Manual mode= full power?

[Elevatorman]

I have been impressed so far with my 23 3.5l ecoboost. One thing I just realized towing my 5000 pound parachute (travel trailer) yesterday is im not getting full engine power in normal or tow haul modes. It is impressive even in tow haul but only builds about 12 pounds of boost before downshifting, which i assumed was full power. I was towing through mountains at interstate speeds yesterday and put it in manual so It wouldnt shift around and it turned this thing into a diesel. In manual you get full unadulterated power in whatever gear your in. It did not hesitate to build 17-18 pounds of boost and legitimately pull like my old 6.0 powerstroke did. I went from being impressed to borderline mind blown by this engine.

Im a little annoyed ford programmed it so I dont get my full 500 lbs of torque in tow haul mode BEFORE downshifting. Like a better pedal response that has more engine demand area before pushing it too much will downshift. More so wanted to make this post because I hadn't heard anything about this before finding it out yesterday so maybe someone else hasnt realized either. Also in manual mode the pedal response is all the way too the floor. If you want full power, put it on the floor. Maybe this sort of stuff is why I've heard folks say Fords factory programming leaves things to be desired?

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[Elevatorman]

I wonder if they did the same to the 5.0s and na v6s. Might need a different way to tell engine load with no boost gauge, like a Bluetooth obd2 adapter with the torque pro app.

 

[ktexas04]

My thoughts are that this is intentional from a reliability and fuel MPG angle. Using higher boost pressures in the cylinder are harder on the engine components, build much more heat, and uses much more fuel. Fuel savings in the 3.5L TT is best when letting the engine climb RPM's with less boost. It sounds counterproductive, but running a gear longer and higher RPM in tow mode actually saves fuel and avoids excess heat comapared to letting the turbos spool and spin hard and stay spinning hard. I love this engine and have had several and the more I learn about them the more I appreciate having them. We get to have all the advantages (other than exhaust note) that any other 1/2 ton category engine can offer and the 3.5l TT Ecoboost does it quietly, efficiently, and really comfortably at almost any RPM range. The other advantage is that you can somewhat choose how it acts and performs based on these different drive modes. Get yourself a LME MyCal tuner and set of tunes from Anthony and really enjoy the truck!

 

[Elevatorman]

That makes sense. Going down a gear certainly makes a difference in torque to the wheels and little more rpms for more coolant flow and air flow through to keep it cool. Especially with this 10 speed going down a gear is a small change. Anyhow I find it interesting how they did the programming on these trucks. I seem to like eco too because it seems like it holds a gear lower in rpm to let it chug along when empty. I think alot of it has to do with me. Feeling like seeing that torque just muscle its way through like is what proves its such an awesome engine. Even if some rpms is better for its lifespan. Im wondering if hitting the manual button to allow full power in a gear may be better in normal or eco when empty, when I just don't feel like it downshifting. Probably would be less detrimental to the engine when the load is alot lower.

My last truck I just sold a month ago was a 2005 5.4l 3v with the 4 speed auto and 3.73 gears. My last 4 speed probably scarred me, I am so used to having to actively drive in a manner to manipulate how the transmission shifts. It was a goal to get it to stay in gear because the next gear down put your rpms at something ridiculous. This is why I crave low end torque, more torque wouldve made that 4 speed much more enjoyable to tow with, that truck couldn't tow my camper in overdrive at any speed, not enough torque, so was really a 3 speed when towing. This new truck is such a different animal. The same interstate mountain passes that were killing that last truck to tow over, doing it this year with the 3.5 is sweet. The truck doesn't even break a sweat. Doesn't even care it seems like. Im glad I waited for the third gen of the 3.5l. My wife no longer looks at me as we're going up hills in 2nd or 1st gear and asks if the trucks going to blow up.

 

[Samson16]

It’s so strong! I have a PB and climbing up the Blue Ridge Mountains I could hear the V8’s around me downshifting and struggling to keep up the speed. I gently put my foot in the gas and was doing 90 as I crested the peak and still pulling effortlessly. I couldn’t stop smiling as I eased back to the 60s

 

[Porpoise Hork]

The 14thg gen PCM combines requested torque, safety limits, gear ratios, and real-time sensor feedback to establish the maximum torque delivery for each gear at any speed. The transmission control module (TCM) and traction control (TCSM) dynamically interact with the PCM, further refining torque delivery per wheel based on current gear, drivetrain stability needs, and driving conditions. For each shift or gear selection, the PCM recalculates maximum allowable torque and may limit engine output to maintain safety and drivability.

So in other words Ford designed it to keep the engine well inside its power band using the torque-on-demand setup, optimizing power delivery for different driving and load conditions. The PCM uses real-time calculations and predictive models to translate throttle input into the right amount of torque, adjusting airflow, fuel, boost, and ignition timing to maintain engine performance across the entire range of gears. It's not just about

anymore.

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