I would wait to see how the truck performs and decide accordingly.
This. You didn't say what gear ratio you have, if larger tires than stock are on the truck or whether or not you have a transmission cooler.
Originally Posted By: Nate1979
1100lb is like carrying a few fat friends in your truck. Would you drop it out of OD for that reason?
That made my day. I'll use that on co-workers next time I drive and the car is sluggish.
1100lb is like carrying a few fat friends in your truck. Would you drop it out of OD for that reason?
Thanks for all the good advice. Just trying to prolong the components. The engine/transmission have been very reliable up to this point. The truck is no powerhouse unloaded.
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