S mode and ECT button

Thank you very much! This is why I ask questions. I figure you men really know your stuff and can help me understand my truck much better then a manual, especially since I’m single and will be driving cross country towing a camper very soon by myself.

 

You should be fine with S5 and ECT on for the duration of the trip. If you climb the mountains drop to S4.

 

No way! Actually I like getting wisdom from real men that have lots of field study on this stuff instead of looking at a manual, but thanks for that advice.

 

I personally prefer to talk to humans instead of looking at a book for this type of wisdom.

 

If you have ECT mode on and have the transmission on S5. And you find it's shifting from 5th to 4th a lot. Then put it in S4. This will help keep the transmission temps down. If you cook your transmission fluid. You're screwed.

 

Agreed.

 

Don’t be a dick. It’s a simple question. Plus the manuals aren’t always clear to everyone.

 

True. Used S mode last year to tow 1850lb tent camper from Denver to Yellowstone. Just dropped it back to S4 when it wanted to shift back and forth and then back to S5 when the grade flattened out or on downhill. 65 mph on highway and averaged 20mpg round trip. Just got back from a camping trip with same camper - 6800 ft base over mountain pass of 10,500 ft - 65 mph highway up the pass - S4 - averaged 19 mpg round trip. BTW - never used ECT once on either of these trips.

 

With a light Tent trailer you don't really need to use the ECT mode.

 

That would require getting the sport. F that!

 

could be the case for most if you don't have Rocky Mountain elevations to negotiate. I simply never bothered to try it out. 4.88's make towing easier on the engine and transmission and I run OVTune. ECT with the Tune when using S mode make the transmission function just like a MT (just shift it up gear and down gear but no clutch pedal to push in) - and it extends the rev line to 6800 rpm. No ECT makes S mode function normal.

 

I have a 4200lb travel trailer. ECT is always on. A 1850 lb tent trailer might get by without ECT on. The weight and wind resistance on tent trailers are nice.

 

at what MPH with ECT on will it shift into 6th. i run ECT 100% of the time but here on maui i have never go fast enough to get it to shift into 6th. nice to know 53MPH is the point for 5th.

 

Oh you didn’t know? We’re all pro’s here lol. Jk

 

I also just learned that my truck has the ATF cooler behind the grill. I think this will help a lot. Maybe I should keep it in S4 because I plan on going pretty slow 55-60 mph tops..

 

I dont think it goes into 6th with the ect on. But cant be sure.

 

I know this is a dumb question but can you shift between S4 and S5 while driving down the road?

 

Yes. No problem. It’s meant to be shifted up and down.

Word of advice: make sure you are in s-mode when clicking up and down so you don’t put it in reverse.

 

If you accidentally put the truck in reverse, it will go into neutral, turn on the reverse camera and will beep at you and give you other warnings.
You can switch gears anytime in S mode. If you want to downshift into a lower gear it will downshift unless it would take the RPM's above redline.

 

Yes. I’ve done it once. It’s still scary even though Toyota “nannied” it to prevent a destroyed transmission (thank god).