Hey All,

Loving my new truck, but after driving manual transmission pickups for the past 15 years, how do I get the engine to downshift before I go to pass at high speeds? In my Tacoma, I would throw it from 6th to 5th or 4th and then zoom on my way past anyone without any jerking or delayed response. Now, in my F150, I hit the gas and it takes a second before the truck realizes it needs to downshift in order to accomplish the speed I want.

This is in a 2017 2.7L, Reg cab going about 70mph and in Sport mode. It has plenty of power so that's not an issue at all. Without a performance tuner or anything, is there any way to do a preemptive downshift? Any tricks with the gas pedal?

I've tried the manual mode and selectshift, but holding your arm on the shifter with your elbow sticking out is so wonky and dumb. And I don't want to eliminate 6th gear completely.

Thanks!

 

Just let the truck do its thing. Its a truck, not a race car.

 

This shouldn't be something done a lot. If you anticipate needing to do it just lock out 6th and/or 5th gear and leave it in 5th/4th until you are in a position where you don't need to downshift. I almost never use the manual mode, but locking out the higher gears is something I do a lot. But I don't have to keep my hand on the shifter. If you wanted to do that one with the shifter in the floor might have been a better option for you.

I've never driven a 2.7 so I can't say how they drive. But my '14 with the 5.0 tries to stay under 1500 rpm's @ 55 mph in 6th. Closer to 1000 rpm's @ 45 when in 6th gear. The truck has almost no power until you hit 2000-2500 rpm's then it is a completely different truck. The 3.5 develops power at much lower rpm's. Just looking at the engine specs it appears the 2.7 is somewhere in between, but closer to the 5.0. If I'm driving for an extended time period at about below 55 I simply lock out 6th and 5th gears. The truck and I'm both happier.

In June my wife and I did a 4800 mile road trip to and through Colorado and part of Wyoming. I spent a LOT of time with 5th and 6th gears locked out going up mountains, and even locking out 4th and sometimes 3rd going down. I had one tank of almost 500 miles where I never got above 4th gear. The truck powered up steep mountains and crossed several 10,000'-12-000' passes with power to spare as long as I kept rpm's up to 2000-2500 rpm's. Got the best fuel mileage of the trip at over 21 mpg on that tank too.

 

If I really wanted to, I'd reach down, do a couple clicks on the shifter, and go for it. It's a bit easier with the console shifter, other than that, the same as you do.
Driven everything from three on the tree, to 18 speed semi's, and still have a 5 speed manual in my Ranger. Makes me appreciate a 10 speed auto usually.

 

My V8 is instant power. With the turbo engines I would guess you are experiencing turbo lag.

 

If I lock out 6th gear while currently in it, does it automatically downshift? I'd go test it right now, but I'm currently working. On a Sunday...ugh.

 

When you go to pass just floor it. The computer doesn't only take the amount of throttle application into account but also how fast your are pressing the accelerator. Drop your foot quickly and the computer will select the lowest possible gear and WOT before you are completely in the other lane.

If that's not good enough turn on Sport Mode.

 

Does sport mode just keep the RPMs higher all the time? Any engine longevity issues if you always use sport mode?

 

There is no turbo lag in an EB F150, it's all AT related.

If the OP is already in Sport mode, and cruising at 70 mph as he stated, simply roll into the throttle. You should already be in peak torque rpm range, and should only need to drop one or two gears.

 

Yeah the trick with the gas pedal is if you want maximum acceleration, put the thing to the floor fast and it will respond in kind. Mine shifts and takes off like a rocket in a milisecond. Unfortunately the trans will not respond to what you are thinking till you tell it to by mashing the pedal hard. The accelerator in the F-150 is quite lazy unless in sport mode or if you have a pedal commander style tuner.