towing?

[bobsyrenne]

i have a 3 L, auto,
i occasionally tow from 1500lbs to 3000lbs

do i desingage the overdrive when towing??

dealer told me to leave on but this gives me a bad feeling in the wallet


how often should i be changing my tranny fluid??

thanks bob

 

[Ozwynn]

I would turn it off.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The dealer is suggesting a good way to fry your transmission....

It states right in the owners manual to tow with o/d off unless the tow weight is under a certain % of your max tow weight. On a Ranger, anything over probably 500 lbs would exceed that.

ALWAYS tow with o/d off or use 4th gear on a manual trans. It's easier on the motor and the trans and you have more torque because IIRC 4th is a 1-1 ratio.

 

[metalmacguyver]

On automatics, yes turn the OD off. On manual transmissions it doesnt matter. If it will go in 5th, then use 5th. If it cant, down shift. Its not like your going to be slipping and hunting between the gears like an automatic does trying to use OD and shifting in and out of it again and again which is what kills them.

 

[heptofite]

yeah, but you can burn your clutch trying to run 5th gear when you're pulling too much.

 

[alabamafrog]

I would change fluid every 30-40K, and just let it drain for a long time and change the filter then refill with good quality fluid, I do not believe in flushing machines.

 

[IlovemybroncII]

turn it off unless you are on a nice level long interstate and no hills you will save gas just pay attention to the shifting most of the time your od will shift in and out if you are running 45 mph so stay above that and it should not be shifting in out

 

[JohnnyO]

turn it off unless you are on a nice level long interstate and no hills you will save gas just pay attention to the shifting most of the time your od will shift in and out if you are running 45 mph so stay above that and it should not be shifting in out

Bingo.
It's not towing in OD that hurts the tranny, it's the constant shifting in and out of OD because it's under a heavier load that hurts it.
In a stick, 5th gear itself is not as strong as direct-drive 4th gear and you can hurt it by running it under load.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Bingo.
It's not towing in OD that hurts the tranny, it's the constant shifting in and out of OD because it's under a heavier load that hurts it.
In a stick, 5th gear itself is not as strong as direct-drive 4th gear and you can hurt it by running it under load.

And there is your answer.

 

[bobsyrenne]

thanks
want my musky boat hauler to last a few yrs

bob

 

[exbass94]

Definitely change fluid every 30-40k miles.

 

[akalogan]

By the end of the year I will have to service my Tranny, any thoughts on what brand of fluid to use?

 

[alabamafrog]

I put Amsoil Full synthetic in mine, but mine is a 5 speed.
Amsoil claims to be good for like 100,000 miles or more.
I also put it in the wifes automatic Jeep.

 

[alabamafrog]

If I were towing with any auto tranny I would install a tranny temp gauge, high temps is what kills auto trannys. It may also be necessary to install a secondary cooler. I had to install 2 40K coolers on my powerstroke to get the temps under control.

 

[metalmacguyver]

yeah, but you can burn your clutch trying to run 5th gear when you're pulling too much.

No. During normal driving or towing, once you have completed a shift, the clutch is not slipping. Period. If your engine has more power than the clutch can hold, you need a new clutch.