GEN 2 Using the engine brake

[Nex]

If you said something like that, elaborate a little on your opinion... please.

The post right above yours (post #9) says he was joking.

 

[ViMo]

The post right above yours (post #9) says he was joking.

Ok, thanks for clarifying... I apologize

 

[ViMo]

However, the Tow/Haul function automatically activates the engine braking but does not know how to limit the engine speed, especially if the foot brake is also pressed... I experimented to see if the gear sequence is limited even if the engine is at high speed. .. it didn't limit, it quickly reached 3rd, then 2nd and immediately 1st gear, the engine had 5000 rpm. It's not normal.
The gear should not go down if the engine speed is very high, maybe around 3500 rpm maximum, and so the engine brake can be controlled using the foot brake.
The Tow/Haul function is ideal when you drive on mountain roads and you want to focus exclusively on the winding road without being distracted by changing gears in manual mode.
If there is a setting in the gearbox program to not allow downshifting if the engine has reached a certain speed, using the Tow/Haul function would be a good engine brake control option.

 

[EricM]

Lack of engine braking on long, slow downhills is a complaint all Raptors owners have had for a while now. Tow/haul kind of works, but not really. Downhill mode, nope. Ford went backward on engine braking with the change to the smaller engine too. The 3.5L engine has less inherent engine braking ability than the 6.2L. Turbos can't make up for that. The same reasons the 3.5L gets better MPG are why it also has worse engine braking- less air is being pumped for each revolution, and there are less rings dragging on cylinder walls.

 

[ViMo]

Lack of engine braking on long, slow downhills is a complaint all Raptors owners have had for a while now. Tow/haul kind of works, but not really. Downhill mode, nope. Ford went backward on engine braking with the change to the smaller engine too. The 3.5L engine has less inherent engine braking ability than the 6.2L. Turbos can't make up for that. The same reasons the 3.5L gets better MPG are why it also has worse engine braking- less air is being pumped for each revolution, and there are less rings dragging on cylinder walls.

It doesn't matter how much the 3.5L engine brakes compared to another engine, the important thing is that it brings extra braking over the foot brake.
I permanently carry a weight of 700 Pounds (300 kg) and the Tow/Haul function is very often used, especially in mountainous areas.

 

[sixshooter_45]

I get excellent engine breaking using manual downshifting gears.

 

[GordoJay]

The gear should not go down if the engine speed is very high, maybe around 3500 rpm maximum, and so the engine brake can be controlled using the foot brake.

I guess I don't understand this. I use tow/haul all the time in the mountains loaded and unloaded. It works great and I don't worry about the rpm. The computer will protect the engine and refuse to shift if the rpm isn't right. I routinely come down the passes at around 5000 rpm and I seldom have to use the brakes to assist. Heck, Baja mode won't even up shift until you're over 5000. How is it hurting the engine?

 

[ViMo]

I guess I don't understand this. I use tow/haul all the time in the mountains loaded and unloaded. It works great and I don't worry about the rpm. The computer will protect the engine and refuse to shift if the rpm isn't right. I routinely come down the passes at around 5000 rpm and I seldom have to use the brakes to assist. Heck, Baja mode won't even up shift until you're over 5000. How is it hurting the engine?

Ok, I'll try to explain myself.
I'm trying to describe a situation that I don't like... I'm driving in 10 speed and I start a steep and long descent... I switch to Tow/Haul and immediately the gear switches to 7 then 6, immediately 5...in at this moment I want to focus on the turns and I want to keep this speed by lightly pressing the brake pedal... then the electronics of the gearbox decide that it must immediately decrease to lower gears, 4, 3... the engine is already at 4500 rpm. ..and if I press the brake pedal a little more, it immediately switches to 2 and shortly 1...the engine jumps quickly at 5500...6000 rpm, a shock is felt in the whole car...of course I immediately deactivate the Tow/Haul function. Well, I don't think this behavior is normal, neither for the engine, nor for the gearbox, nor even for driving...
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How would I have wanted it to work?
When I start a descent with serpentines, I want to maintain a constant speed using the brake pedal, and the engine speed to be between 3000-4000 rpm (engine brake).
I don't want to worry about changing gears and engine speed if Tow/Haul is activated.
*) Using the manual speed controls is uncomfortable and distracts me when driving on mountain serpentines.
I apologize if I cannot express myself grammatically correctly.

 

[Nex]

So from what I am understanding is you want the vehicle to stay at a certain speed while driving? Have you tried using cruse control while going down the pass?

When using the tow/haul mode the vehicle electronics thinks you are towing or hauling. So it keeps the gears in a higher RPM as a way to limit speed. When you apply the brakes it thinks you are trying to slow down while towing or hauling so it downshifts to aid in this process. The vehicle is not looking forward enough to understand that you are not towing and trying to maintain a certain speed down a mountain pass.

When I drive down the pass, I use sport mode and manually drop the gears to help maintain the speed I want. I also use the brake pedal as needed. You can use the paddle shifters as to not distract you from the road. I only use tow/haul when towing my ski boat.

 

[GordoJay]

....Well, I don't think this behavior is normal, neither for the engine, nor for the gearbox, nor even for driving...

It's normal. The way to reduce the jarring shifts is to anticipate when you're going to be on steep sections and brake earlier.

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How would I have wanted it to work?
When I start a descent with serpentines, I want to maintain a constant speed using the brake pedal, and the engine speed to be between 3000-4000 rpm (engine brake).

There isn't enough braking at those rpms so that's not going to work.

I don't want to worry about changing gears and engine speed if Tow/Haul is activated.
*) Using the manual speed controls is uncomfortable and distracts me when driving on mountain serpentines.

My next bit of advice is to use manual mode. If that's too distracting, you're going faster than you should be. Slow down or improve your driving skills. Please. Or you could do what the lousy drivers do and ride your brakes all the way down .... but you're already a big step ahead of them. Good on you.