towing mode to avoid lugging?

[Brianx]

i TRIED the search and couldn't find anything so forgive me if i missed it.
'24 EcoB 4WD here.
I dislike how much the regular drive mode lugs below 1500 rpm so i was using Sport in-town driving but it's a bit too high rpm for my tastes.
i tried TOW mode and it seems to fit the bill as an in-between rpm level. Other than holding it's gear more going downhill, it seems just right for me, for under 60 mph driving.
Q: is there anything inherently wrong with this other than a bit less mpg and perhaps more engine wear? i'm thinking 1300/1400 rpm lugging is worse. thx.

Sponsored

 

[Tbone289]

I use tow mode in the hills here and in the Rockies frequently, and it works great to keep it more in the power band and for a little help with compression braking. Lower MPG will be the biggest difference from normal mode, but it won't be as big a hit as sport mode would. Any extra wear should be minimal.

 

[RideSolo]

I'm not sure you've got to worry much about lugging w/ a modern vehicle, computer controlled, liquid cooled engine/transmission package. The system should be pretty much working to keep things optimal. Lugging was far more important in a standard shift, air cooled VW (or Corvair) that relied on engine speed to blow cooling air over the cylinders/heads.

 

[Tbone289]

One thing to note about tow mode, is that if you touch the brakes on downhills, it will assume you want compression braking and downshift, so try to avoid it. I wish we had a mode that kept RPMs up (lower gear) a bit for cruising and hills, but didn't add the downshifting on hills like tow/haul does. That would be perfect for your application, but your only option is to get that from a tuner. Actually, just having a button available to unlock the torque converter would work as well for those weird 40mph/~1300rpm situations.

 

[cannon]

I'm not sure you've got to worry much about lugging w/ a modern vehicle, computer controlled, liquid cooled engine/transmission package. The system should be pretty much working to keep things optimal. Lugging was far more important in a standard shift, air cooled VW (or Corvair) that relied on engine speed to blow cooling air over the cylinders/heads.

Lugging with a turbo is asking for trouble

 

[710-oil-614]

Filling with 91 or 93 will also lessen the lugging effect.

 

[Brianx]

Filling with 91 or 93 will also lessen the lugging effect.

I run 91. I've read 93 is more for towing and/or winding up the tach

 

[Meeka]

Filling with 91 or 93 will also lessen the lugging effect.

Tried them both, still ‘lugs’ on my 24 Eco. No difference.

 

[RideSolo]

Lugging with a turbo is asking for trouble

Thanx for the info, have never owned a turbo vehicle. Makes sense, "trying to make a fire that you aren't cooling" in an air cooled and "trying to run way too rich" in the turbo engine.

 

[Brianx]

Tried them both, still ‘lugs’ on my 24 Eco. No difference.

That's weird. its a bit more than enough for me

 

[AZ-Mike]

Lugging with a turbo is asking for trouble

Feeling like a newbie here, but what is "Lugging" and why would that be an issue with a Turbo?

My MY25 Maverick XL is my first vehicle with a turbo, and I will be driving up/down some hills between Phoenix and Flagstaff on a fairly regular basis. Don't want any troubles.

 

[cannon]

Feeling like a newbie here, but what is "Lugging" and why would that be an issue with a Turbo?

My MY25 Maverick XL is my first vehicle with a turbo, and I will be driving up/down some hills between Phoenix and Flagstaff on a fairly regular basis. Don't want any troubles.

If you do like I did when I first got my mav and watch the MPGs closely, you'll be tempted to keep RPMs low as possible as often as possible. That's what they call lugging- cruising around at lowest RPMs you can.

 

[AZ-Mike]

If you do like I did when I first got my mav and watch the MPGs closely - cruising around at lowest RPMs you can.

Yes! I find myself constantly watching the MPG bar trying to keep it above 30 for as long as possible. If I'm climbing a hill I wouldn't care, but city driving... constantly.

Glad I'm not the only one.

 

[Tbone289]

Feeling like a newbie here, but what is "Lugging" and why would that be an issue with a Turbo?

"Lugging" is driving at too low an RPM for the conditions or engine load, which the Maverick doesn't really do. Under higher loads, the Maverick shifts down to bring the RPMs up as it needs to and avoids actual lugging.

When cruising at ~40mph, you will notice that the Maverick will tend to upshift to the point where it is running at about 1300 rpm, which is fine when you're cruising under light load and is good for fuel efficiency. That, combined with the torque converter being locked at the same time causes some vibrations in the driveline that some people don't like and they describe as a "lugging" feeling. Using tow/haul mode or sport mode keeps the RPMs higher and avoids this feeling while at the same time reduces fuel efficiency.

True lugging where you're at a low RPM and a high load situation can cause Low Speed Pre-Ignition, or LSPI, in direct-injected turbo engines which raises cylinder pressures to very high, unhealthy loads and should be avoided.

 

[Bob The Builder]

I had a well discussed thread about this very issue about a year ago. I get it, the search engine here can be a bit wonky to say the least.

I cured about 90% of the so called "lugging effect" by running 91 Octane E-Free gas. More power and about 10% better milage are a plus. Not sure, even given the benefits of doing this if I were still driving 25K a year, but now that I am driving about 3K a year, it's a no brainer for me.

YMMV

Sponsored