Safe to use ECT PWR in 4WD?

Edit: Apologies. Mis-read your post.

 

I wheel on slow going trails. I’d be ripping my truck apart smashing the go pedal down or worrying about holding rpm for speed. 4Lo and slow for me.

 

With ECT on, it shifted more similar to how I shift with my manual. I don’t know that I noticed it in 4lo, but I definitely did in 2wd and 4hi. And yes, always on when towing.

 

It would shift closer to where you like shifting your manual because of the slight increase in rpm before it shifts. AT shifts for best fuel economy, manual shifts when you want it to shift. I can play in manual shift mode, but me no likey. Me push down , and me play dumb. Let the truck work versus my arm. Lol

 

It's not a manual shift mode. All it does is limit the gears the truck will use.

 

The choice of the word “wheeling” was probably not the best choice. I should have said something like “when I am driving my truck for fun, the ECT is always on”. When I was going 4lo speeds, I think I always had it on, but don’t remember noticing it. It might not even shift out of 1st in some 4lo situations. Hah!

 

Plus I've noticed even in manual mode or SPORT MODE the shifts are incredibly delayed. By incredibly, I mean a many second pause under power sometimes before it decides that it wants to play transmission.

 

...it's. not. manual. mode.

 

Bingo. I miss the Volvo V70 R (one of 2) I used to have. That one was an auto which is why i sold it, but you could start the car in either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd and it would actually start in that gear, no upshifting to it. It would also (as i found out) allow you to shift to whichever gear you desired sequentially, regardless of what happened. Now that was an actual manual mode and it was pretty fun..especially for launch starts with the gas pedal pressed, brake on and then fun times.

 

I know this. It limits gears. I was simply making a point and wanted to use that GIF
My thing is starting in...let's say 1st. "Upshift" to second...dellaaayyy...okay! 2nd enganged, "upshift" to third while accelerating onto freeway...dellaaayyy..okay! 3rd is here, and so on. Plus sometimes it won't let you continue to upshift if the revs are below a certain point (ECT not on) and you're just sitting there playing your stick

 

That’s exactly what I meant. I tend to shift later than how the AT is tuned, especially when having fun as opposed to driving to work.

 

AFAIK, after experimentation, is that the sport mode only limits the highest gear the AT will use. If you shift up before the AT thinks it needs to shift, nothing will happen.

In any case, why would anyone want to shift sooner than what the AT chooses to? It’s so timid unless the ECT is on.

 

Agreed. It mainly just limits so you can stay in a higher rev range, which is fine. I have notice that it will delay the shift as I am accelerating into well over 4k. Not sure why, just does

 

Ok ok. Lol. Gotdamn ........... If I can shift the transmission of a vehicle with my fingers, hand or arm it’s a Gotdamn manually selected shift. #FightMe

 

I am brand new to the forum and just purchased my first Toyota - a 2020 TRD Sport. The most pressing question I have is regarding the ECT PWR mode. Is it safe to always drive with this engaged? I love the response and feel. If I drive with the ECT always engaged, will it ruin my engine or transmission? I have never owned a Toyota, much less a truck, and want to make sure I’m not causing any harm. I’ve only had my truck about a month and love it - looking forward to any advice and making some new friends. Thanks, everyone!

 

True, but if we're being pedantic, you're basically sending a request to the computer and its deciding if that's okay. "I don't want to shift past this gear" okay, but it'll downshift as it pleases. "upshift now" ...delay..okay you're good.

 

Always treasure when a MT bro chimes in on an AT thread.

 

Even many of the manual transmissions run through a nanny computer these days. Auto rev matching , gear lock outs at certain rpm’s etc. We’re at the mercy of technology in about everything anymore.

 

They are the vegans of TW for sure. You never need to ask if they drive stick.

 

Had to be done.