Quick history-previous work truck use a 98 F250 4X4 w/automatic. I am not a fan of automatics for many reasons but the reason I'm writing this post is this. I work in Wyoming which everybody knows is quite mountainous. Some of my work involves traveling up and down steep mountain roads mostly at low speeds, less then 30MPH. I like to use lower transmission gears to use the engine's compression to help slow my desent and avoid using to much brakes. My new work truck is a 2006 F250 4X4 with a 5.4L and the 6 speed manual trans. I got the manual transmission thinking that I would get increased engine braking while desending steep roads. What a mistake that was!! The truck is like a run away train. No lower gear really helps to control the truck's speed going down hills. It's like I've got an automatic and left it in drive. Another complaint I have is when I release the gas pedal to up shift the engine RPM remains at the shift point RPM and may at times increase slightly then very, very slowly return to idle RPM. I HATE THIS!!!!!! Question is, is there anything that can be done to get the engine braking that I'm used to getting out of other standard transmission trucks, and that slow return to idle RPM after releasing the gas pedal to up shift???

 

J-Brake!

 

Jake Brakes are for diesels aren't they???

 

Yes.

 

Trade for a powerstroke. Even mine with an automatic will chirp the tires slowing down if I pull down to lower gears.

Dad's 97 with the 4.6 fivespeed doesn't have much "holding" power compared to the ole 300's and my 302 downhill. Guess it's somethin with these tritons.

Adrianspeeder

 

I can't say for sure, but I've always had suspicions that the computer keeps the rpms up so long as the truck is moving. If you're comming to a stop and you push the clutch in the rpms don't ever drop to idle until the truck is stopped. In every other manual i've driven the rpms drop as soon as you push the clutch in. So I can understand why you'd get no engine braking unless you dramatically down shifted, say 2nd gear at 50-60 mph, which probably isn't what you want to do. I wonder if you could get a custom chip made that would remove this feature. I bet Ford programed it that way thinking the people who drive manuals don't know how to do it and this would always ensure that there would be about 2000 rpms when the truck is shifted. So I can't think of any reason for it for anyone who knows how to drive a stick.

 

Contact Mike troyer in the Computer Forum to see what he can do for you.

JMC

 

I'm so used to compression braking in my truck, I would have a hard time in one that didn't.

 

yea, i missed that detail :o

 

And not every diesel can have one either.

Adrianspeeder

 

Thanks everyone!!! I just sent an e-mail to Mike Troyer to see if there is anything he can do.

I was sure it was the computers program that did not allow the engine RPM to return to idle faster. I hope there is something that can be done.

 

Maybe he has a change for this but remember your truck is now a throttle by wire and is altogather different than the 'old' days.