For the 3.31 haters

[JExpedition07]

I have read alot online from people who have never owned or driven the V8 nor 3.31s on how terrible the towing experience is. I’m still looking for the supposed drama they say i will experience between my boat and other trailers. Hauled my dual axle enclosed loaded to the gills with tools, ladders, pipe, and tanks for 2 hours yesterday, 8th gear in tow/haul the whole way.. Moral of the story is if you tow between 5-8,000 LBS I would not shy away from a 3.31 lot truck if you like it and I read this happening all the time. They do just fine, you are going to be in overdrive the whole time lol. Mind you there was also decent head wind on top of the weight.

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[JCsTruck]

I agree, the 3.31 gears in conjunction with the 10-speed automatic transmission make a good match and offer both good acceleration and fuel efficiency even while towing. Also, my 0-60 run of 5.41 seconds says there is plenty of mechanical advantage too. ?

 

[JExpedition07]

Yup, it occasionally drops to 6th or 7th on a heavier incline but that’s about as much “drama” as I’ve ever seen. Goes right back up to 8th gear on the flats.

 

[SALEEN961]

Some people are just stuck in the past. Back when we had the 4R70W, rear axle ratio was more important because of the 2.84 1st gear ratio, how large the steps between gears were, and how little power all the engine options made. With the 4.69 1st gear ratio in the 10R80 and the current engine lineup, rear axle ratio doesn't really matter too much.

Some people insist on having an overly aggressive ratio so they can sit in 10th at highway speeds regardless of the load. I'm not sure why the occasional downshift bothers some people so much, or why locking out 10th and 9th so they can sit in 8th while towing is an unacceptable to them.

I think the stock shift scheduling is a bigger issue than gear ratio, but adding 4.10 gears to my 2014 5.0 did make it much more fun.

 

[JExpedition07]

Some people are just stuck in the past. Back when we had the 4R70W, rear axle ratio was more important because of the 2.84 1st gear ratio, how large the steps between gears were, and how little power all the engine options made. With the 4.69 1st gear ratio in the 10R80 and the current engine lineup, rear axle ratio doesn't really matter too much.

Some people insist on having an overly aggressive ratio so they can sit in 10th at highway speeds regardless of the load. I'm not sure why the occasional downshift bothers some people so much, or why locking out 10th and 9th so they can sit in 8th while towing is an unacceptable to them.

I think the stock shift scheduling is a bigger issue than gear ratio, but adding 4.10 gears to my 2014 5.0 did make it much more fun.

Very true, and unfortunately many of those people likely have no idea how much damage they are doing to their TC lockup clutch over time running in 10th with weight in tow. Just the thought of that heat on the clutch makes me cringe!

Then they may post “why won’t my transmission go into overdrive and there is a wrench symbol on the dash” at 70k miles lol.

 

[Truckguy24]

While there clearly is a difference going to 3:55 or 373 gears, you are spot on. The 10 speed has absolutely negated it being a valid argument for most people anymore. Go drive a 5.4 with the four speed and 3.55 or 3.73 gears and you quickly realize how slow and lethargic they are because of the archaic four speed and wide ratios. Love my 2004 5.4, but it is a slug. My 5.0 10 speed two-wheel drive 3.31 e locker truck is an absolute beast. Quick, efficient and tons of usable power.



In short, people are spoiled today and forget how slow the older stuff was even just 10 to 15 years ago, let alone the 21-year age of my '04. It just doesn't matter like it used to. But there certainly is a true difference if you compare them side by side.

For most people, it really doesn't matter. Most people dream of hauling 10,000 pounds, hauling 2000 lb in the bed, but let's be real, most people use it as grocery getters so the ratio just doesn't affect their usage to the limit some are led to believe.

If you handed me 3.73 gears when I bought my truck, I'd take them on an identical truck. But 3.31s were not the focus. For me, it was an e-locker, 5.0 two-wheel drive XL SuperCrew that needed to be the main requirements.

 

[SALEEN961]

Very true, and unfortunately many of those people likely have no idea how much damage they are doing to their TC lockup clutch over time running in 10th with weight in tow. Just the thought of that heat on the clutch makes me cringe!

Then they may post “why won’t my transmission go into overdrive and there is a wrench symbol on the dash” at 70k miles lol.

Have you seen many reports of TCC issues with the 10R80? I hear about plenty of valve body, CDF drum, and reaction shell issues, but I can't recall hearing about any TCC failures. I've also seen plenty of people complaining that shops can't be bothered to set the fluid level correctly, but I can't blame the trans for that.

Just curious because in my talks with Circle D I was basically told to not worry about breaking my stock converter because they never see failures and as a result they don't upgrade anything noteworthy in the HP series converters. As it stands I'm still a bit nervous foot brake stalling my stock converter up past 3250RPM.

 

[kieefer]

I’ll bet your fuel mileage is better when not towing.

 

[JExpedition07]

Have you seen many reports of TCC issues with the 10R80? I hear about plenty of valve body, CDF drum, and reaction shell issues, but I can't recall hearing about any TCC failures. I've also seen plenty of people complaining that shops can't be bothered to set the fluid level correctly, but I can't blame the trans for that.

Just curious because in my talks with Circle D I was basically told to not worry about breaking my stock converter because they never see failures and as a result they don't upgrade anything noteworthy in the HP series converters. As it stands I'm still a bit nervous foot brake stalling my stock converter up past 3250RPM.

My last Expedition burned up the lockup clutch on the venerable 6R80 from running around in 6th too much with towing. Lesson learned. I think you will burn up any lockup clutch if you tow a lot and let it lockup in tallest gears. It generates a lot of heat and stress, and put that over a 2-3 hour interval it adds up.

I got lucky, I was able to swap the converter, change the fluid, and filter and it was good as new. The clutch burned up and just wore out to the point it slipped like no tomorrow when it engaged.

 

[JCsTruck]

My last Expedition burned up the lockup clutch on the venerable 6R80 from running around in 6th too much with towing. Lesson learned. I think you will burn up any lockup clutch if you tow a lot and let it lockup in tallest gears. It generates a lot of heat and stress, and put that over a 2-3 hour interval it adds up.

I got lucky, I was able to swap the converter, change the fluid, and filter and it was good as new. The clutch burned up and just wore out to the point it slipped like no tomorrow when it engaged.

How many miles were on it when that happened. I believe I have the 6R80 in my 4014 F-150 with the 3.7 and it has 226k miles and the transmission has been good so far. I’ve heard the 5R80 transmissions are bulletproof.

 

[JCsTruck]

Another gripe I hear but I don't think applies to the 2021-present 5.0 is that it lacks low end torque. Maybe it did with the earlier generation with 10.5 compression and port fuel injection but I feel like the current generation with 12-1 compression with DI and MPI has decent low end torque.

 

[roadPilot]

Love my '21 F150 Platinum SCrew 5.0L 3.31 4x4 6.5'. Hauling the SXS and a whole bunch of payload 1,000 miles RT for a week soon. Do it all the time. Zero complaints!

 

[grayDawg]

I have read alot online from people who have never owned or driven the V8 nor 3.31s on how terrible the towing experience is. I’m still looking for the supposed drama they say i will experience between my boat and other trailers. Hauled my dual axle enclosed loaded to the gills with tools, ladders, pipe, and tanks for 2 hours yesterday, 8th gear in tow/haul the whole way.. Moral of the story is if you tow between 5-8,000 LBS I would not shy away from a 3.31 lot truck if you like it and I read this happening all the time. They do just fine, you are going to be in overdrive the whole time lol. Mind you there was also decent head wind on top of the weight.

This is really good to know and we all appreciate your evaluation of the capability of the combination of the 5.0 and 3.31. On a different note, how did you get the display to read as you have photographed? Is Forscan required? Thanks.

 

[sPHYNX_76]

I’m resolving my 3.31 perceived (or real) performance issues out with a whipple 3.0. I still think the shift schedule is the real issue with these trucks, if they could fix that, there’d be a lot less complaints.

 

[grnsnake97]

I’m resolving my 3.31 perceived (or real) performance issues out with a whipple 3.0. I still think the shift schedule is the real issue with these trucks, if they could fix that, there’d be a lot less complaints.

I can confirm, the Whipple will resolve all performance issues. I've added Raptor take offs and can lose traction in at least 3rd gear with my 3.31's. Haven't tried in 4th yet.

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