Anyone drive their 5.0 consistently in Sport mode?

[SCREAMER]

I drove in normal mode for the first month or two after I bought mine just to let it get a good break in before I started driving how I like. Now I drive exclusively in Sport mode and I’ve noticed zero loss of MPGs. I honestly feel like Sport mode is actually “true normal” and all the other modes are modified. In normal and eco, throttle is slow to respond and the transmission is always early downshifting. Tow mode is, well, for towing. But Sport mode is untainted by electronic interference. Throttle response is better. The transmission shifts better and doesn’t skip shift near as much. Fuel efficiency is unchanged and I have better control of my truck without the cylinder deactivation or auto start/stop annoyances. Win win

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[TacoJon]

I drove in normal mode for the first month or two after I bought mine just to let it get a good break in before I started driving how I like. Now I drive exclusively in Sport mode and I’ve noticed zero loss of MPGs. I honestly feel like Sport mode is actually “true normal” and all the other modes are modified. In normal and eco, throttle is slow to respond and the transmission is always early downshifting. Tow mode is, well, for towing. But Sport mode is untainted by electronic interference. Throttle response is better. The transmission shifts better and doesn’t skip shift near as much. Fuel efficiency is unchanged and I have better control of my truck without the cylinder deactivation or auto start/stop annoyances. Win win

OEM's make the throttle mushy on newer vehicles for emissions and safety reasons. It's completely silly. Ford engineers probably had to fight for a Sport mode that mimicked normal driving modes of 15 years ago. For me normal mode is pushing the throttle in 30% just to take off with 10% power and the engine fighting me when I want to give it revs. My Pedal Monster has mitigated that problem pretty well and my truck is much nicer to drive now.

 

[NotWoke]

Sport mode on my '23 5.0L shifts my transmission into 4WD instead of leaving it at 2WD. Is that normal?

 

[RCSB]

I do most of the time. I like how it down shifts early and the Roush exhaust burbles. Mine isn’t a daily driver though. It probably sees 100 miles a month on average. I’m 48 years old and this is my first automatic transmission. I hate it. No issues with it so far. I just like to roll my own. I feel like everytime it shifts it’s like I ate a soybean.

 

[gagliano7]

Sport mode on my '23 5.0L shifts my transmission into 4WD instead of leaving it at 2WD. Is that normal?

Not sure which model you have but on my XL STX it stays in 2WD when I switch to sport.

 

[Chilidog]

Sport mode on my '23 5.0L shifts my transmission into 4WD instead of leaving it at 2WD. Is that normal?

My 22 switches to AWD in Sport mode. Definitely pulls faster.

 

[JCsTruck]

I could be wrong, but I thought the higher trim Ford F-150’s offer a full-time four-wheel-drive system, and the lower trims have a part-time four-wheel-drive system that you need to switch in and out manually. This might have something to do with some trucks automatically going into four-wheel-drive in sport mode. I’m taking delivery of my new four-wheel-drive 5.0 F-150 XL Supercab tomorrow so I’ll test that out. My truck has the part-time manual system.

 

[Area51_5.0]

I only use SPORT when in town. On the highway it's kind of annoying when it holds the gear forever. I wish you could just hit the + or - on the gear selector to get it out or in a certain gear without putting it in "manual" mode.

 

[gagliano7]

I could be wrong, but I thought the higher trim Ford F-150’s offer a full-time four-wheel-drive system, and the lower trims have a part-time four-wheel-drive system that you need to switch in and out manually. This might have something to do with some trucks automatically going into four-wheel-drive in sport mode. I’m taking delivery of my new four-wheel-drive 5.0 F-150 XL Supercab tomorrow so I’ll test that out. My truck has the part-time manual system.

Yours will stay in 2WD when you switch to sport.

 

[sporkfed]

Sport is also great for slow-speed hilly areas, where you want to keep the revs up to avoid excess shifting.

 

[sbacpo]

Sport mode on my '23 5.0L shifts my transmission into 4WD instead of leaving it at 2WD. Is that normal?

It should shift it into 4A.

 

[gagliano7]

I tried driving in sport for a tank full. Lost some mpg. I just couldn’t take the high revs before every shift. It will not shift below 2100 rpm’s no matter how light I push the gas pedal. It will not shift into 10th gear unless I hit 70 mph. Just to much for me.

 

[Eighthtry]

Sport full time now. It cleaned up the tip-in. Acceleration is more linear now. I think it did tighten up the PS some, but I can live with that.

 

[Hkak45]

From my personal experience, there is no noticable improvement from a full stop. It does keep the truck in lower gear once rolling and you will feel the difference only then. It does hold gear too long which sort of lets out this whining noise (with Roush exhaust) therefore I dont use it much. I use it on the highway more so than anywhere else. Didn't see any noticable difference in MPG. Getting 13.6 with 80 percent highway with 33's and a 2" lift.

What is your opinion on the roush exhaust?

 

[Aonarch]

I like sport around town, even with light acceleration, the extra responsiveness is nice, and the 10 speed behaves better.

On the highway no, normal mode all of the way.

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