New Ranger Lugging between 1200 and 1500 RPMs - Is this normal?

[D Fresh]

Thanks to you and everybody else. I'll try all the suggestions and report back. Hopefully as it gets more miles on it and "learns" how I drive it'll get better. If not I may get it tuned. How much would that cost if anybody knows?

Just so you know. The transmission does not learn YOUR driving ste as some have suggested.

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[Wytchdctr]

Just so you know. The transmission does not learn YOUR driving ste as some have suggested.

If that is 100% true - it doesn't adjust to you. Then why does it have the need to stop shifting like a 14 year old trying to learn a stick until 5k miles? (that is a bit of an exaggeration) Not being a smartass, serious question. Is the TCM that dense? I had a Hyundai Sonata commuter a bit ago that would adjust how aggressive it was over time depending on the driver.. and that was a 2009. It was really obvious after a new battery install, etc. They have yet to develop an adaptive TCM?

I had a feeling it was more an issue of needing a bit of wear to smooth out until 5k. Something I would be happy with if it meant a stronger/longer living transmission. Just a heads up would have been nice. That or noticing it on the test drive.. I failed on that, twice.......

 

[D Fresh]

If that is 100% true - it doesn't adjust to you. Then why does it have the need to stop shifting like a 14 year old trying to learn a stick until 5k miles? (that is a bit of an exaggeration) Not being a smartass, serious question. Is the TCM that dense? I had a Hyundai Sonata commuter a bit ago that would adjust how aggressive it was over time depending on the driver.. and that was a 2009. It was really obvious after a new battery install, etc. They have yet to develop an adaptive TCM?

I had a feeling it was more an issue of needing a bit of wear to smooth out until 5k. Something I would be happy with if it meant a stronger/longer living transmission. Just a heads up would have been nice. That or noticing it on the test drive.. I failed on that, twice.......

I'm not sure why.

But the transmission does have a "learning" cycle. It's just not learning how you drive. It's learning how to fit the real world parameters into it's logic. Has nothing to do with the way you drive it.

The 10R80 is great piece of hardware. Ford has neutered it with their asinine logic. Go drive a GM 10L80. Same transmission, MUCH better logic.

10R80 Mustangs and F150s do the same thing.

 

[Wytchdctr]

I'm not sure why.

But the transmission does have a "learning" cycle. It's just not learning how you drive. It's learning how to fit the real world parameters into it's logic. Has nothing to do with the way you drive it.

The 10R80 is great piece of hardware. Ford has neutered it with their asinine logic. Go drive a GM 10L80. Same transmission, MUCH better logic.

10R80 Mustangs and F150s do the same thing.

Gotcha, now I get where you are coming from, thank you.

 

[9zero1790]

whenever it seems to lug give the pedal a slight nudge and make it down shift. eventually the trans computer "learns". babying it and avoiding it downshifting is the worst thing to do, smack dat bitch. make it shift through each gear on take off and when ever it starts to lug blip the gas slightly. the lugging happens to mine even with a tune but half as much. however, when i started driving it with a little more attitude and not kid gloving it to avoid the downshifts it gradually started getting better on its own as the computer gets the idea.

 

[Dgc333]

FWIW, I have been driving 2.3 Ecoboost powered vehicles since Jan 2015 and have accumulated over 100k miles. This engine is not happy pushing a vehicle down the road under 1500 rpm. I would not call it lugging but it is not smooth. With my two Mustangs it was easy because they were manuals and I just used the gear that would keep the rpm between 1500 and 2000 rpm. The Ranger when stock would upshift into a gear which would have the rpm down around 1200 rpm. This rough running in this rpm range may not be detrimental but it goes against everything I have ever known or believed to be acceptable.

It was detracting from my enjoyment of the truck, I locked out gears, used tow mode and sport mode, none of them were acceptable to me. I tried the FP tune, it raised the cruising rpm in drive but not over 1500 but I could live with it. When gas started climbing and 93 was approaching $5 I wanted to go back to 87. Since I had an SCT X4 from back in my Focus ST days and had had great experiences with Unleashed I bought an 87 performance tune with custom transmission tuning. After a couple of revisions Torrie nailed it and I now have a transmission that keeps the rpm between 1500 and 2000 rpm, it shifts crisply and smoothly with no unusual behavior.

Best thing I can say about the transmission tune is I can jump in the truck and go and never think about what it is doing and the engine is smooth as silk in the 1500 to 2000 rpm with a bonus of my mileage going up almost 1 mpg. Haven't felt the need to switch on the gear indicator, lock out gears or use tow mode. This is how Ford should have tuned the transmission from the factory.

 

[Floyd]

FWIW, I have been driving 2.3 Ecoboost powered vehicles since Jan 2015 and have accumulated over 100k miles. This engine is not happy pushing a vehicle down the road under 1500 rpm. I would not call it lugging but it is not smooth. With my two Mustangs it was easy because they were manuals and I just used the gear that would keep the rpm between 1500 and 2000 rpm. The Ranger when stock would upshift into a gear which would have the rpm down around 1200 rpm. This rough running in this rpm range may not be detrimental but it goes against everything I have ever known or believed to be acceptable.

It was detracting from my enjoyment of the truck, I locked out gears, used tow mode and sport mode, none of them were acceptable to me. I tried the FP tune, it raised the cruising rpm in drive but not over 1500 but I could live with it. When gas started climbing and 93 was approaching $5 I wanted to go back to 87. Since I had an SCT X4 from back in my Focus ST days and had had great experiences with Unleashed I bought an 87 performance tune with custom transmission tuning. After a couple of revisions Torrie nailed it and I now have a transmission that keeps the rpm between 1500 and 2000 rpm, it shifts crisply and smoothly with no unusual behavior.

Best thing I can say about the transmission tune is I can jump in the truck and go and never think about what it is doing and the engine is smooth as silk in the 1500 to 2000 rpm with a bonus of my mileage going up almost 1 mpg. Haven't felt the need to switch on the gear indicator, lock out gears or use tow mode. This is how Ford should have tuned the transmission from the factory.

I don't know what sort of engineering background you have but I assume you would know the effects of tire size/type, along with gearing, load, etc.
I assume you have a 4X4 Crewcab with offroad compatible tires.
I have a 4X2 SuperCab with street tires and it never lugs, even when towing my Travel Trailer.
Mine came with a transmission tune well suited to the application which shifts "crisply" and smoothly and behaves as it was designed.
I see you live in MA, temperature and terrain also affect performance of course.
Bottom line is that a custom tune for specific applications can be a good thing, but the truck is factory tuned to offer the best overall performance for the normal range of targeted applications.
My truck simply would not benefit from an aftermarket tune (engine or transmission).
The good news is that you have that option!

 

[BlackRanger01]

Very normal, I'm used to it. I tried sport or tow mode, I can't seem to get used to that. I prefer the regular normal D mode.... I'm the odd one.

 

[D Fresh]

I don't know what sort of engineering background you have but I assume you would know the effects of tire size/type, along with gearing, load, etc.
I assume you have a 4X4 Crewcab with offroad compatible tires.
I have a 4X2 SuperCab with street tires and it never lugs, even when towing my Travel Trailer.
Mine came with a transmission tune well suited to the application which shifts "crisply" and smoothly and behaves as it was designed.
I see you live in MA, temperature and terrain also affect performance of course.
Bottom line is that a custom tune for specific applications can be a good thing, but the truck is factory tuned to offer the best overall performance for the normal range of targeted applications.
My truck simply would not benefit from an aftermarket tune (engine or transmission).
The good news is that you have that option!

You are the only person who has ever said this.


Is everybody else wrong?

Or are you perhaps missing it?

The slight weight differences do not matter. Nor do the tires.

Weight and traction are not factors in transmission logic at all.

 

[kieefer]

Yes, it is due to poor factory fuel mapping or they designed it to stall. Very aggravating and should be considered a safety issue. Imagine needing to stomp on the gas to get out of the way?
The fix won’t be at your dealer unless you buy their Ford tune which the truck should have come with or an aftermarket tune to fix it.
File a complaint and call Fords customer service.

 

[Floyd]

You are the only person who has ever said this.


Is everybody else wrong?

Or are you perhaps missing it?

The slight weight differences do not matter. Nor do the tires.

Weight and traction are not factors in transmission logic at all.

Can't speak to the question as to whom you have been listening.

I can't say that everybody else even has an opinion on the subject ,
(let alone that they all agree with you or me).
Making that implication IS a common way to add apparent credence to your position though!


4-500 pounds is not a slight weight difference.
Tire tread, width and diameter (even compound)do affect performance,
Each of these things are factors in determining shift points and automatic gear selection and at what RPM.
BTW; Same is true for wind speed/direction, grade, and operating temperature etc.
Of course driver input is a factor as well.

?Perhaps (just perhaps) it is not I who is missing it.

Nonetheless.....Thanks for the sage input !

 

[D Fresh]

Can't speak to the question as to whom you have been listening.
4-500 pounds is not a slight weight difference.
Tire tread, width and diameter (even compound)do affect performance,
Each of these things are factors in shift points and automatic gear selection and at what RPM.
BTW; Same is true for wind direction, grade, and operating temperature etc.
Of course driver input is a factor as well.

Perhaps it is not I who is missing it.
Nonetheless.....Thanks for the sage input !

Apparently you've never tuned or seen a modern electronic transmission tuned.

Your transmission doesn't know how much your truck weighs, what tires are on it, what grade you're on, or the wind speed.


A turbo charged motor should NOT be idling down the road at 1300 rpm.

 

[Floyd]

Apparently you've never tuned or seen a modern electronic transmission tuned.

Your transmission doesn't know how much your truck weighs, what tires are on it, what grade you're on, or the wind speed.


A turbo charged motor should NOT be idling down the road at 1300 rpm.

So far, you are the only one who has made such false inferences, I made no such implications.
However, the truck does in fact respond to such factors as load, traction, acceleration and grade.
Thank you for removing all doubt as to who is missing the point!

Finally Lugging is not solely a function of RPM, or whether there is forced induction.
It might be better described as "laboring under a load" due to operating outside the parameters of proper power application.

 

[D Fresh]

So far, you are the only one who has made such false inferences, I made no such implications.

Apparently I misread this drivel?

4-500 pounds is not a slight weight difference.
Tire tread, width and diameter (even compound)do affect performance,
Each of these things are factors in determining shift points and automatic gear selection and at what RPM.
BTW; Same is true for wind speed/direction, grade, and operating temperature etc.

None of these things, save for their effect on speed and load effect your shift points.

The transmission logic is widely hailed as the one flaw in the 10R80.

 

[BassRanger]

.....

A turbo charged motor should NOT be idling down the road at 1300 rpm.

And this is based on what data exactly?

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