Thread: Do you tow in auto?

Originally Posted by rangeyrover

I normally tow in "S" with a D4 3.0 6 speed and 2000kg van, I prefer the shift points in "S", normally at a GPS106K Speedo 110
I use the manual selection for big grades, up and down hill, especially uphill I find the cruise control will not give a big enough input to maintain speed on a long hill, so right foot intervention required.
Like Brad i have wondered about staying in 5th, I think the box locks in every gear, but I was concerned about burning the clutches (as I'm not sure about the box behaviour) so I haven't done it often.
Any advice about holding 5th would be interesting.

Torque converter locks in every gear when engine speed is above 1250rpm. Towing at 100kmh (indicated) in D sees about 1850-1860rpm on my gauges. Average fuel varies with load of course, recent trip to the south west wa saw 13.0 on Forrest highway with camper and 3 people on board ​,EVC controller on U3 and cruise Control on. All temps and pressures steady as a rock, 220,000 km on the odo

I have towed a 2.5T boat/trailer some 50,000 km over the last 5 years with my 2015 D4 TDV6 8 speed. I have towed in D and S - get slightly better economy in S but I can't say I notice any difference.
I pretty much always use the cruise control. I generally tow on the speed limit.
It mostly tows in 8 or 7 sitting on 1600 rpm at 100 kph in 8 and 1800 in 7. It changes down to 6 for a hill, occasionally 5, rarely lower except for very steep climbs. If it needs to go lower than 5, the cruise control drops out.
I have tried driving on the paddles but find it to be a pain in the bum with a vehicle that tows so easily.
Sitting on 100 kph on a flat road on a 30oC day, the coolant temp sits on 100, the transmission oil temp 95, the sump oil temp 125 and the torque around 250 (max torque about 476), so its not working hard.
It uses on average 17.5 L/100 km towing the boat.
Best towing/cruising vehicle I have ever driven.

Originally Posted by BradC

I'd be interested to know what the general rev range is people see for the 2.7.

I've found much under 2k leads to lugging and high EGT, coolant and oil temps and above 2k doesn't see much benefit.

I *can* tow in 6th, but I get better fuel consumption and lower temperatures in 5th sitting on about 2k rpm.

Brad to continue the Australian theme of my posts:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn...

Which is really only to say that I've forgotten the exact RPM my remapped (Roo Systems) 2.7 hits. I also have a Nanocom which does not give an EGT readout, however I have not noticed a change in either coolant or oil temps towing my 1.3T camper in either 6th or 5th. As there is undulating country heading south out of Darwin you have to get past Katherine (300km) before things get reasonably flat. The last decent trip we did was mid-2019 to the Pilbara. So from memory, in 5th it sits around 1975rpm and in 6th around 1685rpm.

If all goes well I'll give you an update in early July after a trip down the Stuart Hwy and return via the Tanami Road and Kununurra.

Originally Posted by Barraman

Sitting on 100 kph on a flat road on a 30oC day, the coolant temp sits on 100, the transmission oil temp 95, the sump oil temp 125 and the torque around 250 (max torque about 476), so its not working hard.
It uses on average 17.5 L/100 km towing the boat.
Best towing/cruising vehicle I have ever driven.

What are the EGT's?
Air temp into engine after intercooler?

Just interested to compare with our umm, non LR.

Originally Posted by Narangga

So from memory, in 5th it sits around 1975rpm and in 6th around 1685rpm.

That sounds about comparable at ~100kph. I notice a significant difference in all temps, but our van is a couple of hundred kilos heavier and probably a lot less aerodynamic (being built on a 1965 Baravan shell).

Originally Posted by Narangga

If all goes well I'll give you an update in early July after a trip down the Stuart Hwy and return via the Tanami Road and Kununurra.

I'll patiently await your update while quietly turning green.

Originally Posted by BradC

That sounds about comparable at ~100kph. I notice a significant difference in all temps, but our van is a couple of hundred kilos heavier and probably a lot less aerodynamic (being built on a 1965 Baravan shell).



I'll patiently await your update while quietly turning green.

Oopsie - yes ~ 100kph often around 105 (SOG)

As I remarked to my wife late this afternoon - we should be able to do the trip - unless the Biosecurity Areas in the NT are in force

Originally Posted by scarry

What are the EGT's?
Air temp into engine after intercooler?
Just interested to compare with our umm, non LR.

Sorry, I can’t tell you. I’ve never looked at that.

I’ll look the next time I tow the boat - maybe end of the month.

Originally Posted by Barraman

I have towed a 2.5T boat/trailer some 50,000 km over the last 5 years with my 2015 D4 TDV6 8 speed. I have towed in D and S - get slightly better economy in S but I can't say I notice any difference.
I pretty much always use the cruise control. I generally tow on the speed limit.
It mostly tows in 8 or 7 sitting on 1600 rpm at 100 kph in 8 and 1800 in 7. It changes down to 6 for a hill, occasionally 5, rarely lower except for very steep climbs. If it needs to go lower than 5, the cruise control drops out.
I have tried driving on the paddles but find it to be a pain in the bum with a vehicle that tows so easily.
Sitting on 100 kph on a flat road on a 30oC day, the coolant temp sits on 100, the transmission oil temp 95, the sump oil temp 125 and the torque around 250 (max torque about 476), so its not working hard.
It uses on average 17.5 L/100 km towing the boat.
Best towing/cruising vehicle I have ever driven.

Yep that 8 speed is amazing,
you should try it with the SDV8..