This is reposted from the CHIP section. Should have posted in TOWING to begin with.

Have a ’08, 5.4 screw with tow package. Will be towing a boat quite a bit – not heavy enough for any concern. However, I’m that guy – I just wanna know.

Just purchased/installed the Edge Evolution and have two simple questions.

1)Besides monitoring the trans temp, what else should I monitor when towing? Really don’t need MPH (have GPS). RPM – have the gauge unless the digital is better.

2)Along with #1, what parameters should I expect? What parameters are ok? When should I worry?

Here is the list I can choose from:
RPM
MPH
Engine coolant temp
Engine oil temp
Trans fluid temp – already monitoring this
Cylinder head temp
Intake air temp
Line pressure desired (trans main line pressure)
Actual fuel rail pressure
Output shaft speed (OSS) - Used with TSS to determine if trans slip is occurring
Turbine shaft speed (TSS) - Used with OSS to determine if trans slip is occurring
Mass air flow
Mass air flow voltage
Variable cam timing
Spark advance
Torque control
Engine load %
Accelerator pedal position
Battery voltage
Instant miles per gallon
Average miles per gallon
Current Gear

Appreciate your responses…..

 

I mounted some Autometer Water and Trans temp gauges for my trailer towing concerns.

That's all I really need to know, besides RPMs, MPH and the other little things on the dash that actually do tell you 'something'....

I like to always know what gear I'm in and if the TC is locked or not. I can tell by my trans temp gauge if it's unlocked, as the temp will really rise high and fast..

I've seen my temps get as high as 210* on both gauges. This was in 90* + weather and pulling a 5% grade with the TT in my sig.

My gauges go to 250*, but I'd get concerned if either went over the 230* mark.

That other stuff you can monitor is just 'fluff' IMO, but might be fun to monitor as well.

Oil Temp would be interesting... So would the Engine Load %..

Mitch

 

I tow a 4000lb trailer loaded and I don't have any type of gauges besides the ones that come with the truck to monitor, should I worry or am I ok b/c I'm not really towing anything

 

You should be fine, but I just wanted to know what my temps were when I first started towing, because I had no baseline to go by..

I towed for about a year and a half before I got my temp gauges. I was most surprised at the trans temp when just backing my rig into it's parking spot beside the house. It shot up to 210* in a matter of minutes... I've since been parking it with the truck in 4lo and the temps are much better controlled, and it's easier to manuever the trailer, as I have to jack it when it gets to the top of the pad as I'm backing it up.

It gives me that peace of mind feeling while towing, especially when it's really hot outside, and I've got the AC cranked in the cab and looking over and seeing the temps around 195* tells me everything is fine...

I also take my trans temp from the output line of the trans, so it is the hottest temp of the fluid. Pan temps or those taken from the side port of the case are okay, but won't show you the peak temps or how fast it's cooling down either...

With the Scan Gauges they have out now, it's just a plug and play deal, so I'd be getting one of those if I were to get a new truck!

Mitch

 

Mitch,

You talk about the trans temp from the output line of the trans, because it's the hottest temp of the fluid.

I will be using the Edge to monitor the temp. What is the Edge monitoring? Will the number I see on the Edge be the hottest temp?

I also noticed that the Edge will show what gear I am in AND if the converter is locked/unlocked. If unlocked, I can simply push the OD button to drop into 3rd gear? And if I do that, should the converter lock in 3rd?

 

I have a 2wd Mitch if that matters. I'm not looking to install or purchase an Edge should I be ok towing that small amount without these gauges?

 

I don't think you have anything to really worry about. I towed long distances with a decent load on the interstate before without gauges. Just listening to your truck, the load that is on your truck can tell you a lot. Monitoring tranny temps is my main concern, just because of long hilly trips.

 

It'll be taking it from someplace within the guts of the trans, so it won't be the hottest, but it'll show you what temp the trans fluid is and it's working with. In most cases, this will be pretty much what the output line temp will be when you are cruising down the hwy and the TC is all locked up.

You just won't see the 'spike' in temps as the TC unlocks or in slow, stop and go traffic.. It'll just creep up slowly as the hotter fluid mixes in the pan.

Not exactly sure on the new F150's, but my E4OD will lock in 2nd, 3rd and OD. 1st gear and reverse will always run 'unlocked'.

I rarely tow with OD on anyway, so I'm usually in locked 3rd. When I do try OD, it'll hold it on really flat stretches and if there is no real head wind to deal with, but it'll downshift into 3rd by just pressing the gas pedal more, or the speed drops off too much. Same with 3rd gear. If I slow down too much, it'll just drop into 2nd. That's where it'll start out unlocked and then I have to watch the tach and press down on the pedal a bit more to see it lock. The rpms will drop by a couple hundred and you can feel it. Then the trans temp starts to go down..

You pretty much just have to know your trucks habits and what it does in those different situations.. I will also pull the gear shift into 2 once it's downshifted because if I gain enough speed, and let off the gas, it'll want to shift into 3rd, but if I'm still climbing the hill, it'll just bog down and start the whole thing over again. I'd rather just stay in second the whole time and manually shift it when I crest the top.. Same with OD. I usually just lock it out and roll in 3rd the whole time.

Mitch

 

What Parameters while towing? from the PHP forums

 

Oh yeah.. You should be fine. Just use some common sense and you'll just want to watch it backing up and especially if you are doing a lot of maneuvering around, or you are backing up an incline.

Try to keep the trans from shifting up and down a lot too. If you find it's not holding OD, then just lock it out and roll in 3rd.. The shifting up and down will heat up your trans faster then just running at a higher rpm for an extended period of time (I know this for a fact, since I have the gauges! )

Mitch

 

I think you would want to display Current Gear. You can learn a lot about what your trans is doing as it displays the gear and if the torque converter is locked. For example, you can only down shift to a lower gear with more pedal, but you can unlock the converter by backing off the gas pedal. Both will raise the engine RPM. Many think it is shifting out of OD, when it is only the torque converter unlocking.

When starting a hill with a smaller trailer you can lift the gas pedal for half a second, then back on the gas. The torque converter will unlock raising engine RPM for more torque on the hill. This method is better for gas mileage, and easier on the trans temp.

You will also notice that the torque converter will lock in 3rd if our speed is over 30 and in 4th (OD) over 40. I've never seen it lock in 2nd, I'll have to try that some time.

 

I just had a trans temp gauge installed at the local dealership. I told them to put the sensor in the output line but the dingbats put it in the line coming from the trans cooler to the trans. It was a "favor" since they're not supposed to do aftermarket work so I can't really complain. They said they did that cause the temps would be "off the chart" coming from the trans. They said it doesn't matter cause I just need to watch trends. I'm not so sure.....

 

Thanks again. When I do tow I just leave OD off.

 

Well, my temps are not off the charts, so that's not totally true... It barely gets over 100* on my 18 mile commute to work each day in the winter time. It'll go to 180* in the summer time, towing or not. Work it hard, and it'll go to 195* and work it really hard, I've seen the highest of 210*.

It'll go to 150* in the winter when I'm going up this large hill in my neighborhood when the TC is unlocked in either second or third. Once it locks, the temp goes back down again. I like that kind of response. It gives me immediate feedback and that's what I like... IMO, the return line for the cooler is only going to tell you how hot the fluid is as it enters the pan... Not how hard it's worked...

But, trends are what you are looking for, regardless of where you are reading your temps from, so you will just have to figure on your temps being on the low side for the most part. I'd be concerned if your output line temp got over the 195* range, because that's after it's gone past the coolers....

Mitch

 

water,oil,trans and cht