16 3.5 eco 4x4 with 112K

This might sound weird but bare with me.. as i drive i am noticing "additional" gears within the 6 speed transmission. Not literally but if my dash reads 5th gear and I give it a tad bit of gas I notice an increase of rpms (500?) and a minor speed increase- if ANY. Usually on the low end (1750-2250) but it will continue to read 5th and not until I get the truck to truly downshift which is easily felt itll then read 4th or whatever. I'm thinking it has something to do with the turbos? So is it designed to begin to "slip" as the turbo spools up a bit? I use the word slip loosely though...

Any input here? No issues here just making conversation and observation.

 

That's how an automatic transmission works.
There is no slipping doesn't have anything to do with turbos.

Not all transmissions are as sensitive as what you are seeing which can explain why you haven't seen in in past vehicles.

There is no such thing as "additional gears". It's jus the way the RPM is read.

I'm sure there is a different explanation but nothing I can explain any better.

 

Sounds like the normal function of the torque convertor locking and unlocking.

 

I've noticed the torque converter tends to lock and unlock quite a bit on these trucks. It sometimes feels like an extra "shift".

 

As you lightly step into the throttle the torque convertor unlocks. RPMs go up. As speed starts to match convertor locks up again. Touching the brakes also normally unlocks the convertor temporaly

 

Ok cool. I think its starting to make sense. And please don't think I truly thought there are extra gears lol. But just noticed there are more rpm fluctuations that aren't transferred directly to speed. It just seemed more noticeable in my truck and other vehicles. Makes sense about the converter doing its thing.

 

You are feeling the torque converter lock and unlock.

 

The others are correct, the torque converter locking and unlocking can feel like a shift sometimes. When the torque converter is unlocked you will see an increase in RPM that wont always result in an increase in speed, thats just how a torque converter works. Picture it like two fans facing each other, when you turn one on the other one will start to spin after a slight delay, the torque converter works the same but replace the air with transmission fluid and the powered fan with the engine side of the converter. There is no direct link from the engine flywheel to the transmission input shaft until the torque converter locks up once you hit cruising speed. Hope that makes sense.

 

yup. its the torque converter locking and unlocking. It is more noticeable when the truck is cold.