Auto Trans 6th Gear

I normally do not use the auto manual shifter while driving but was messing around with it a few weeks ago and just noticed how much better it shifts leaving it in 6th gear versus running in automatic. It seems to shift a lot smoother and seems to improve my gas mile just a bit. Just curious if anyone else uses the auto trans shifter while driving and how your truck experience is, good bad otherwise.

 

Especially in Mountain driving up and down grades.

 

Mine is in S5 95% of the time.

 

I have a 6MT now, but I owned a 2016 A/T and AFAIK s-mode does nothing more than limit the maximum gear the transmission will use. The owners manual states in 2 places that the purpose of s-mode is for engine braking. Regardless, people talk about using it for other things, e.g. towing.

 

Don't quote me on this, but I have read that when in manual mode, it bypasses the learned driving behavior and shifts based on demand etc. I have also seen it drive differently when in S6 vs. D.

 

Would the ECT button help?

 

Wait... it shifts when left in 6th?

If I use it, it stays in lower gear. 6th is a pointless gear where I live in Montana. You are just going to end up flooring it to get up every hill.

Can't wait for my 5.29's to get here.

 

All S mode does is limit the top gear the transmission will use, not lock it in a gear. Shifting into S3 at a stop just means the transmission will start driving in 1st and shift into 2nd and 3rd like normal but go no higher than 3rd.

 

Want better shifts? Get the KDMax tune.
It's a huge difference.

 

Wow! Funny you should post this. Today, on a 30 mile trip, I left the shifter in S mode. I thought it was shifting better, but I wasn't testing it or anything. I'm going to leave it there over the next few days. And, I guess you're right: the transmission does seem to perform better in "S" mode. Thank you for verifying my hunch!

 

yep. in the manual it says in "D" in uses "artificial intelligence" to learn your driving style and adjust shift points and stuff. i guess s-mode bypasses the AI.

 

I’ve also read if you feel “D” is shifting unlike your typical driving style, you can unhook the battery for a time and then this clears out the learned driving behaviors.

 

ECT mode does seem to help in town driving and slower traffic. What happens if you get the OV tune or KD max tune, does the ECT mode shifting points change also?

 

I have gear lock out so whatever gear I put it in it stays there. Very convenient

 

I've never tried keeping it in S mode. I might give it a shot tomorrow and see how it responds. The only issue i can think of that i currently have would be throttle response. I don't like the lag when i step on the gas and it downshifts, but its kind of a trivial issue for me.

 

I now ALWAYS use S mode and leave it in S5 on the highway and S4 in town. I use the transmission to downshift if I know I’m coming up to a steep hill or coming to a stop and then upshift accordingly. S6 or D makes the transmission shift down/up way too often given how tall geared this transmission is. A 4500lb truck with just an adequately powered N/A V6 engine cruising at 1800 RPM at 70 MPH is just stupid for most West Coast highways with varying terrain. I have no issues with gear hunting in S5 and get the same (poor) MPG as driving in D.

 

Good deal then, glad that others have had similar experiences. I like leaving her in S6 during normal driving. Definitely seems to shift better and not as rough.

 

No worries, glad I'm not the only one that has experienced this. It does seem to shift better in S mode versus auto. I leave mine primarily in S6 for normal driving now.

 

Definitely let me know your experience. For me, I don't really notice any lag even while leaving it in S6.

 

I've used S5 for almost 60k miles so far. I have 0 tranny complaints.