D4 - TOWING IN SPORTS MODE

[BLOOZ D4]

Hi All, As with most new forum members I have a question. I have a D4 diesel auto 2.7 and tow a Jayco sterling about 2 ton loaded. I would like members views on towing in sports mode gear. My mate has an LC200 v8 diesel auto and he was telling me that a lot of LC owners advocate towing in S4 (IE Sports mode 4th gear) when towing vans. The reasoning is that the gearbox does not run as hot. I was wondering if the same applies when towing with the Discovery 4. Appreciate any opinions.

[TerryO]

Hi Blooz,

Welcome to the forum, your mate with LC is correct towing in sport mode is a better option.

[Tombie]

Just Sports mode.. Not stuck in 4th like your Toyo mate...

The Sports mode makes it a little more responsive to variations in road condition...

[disco4now]

We tow a 3500kg van with a D4 3.0. We have towed about 35,000km now. I normally just tow in drive except if I get a windy up hill, where I select sport mode so it will hold the same gear better and wont change up when you lift your foot for a corner or road levels off a bit with steeper stuff still to come.

On long or steep down hills I select sport mode and then the next lower gear and just dab the brakes as required to keep the revs down.

For our steep driveway at home and low speed stuff, I select low range.

On the caravan forum I am on much discussion on towing in S4 for the Toyota. Those with scanguage connected see 20c difference in transmission temperature when in S4 and better economy. The issue is that the torque converter does not lock up in the higher gears at the speed they are likely to be towing. Link below discusses it.

LandCruiser 200 Touring Build - Torque Converter Lockup kit installation

My understanding is the D4 does not have issues with the torque converter locking. Just need to change the transmission oil more often when towing.
Plenty of info on changing the transmission oil on here.

Regards
Gerry

[Redback]

As others have said, sport mode for the 2.7l

Baz.

[mowog]

Like disco4now I tow a 3500kg van and I leave it in drive and only change that for condition like disco4now said.

I have my auto serviced on a regular schedule

The Auto is a D4 is a lot smarter than the unit fitted to the LC200. The D4 will pick the best gear to be in 99% of the time.

[theresanothersteve]

Not sure if it's relevant, but Holden states in the owners manual for the VE Commodore to put automatics in sport mode.

The Holden auto is, of course, a different box than that used in LR. They are both, however, modern autos that are surprisingly similar to drive.

[LeighW]

We tow a 3500kg van ... I select sport mode so it will hold the same gear better and wont change up when you lift your foot for a corner or road levels off a bit with steeper stuff still to come.

On long or steep down hills I select sport mode and then the next lower gear and just dab the brakes as required to keep the revs down....

What he says but I select Sport mode and then drive to the conditions. e.g. steep hill ahead, I select the next gear down (raises engine revs = more power) tackle the hill, then slip it across to Drive, wait a few seconds and then re-select Sport mode. This has the advantage of having extra power if needed on the climb but also seems to return best fuel economy and least load on the engine.

BTW - this is when towing a 3 t Bushtracker caravan not the 850 kg braked trailer as the D3 seems to do that quite well in Drive only.

And I believe the auto transmission must have changes of ZF oil at not much more than 80 000 km intervals if towing anything above about 500 kg.

HTH

[VK3GJM]

Hi BLOOZ D4


I have towed about 20,000km now with D4 3.0 8 speed. I let the box select the best gear and only use sport mode when I need response and use pedals to select manual gears as needed, generally in sticky situations off-road towing.


In 2013 I did 12,700Km to the Cape and back, towing TVAN fully loaded, 1300kg with D4 at or near GVM limit, AC on, charging 4 batteries and average temp 25-38, not a single issue with overheating or box issues.


Upon my return I got a full service and I asked my service provider to closely look at all Box, Diff and Sump oil conditions, I also asked them to look at each plug for signs of metal, they have magnet. None found


However, with so much articulation, the Air pump did alarm due to over heating. A short rest and not changing height often muted the issue.


Go with vehicle feel, sound, check fluids regular.


Regards


Gerald
VK3GJM

[nat_89]

Hi BLOOZ D4


I have towed about 20,000km now with D4 3.0 8 speed. I let the box select the best gear and only use sport mode when I need response and use pedals to select manual gears as needed, generally in sticky situations off-road towing.


In 2013 I did 12,700Km to the Cape and back, towing TVAN fully loaded, 1300kg with D4 at or near GVM limit, AC on, charging 4 batteries and average temp 25-38, not a single issue with overheating or box issues.


Upon my return I got a full service and I asked my service provider to closely look at all Box, Diff and Sump oil conditions, I also asked them to look at each plug for signs of metal, they have magnet. None found


However, with so much articulation, the Air pump did alarm due to over heating. A short rest and not changing height often muted the issue.


Go with vehicle feel, sound, check fluids regular.


Regards


Gerald
VK3GJM

I tend to agree with all your saying, just let the car do its own thing there a smart vehicle and I'm sure its all been manufactured to handle all of the capacities and limits that have been set. Unless of course its hunting a lot in 8th then i would possibly put it in sports mode and keep it in 7th. But I've only towed about 500kgs in a trailer and had no problems at all.