Is 5th Gear Still OD in Gen 3

Hi All,

I have a 2016 TRD OR with no tow package. Plan on pulling my 14.5 wide beam Jon boat all over this summer.

Seeing how I have 6 gears (AT), should I keep it in 4th gear on the highway, or is it safe to go up to 5th?

Thanks y’all!

 

Weight? +/-
I tow my 2500lb A-frame all day long using 4/5.

 

Thank you cctk2. Looking forward to making some 250 mile trips pulling that Jon boat and hauling kids and gear.

 

What’s the weight of your boat, motor and trailer? I assume it’s pretty light, probably under 1000 lbs total. If so 5th gear should be no problem and on flat highways 6th gear may be ok. Just depends on weight.

 

OR and no tow package??? OR comes standard with the tow package

 

Not in ‘16, I think. It’s got the receiver and the plug, but no coolers. I think it’s rated for 3500 vice 6800

 

If it has a class 4 receiver, it had to be the tow package. What makes you think it doesn't have it? I could be wrong though. But I have never heard of an OR not having the tow package

 

Well, I can always look again

 

Only use 4th gear (S4) if you are using the 6AT. If you have a 6MT in the third gen, then it is Ok to use 5th. 4th gear is 1.00 Direct drive and you will have sufficient RPMs for good power silvery and effective engine cooling (aswell as best engine braking and battery charging effect). If using S5 or S6 then your RPMs will be too low and you will not have enough power nor suffficient coolant flow to keep the engine temp low.

 

With your vin number you can go to the Toyota website and the owner's section will tell you all the options your truck has.

 

Thank you Specter208. Will adhere to this advice....also try and get the funds who have a cooler installed.

 

Thank you!

 

People like to give an easy answer to the question of what gear to operate in. The truth is somewhat more complex.
It comes down to whether or not the transmission will set itself into a steady state.

Note that you can change the gear it is in at any time you like, even when under load driving.

So basically it is like this;
Ideally, you will be driving in the HIGHEST gear possible, with the torque converter in a LOCKED state.
If it doesn't lock the torque converter, downshift.

Now having the torque converter unlocked is not the most damaging state to be in. An even worse state is for the transmission to be "hunting" for gears. This is when the transmission goes into a cycle where it gradually slows down, then downshifts, then speeds back up, then upshifts, then gradually slows down. Now in reality, it can be hunting gears, or it can be hunting the torque converter between locked and unlocked. Either is something you don't want -- downshift.

To tell if the torque converter is locked or not.... if the torque converter is UNLOCKED, then slight changes in the throttle position will result in changes in the ratio between engine speed and wheel speed. If the torque converter is LOCKED, then the ratio between those two will be absolutely fixed.

 

I don't quite get this but want to understand the torque converter better.
Would you state this another way for my simple mind ?

 

There are times when the torque converter is physically connected to the transmission gears like a clutch on a manual transmission. You can tell it is locked if your RPMs will drop slightly and if you repeatedly tap on the gas pedal you can immediately feel the energy transfer to rear wheels and you'll even feel some clunking. If it is unlocked, then this means the torque converter is not physically connected to the transmission gears and is instead pumping fluid over the turbine. This gives you a little better torque but also will heat up the transmission fluid if it remains unlocked for prolonged periods of time or repeatedly locks/unlocks.

This is why in the 6AT you want to remain in S4 (4th gear) where you'll have sufficient power to keep your torque converter locked which keeps your transmission cool. Also, like I said before, in S4 your RPMs will be high enough that your water pump will be spinning faster and will cool your engine faster aswell (plus better battery charging, engine braking)


Here is your transmission ratio and projected RPMs for road speed using stock tires, R&P gear, etc.

4th gear in 6AT: 1.00:1
Stock tire Size: 30.6"
Stock R&P Gear: 3.90

All speeds are in S4(4th gear)

2400rpms - 56 mph
2500rpms - 58.4 mph
2600rpms - 60.7 mph
2700rpms - 63 mph
2800rpms - 65.4 mph


If using S5 or S6, you will have too little RPMs to provide sufficient torque and power to drive without downshifting constant shifting, this will heat up your engine and transmission. If you try to keep your RPMs high enough in these gears you'll be going super faster which is dangerous, potentially illegal, puts more load on the engine and will not save any fuel. S5 may be used if loaded lightly enough, use it at your own discretion.

5th gear in 6AT: 0.72:1
6th gear in 6AT: 0.58:1

For example:

Speeds in S5 (5th gear)
1700rpms - 55mph
1800rpms - 58.4mph
1900rpms - 61.6mph
2000rpms - 64.8mpH

Speeds in S6 (6th gear)

1400rpms - 56.3mph
1500rpms - 60.4mph
1600rpms - 64.4mph
1700rpms - 68.4mph

 

I'm going to guess that the other guy's explanation is a bit more than you're going to easily absorb.

Basically, think of a torque converter as a box full of transmission fluid, in which there are two impeller blades. The engine is connected to one, and the transmission is connected to the other. When the engine spins its impeller, it pushes transmission fluid up against the transmission's impeller, causing it to turn.

Because the energy is transmitted loosely through the fluid, it allows a certain amount of slipping, which is why you can shift an automatic into "drive" and it while it pulls slightly forward, it also allows you to press the brake and hold still. When sitting still in drive, the engine side impeller is spinning with the engine, but the transmission side is holding still. As you press the gas, it takes more and more force to hold the transmission side from moving.

A locking torque converter takes this one step further, in that it also contains a mechanical clutch between the two impeller blades. When that clutch is engaged, then the two sides of the torque converter are locked together, thus no longer slipping and no longer generating heat.

 

Gentlemen- thank you all for the time you took to reply and explain. This community has been great since I’ve joined (last week).

I can keep the Grey Ghost in 4th and drive 55- beats a new tranny! I’m only pulling a Jon boat, but I’ll be driving from VA to NJ in the summer heat. Otherwise, I’ll be driving an hour or two to MD with the boat.

Oh, yeah....is it ok to use cruise control?

 

Nahhh..... you don't want to be using CC while towing.

 

Its fine to CC, as long as you pay attention to what its doing and take over manual control when needed.