6 hour rule when Flat towing for 2025-26 AWD Hybrids & 15 min. wait before starting the engine

[timbo57]

I follow the 6 hour rule with my 2025 AWD hybrid when planning on towing for longer than that time..

My question to 25 and 26 owners who flat tow: Is it necessary to follow the 15 minute rule when taking it out of neutral tow, BEFORE I start it and run it thru the gears? I have been, but it does add that 15 minutes to the process. Is it necessary? It clearly states wait 15 minutes before starting the engine without interacting with the vehicle before starting it. You can't cycle the gears without starting the engine if it is for lubrication. Has anyone gotten clarification for this from Ford? Do you wait the 15 minutes?

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[Mavster Mechanic]

It's for sure odd, and sounds like an afterthought, a workaround for something they screwed up on.

But hard data is hard to find.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I follow the 6 hour rule with my 2025 AWD hybrid when planning on towing for longer than that time..

My question to 25 and 26 owners who flat tow: Is it necessary to follow the 15 minute rule when taking it out of neutral tow, BEFORE I start it and run it thru the gears? I have been, but it does add that 15 minutes to the process. Is it necessary? It clearly states wait 15 minutes before starting the engine without interacting with the vehicle before starting it. You can't cycle the gears without starting the engine if it is for lubrication. Has anyone gotten clarification for this from Ford? Do you wait the 15 minutes?

Tim, @timbo57
First, Welcome to the Forum
Sorry
This is probably not the answer you're looking for.
Procedures were changed for the 2025-2026 model years.
I find it very interesting.
When I look through my 2023 owner's manual. I find no reference to the 15 minute wait.
As you can see the procedure is not carried over onto page 294 of the 23 manual.

But yet, it has been added to the 2025, 2026 owners manual's.
Could it be something that Ford engineers discovered from previous years?

Will NOT following this procedure affect your warranty?
Can Ford tell by plugging into the computer whether the procedure been followed or not
In the end.
Whether you decide to follow the manual, even though it's inconvenient or follow other folks who don't follow the manual, because it's inconvenient.
When all is said and done.
It's your truck.
Do what makes you comfortable.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

It's for sure odd, and sounds like an afterthought, a workaround for something they screwed up on.

But hard data is hard to find.

Yep, sounds about right.
That procedure was not in the previous 22, 23, 24 manuals.
Update edit. I downloaded the PDF 2024 owners manual.

There must have been a reason they added the procedure starting in 25.
Out of an abundance of caution or they found a problem?

I have to ask the question. If it didn't make a difference, why add it now?

 

[ZeroDay]

There was a transmission design change, as well as the addition of AWD in some cases for 2025+.
Yes it still seems odd to me, but it could be to allow for proper module wake up, shut down, reset, recalibration, etc.

 

[HeyBales]

Well - the online 24MY manual is pretty stupid for layout - who'd have thunk it!

There is no 24MY AWD Hybrid.
And when you click on that section - says it can't be done for gas engine.
Then why is it under HEV!!!

Also - the section on switching it Off - is ONLY under Emergency Towing, nothing under the Recreationally section with how to turn it On. So that's pretty lame.
Also - notice the instructions - "switch your vehicle on in Accessory mode" when you enable or disable tow mode.
What?
For keyed ignition there is an Accessory position, there is also an On position.
For push-button the manual calls it Accessory mode, but since the HVB is brought in, it's really On mode.

With the comment in the Note about battery needed to get into Neutral - I'm wondering if it disables the normal 12VB checking since key should be ignition - and a module sees that fact, probably staying awake with extra drain. Or maybe the HVB isn't really disconnected on the ignition Off step.
Now at the end, disable tow mode, turn off, and let the system get a good read on the 12V battery voltage to decide if it needs to complain or not, and turn the normal modules off.

Whole things seems screwbally.
You turn vehicle On every 6 hrs - shift into Drive. This would allow recharging the HVB if it needed to.
But the steps have you keeping vehicle on for 3 min after Tow enabled again and in Neutral mode - when the ICE won't start to charge the HVB.
So that starting step every 6 hrs seems to kick you out of Tow mode, because you need to reenable it.
So what's different with that just jump in and start it up from Tow mode, and end of the day/tow now saying do NOT jump in until 15 min has passed?

Otherwise:
Switching Neutral Tow On

1. Switch your vehicle on in accessory mode.

1. Press the menu button on the steering wheel to enter the instrument cluster display main menu.

1. Select Settings.

1. Select Neutral Tow.

1. Follow the instructions on the instrument cluster display.

1. Fully press the brake pedal.

1. Shift into neutral (N).

1. Switch the ignition off.

Note: Switching neutral tow on requires battery power.
Note: If the parking brake is applied, a message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Note: If your vehicle has an ignition key, you cannot remove the key from the ignition when the transmission is in neutral (N) and your vehicle is off.
Note: Start your vehicle at the beginning of each day, and every six hours or fewer. With the vehicle on and your foot on the brake, shift into drive (D) and then back into Neutral (N). Before continuing to tow, switch neutral tow on and keep the vehicle on for three minutes.

Note: Failure to follow these instructions could result in damage to the transmission.
Note: Switching neutral tow on requires battery power.
Note: Switch your climate control system to recirculated air mode to prevent exhaust fumes from entering your vehicle. See Climate Control.
Note: For vehicles with electric brake booster, enabling neutral tow deactivates the brake booster. The red brake lamp illuminates in the instrument cluster indicating the brake booster is deactivated.
Switching Neutral Tow Off

1. Switch your vehicle on in accessory mode.

1. Fully press the brake pedal.

1. Shift into park (P).

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I just got done downloading the pdf. 2024 owners manual. The instructions for recreational towing of the hybrid are exactly the same as they are for the 2023.

As @ZeroDay
Pointed out in post #5
Procedures to turn off the recreational tow for 2025-2026 were probably due to changes in the 2025-26 transmissions.

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