Towing - how hard can I push the drive train?

C

Crank_It_Up

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130,000 miles on a 2006 V6 2WD, with tranny in 4th (no OD) how hard can I push the drive train on flat highways without having to worry about damaging the engine or tranny? Besides the engine temp, what would be a warning that I am pushing too hard? 4Runner has factory towing package, and trailer weight is just under 3,000 lbs.


Thanks in advance.
 
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/\ No kidding.

I have had a tandem axle utility trailer loaded at 7-8k several times, and never had any temp warnings come on, or the gauge showing high temps. This included my prior 04 also.
 
I was worried cause of the mileage, that I would have to baby it. You think it can pull 65mph for a few hours with no problem?
 
shen I had my 4Runner I pulled our double axke travel trailer for several 7-9hr trips down the highway. No issues. Don't drive stupid and you will be fine.
 
Trans cooler

I wouldn't worry a bit about the engine, but a trans cooler is good insurance IMO. Heat will kill an automatic transmission.

130k is just getting broken in on 4runners so don't worry about the mileage. My '07 SR5 4x4 has about 133k on it right now and we have 11 more trips planned for the year, all of them we will be pulling a ~2,000lb trailer and one of those trips will probably be close to 8,000 miles (two week trip from Denver to Canada, then NY, and then back.) My guess is that by the time the year is done I'll have nearly 150k on my 4runner and I anciticpate that it should be just fine.
 
Crank_It_Up said:
I was worried cause of the mileage, that I would have to baby it. You think it can pull 65mph for a few hours with no problem?
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No, you'd better get at least a Ford F350. (sarcasm)

Don't be afraid of the engine "working hard", it's designed to run at any load for an unlimited amount of time. As long as you don't overheat the engine or transmission, nothing bad will happen. You can tow up mountain passes at full throttle for as long as you want as long as the temps stay normal. On flat roads you might glance at engine temp periodically and don't worry about transmission temp or add a air cooler. (It's already cooled by coolant in the radiator.) If you are racing up mountains with a trailer you might consider getting a scangauge or something similar to monitor transmission temperature.

I would probably leave the transmission in 5th on flat highways unless it's hunting for gears. I can't remember if shifting it to 4 forces the torque converter to stay unlocked, but if it does that generates more heat. Anyone know? Maybe it says here http://www.ezdries.net/Vidpics/temp/A750F_Automatic_Transmission.pdf or in the service manual?
 
m85476585 said:
No, you'd better get at least a Ford F350. (sarcasm)

Don't be afraid of the engine "working hard", it's designed to run at any load for an unlimited amount of time. As long as you don't overheat the engine or transmission, nothing bad will happen. You can tow up mountain passes at full throttle for as long as you want as long as the temps stay normal. On flat roads you might glance at engine temp periodically and don't worry about transmission temp or add a air cooler. (It's already cooled by coolant in the radiator.) If you are racing up mountains with a trailer you might consider getting a scangauge or something similar to monitor transmission temperature.

I would probably leave the transmission in 5th on flat highways unless it's hunting for gears. I can't remember if shifting it to 4 forces the torque converter to stay unlocked, but if it does that generates more heat. Anyone know? Maybe it says here http://www.ezdries.net/Vidpics/temp/A750F_Automatic_Transmission.pdf or in the service manual?
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The trans will run hotter if you leave it in 5th. It will downshift at every little rise in the road and this will make it get hot.

I typically keep mine in 5th if I'm heading downhill or on very flat roads but even on rolling hills I sometimes will drop it down into 4th just because it stays cooler that way. I watch transmission temps like a hawk.

Last year we were pulling a lighter trailer (only about 1,000lbs) but going East to West across Death Valley in late July (when the air temp in Furnace Creek was about 113) the transmission got up to 260 degrees as shown on the SGII as we were climbing out of Panamint Springs. :wow: When I am climbing a steep hill I shift manually, again I've found that shifting manually keeps the transmission from heating up as fast and lets it cool down faster.

With the heavier trailer (about 1800#) I've noticed the trans is much more quick to downshift when there's a slight rise in the road, so if there are a lot of ups-and-downs I'll often leave it in 4th. I figure keeping my transmission cool makes more sense financially than trying to squeeze another MPG or two out of a tank.
 
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put it in 4 wheel drive so you don't overheat your rear differential too. the logic here is if all wheels are trying to pull the trailer, you are cutting 50% of the heat to the front differential especially if you are hauling heavy and going uphill


Crank_It_Up said:
130,000 miles on a 2006 V6 2WD, with tranny in 4th (no OD) how hard can I push the drive train on flat highways without having to worry about damaging the engine or tranny? Besides the engine temp, what would be a warning that I am pushing too hard? 4Runner has factory towing package, and trailer weight is just under 3,000 lbs.


Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
 
radlynx said:
put it in 4 wheel drive so you don't overheat your rear differential too. the logic here is if all wheels are trying to pull the trailer, you are cutting 50% of the heat to the front differential especially if you are hauling heavy and going uphill
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hes gonna need to do a 4x4 conversion first then
 
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