Using S mode as Tiptronic shifter

What up all,

I cannot find anything in the manual, here, or Google. Would using the S mode as a trip tonic type shifter cause harm? An example would be towing a heavier load where I wanted to control shift points, or hill climbing since I have a 2WD and want to stay in lower gear longer? (And yes 2wd is better)

Thanks all.

 

I believe this is what the mode is for. It isn't manually shifting but rather limiting what gears it can use. Generally the truck will yell at you if you shift it into too low of a gear limit, but I'd imagine you wouldn't get there if you're doing it right.

 

Harm?
No, it's actually much easier on the transmission to hold in a lower gear, rather than repeated shifting and torque converter slip. Both of which generate lots of heat, which can be an auto killer.

 

You can "control" the shift points by when you move the gear selection lever.

Keep the engine below the RPM redline.

Remember, the trans will not shift to a higher gear until Shift Control conditions are met.

Example: You have the selector in "3", it won't shift into "3" until conditions are ready. It will go thru 1st and 2nd, then into 3rd. Gears higher than 3rd are prevented by your selection.

 

I am not sure if I explained myself correctly. I have that problem.

This makes 100% sense, but I was thinking about staying in S mode as a normal driving mode. Basically making the auto a manual with no clutch if that makes sense. Sorry I’m bad at describing crap like this.

 

No problem with that scenario. I tow my camper using that method frequently.

 

All S mode does is limit what gears the transmission can use. Example: if you're stopped and want to take off in 2nd, putting the transmission into S2 will not put you into second gear. It's still in first but it's limiting the transmission to 1st and 2nd gear. The truck will shift as normal up until that limit.

 

Ok,

I think I got it then. Sorry I am slow on the uptake sometimes.

This answered it. I basically wanted to control the transmission using the S mode. I wanted a manual of course when I bought my truck but none was available. I didn’t want to break the auto.

Thanks all, and no one cracked on me. Should have waited until Friday to post

 

Don't under estimate the capabilities of the Auto. They are not fragile.

Let it do its work. Just follow the Owner's Manual when towing and gear selection. All will be good.

 

Like @RedWings44 said, the S mode is really just an upshift limiter.
S mode isn't going to hurt in daily driving either. I use it often.

 

Yes you can stay in S mode, I did it on a long trip just recently to see how it performed actually. But as said above by others it’s not like a manual, it limits the highest gear to what you select, If you select 4 then that’s as high as it can go. It can however automatically drop down to lower gears automatically if it needs to to maintain proper rpm for the conditions such as a steep grade or stopping. You can also manually down shift, from 5 to 4 to 3 etc., for engine breaking down a hill for example, or to increase rpm for more power going up a grade. You can up shift as well however it won’t shift unless or until the proper rpm range is reached. From my owners manual (though not that helpful):

 

I read that, but when it said AI shift it threw me off. I was not sure what that was and I gave up reading since the Arby’s drive thru line started moving

 

ahaha I think it just means the Automatic shift control. as in Drive. Threw me for a bit there too. Might stand for Artificial Intelligence