Max speed before moving to S Mode

This has probably been addressed elsewhere but I'm sure others may want
to know this as well. Is there a limit on how fast one can be driving in standard
DRIVE before switching to S Mode.

And to further complicate the question if running in standard DRIVE with ECT is
there a max speed before switching to S Mode.

Reason I'm asking is while towing a 1,000 pound teardrop on the flats I see no
reason to run in anything other than ECT until I hit some steep up or down grades,
at which time I'd like to go S4 ~ S5 but wondered if I was doing 55-65 mph would
switching to S Mode at that speeds be detrimental.

 

I’ve swapped to S mode on a grade while doing 75mph on the interstate, going to S mode puts it in 4th gear. Bu the time I do that it’s already downshifted to 5th or maybe even 4th on a steep grade and it’s not a problem. Not much difference between 5th and 6th gears. Not a problem at all for me it’s just downshifting and higher rpm is where the power is at. FYI I have a 2.7L 4 cylinder with a 4.30 rear end.
If you have an automatic and punch the gas hard to pass a car, guess where it’s going to? 4th gear. Don’t worry.

 

I believe it would be just like driving a standard and taking from 5th to 4th while going at those speeds. The truck would probably rev to an uncomfortable high rpm until it slows itself down. Hoping you’ve driven a standard or you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about.

 

All it does is change your shift points and stop the trans from constantly shifting in and out of OD, which is what beats on the trans when towing. Long as you're not over-revving the engine it doesn't matter when you shift into S. That being said, you don't wanna do that a lot, because lots of shifting starts defeating the purpose of switching to S in the first place.

 

It doesn't matter. Programmed nannies will not let anything bad happen to your transmission.

 

Oh yea - I was driving manuals before most of the folks on this site were born. Sold a Jeep with a manual before I bought the SR5, just kinda got
tired of the shifting especially in traffic. Big plus to the MT is nobody can 'borrow' your car because they can't drive it, and if you get car-jacked
those clowns will just drop the keys and run away too.

 

Ok. So you get the idea. S mode is very similar to a standard. The MT’s are fun. But I also moved on to the autos because of the traffic around Los Angeles. The last years I drove them. I was feeling like I could never get out second gear. That took all the fun and excitement out driving one.

 

According to the manual you are not supposed to tow with 6th gear. If you follow what the manual says you should be in S5, even on the flats with your teardrop.

 

Now this is a really good point, I remember reading this now that you mention it, but I don’t tow. Good catch!

 

ETC is for towing, marginally changing the overdrives.
S puts it in auto without overdrive, until you bump it up. (Or down).

 

I run S mode all the time, when going from drive to S it defaults to S4. I've dropped into 4th from 5th many times when going up an incline. I have the I4 and run ECT always on as well.

 

Just leave it in S the entire time. All it does is lockout whatever gears you tell it to. When you're hitting a hill drop it to four in advance and when it levels back out bump it to five.

 

S it shall be. The gas mileage will suffer but perhaps not too much with such a small camper.

 

When doing a light tow job say under 2k lbs., i just leave it in S5 all time. You'll get better gas mileage with S5 vs using the ECT mode.

 

Aha... excellent... S5 but no ETC with small tow...

 

When your starting out from a stop or in stop and go traffic ECT is still your friend even in S mode. You’ll see.

 

So when starting from a complete stop, or in stupid traffic use S Mode and ECT ... then switch off the ECT after about 30-40 mph and beyond...? Sounds about right to me. I want to protect the transmission as much as possible but I'm not too stressed out as the camper isn't big at all and the wifes Forester pulls it like a champ... it's a 4 Cylinder and has zero problems pulling it but going up a steep incline at 110 degrees ( Arizona ) does require 3,000-3,500 RPMs for her, and I suspect the same for me.

We were going to the Grand Canyon this week but were foiled due to the extreme heat and fires everywhere. Took a drive to San Diego instead in the Forester and it got on average 26.1 MPG which ain't bad.

 

I typically leave it in ECT mode until I’m at highway speeds. No fixed rule just play with it some and you’ll get a feel for when you need to use it. Trust your own judgment then.

 

I leave my 4Runner in S4 all of the time while towing, except when I bump it to S5 on downhill grades and flats, or S3 on steep hills. I don't see any advantage to starting out in D. I realize the Taco has a 6-speed auto as opposed to my 5-speed, but I can't see how that would make towing in D advantageous.

 

If I’m towing anything at all, I use ECT and S5 or lower. Just seems to work better for me that way. That’s also what the owners manual recommends. In any case, the truck does great towing around our side-by-side.