Noise when engine under load

[scott011422]

So like others, I've had a strange vibration on my F150. Its always sounded like a bad wheel bearing on the front drivers side. Does it in 2x4 and 4x4. and mainly going up hill. I was playing with the gear lockouts the other day and noticed that while I had dropped a gear, i didn't get my vibration going up that last hill. After further testing, It repeated. No vibration going up hills in 9th gear. (I'm always doing 55+ when I get my vibration). I don't get it while towing, But I always use tow haul mode. So I grabbed a trailer ( Enclosed single axle 14 ft) and left it in normal and it pretty much did it all the time at 60 MPH on a windy day.

Long story short. only get vibration when engine is under heavy load at low RPM.

Any ideas on what to look at? It makes the vibration under the same engine conditions where a spark or coil misfire would occur, But the misfire counters don't really show anything. What else should I be looking at? Any ideas?

I'll take it to the dealer when I have more information. Basically when I can rub their noses in it like a bad dog and go "Fix it!!"

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[Snakebitten]

10r80 transmission related?

In Normal mode at low rpms, in overdrive ratios especially, in my opinion the burden on the drivetrain is suspect.

Think of riding a 10-speed bicycle and shifting to the tallest ratios but while at a casual pace. And then deciding to accelerate. (increase load)
How's those thighs feel about that?

Drop a couple of ratios and immediately the load generates much less stress on the motor/drivetrain.

Could be torque converter vibration.
Could be clutch chatter.
Hard to discern, but as you stated, if you dropped a gear ratio, which increased rpms, the vibration reduced or went away completely.

 

[PB2021]

As Snakebitten says it appears to result from engine loading and disappears as soon as a downshift occurs. I believe the transmissions are tuned to hold a higher gear as long and as much possible for fuel economy. Think of a similar situation in a standard transmission vehicle. Shifting from 1st over to 5th and hoping for smooth acceleration produces the same result. Mine does it very infrequently and I just touch the gas to drop it into 9th and the sensation is gone

 

[zx6roclet]

Throw it in sport mode

 

[scott011422]

Throw it in sport mode

I did try that, Doesn't go in 10th gear.

 

[Snakebitten]

I did try that, Doesn't go in 10th gear.

That's because it's not supposed to be in 10th gear yet. That's kind of the point.

So called "Sport Mode" is just a marketing term for a specific transmission shifting strategy. I think it's hilarious that it's considered "Sport" to shift at what I believe to be a much more normal shift point than "Normal" mode.

I like to imagine the truck having a 10 speed manual transmission. If I were driving it would I have already shifted? Would I have skipped 2nd?

I know there's a lot of CAFE incentive for the "Normal" shift strategy, but that doesn't mean that the drivetrain is happy about it.

Put the truck in Manual mode as an experiment. When would you shift? You aren't going to hurt the truck. Get to know it. What feeeeels healthy?

10th gear is the 3rd overdrive ratio. That's interstate gearing. Lol

 

[scott011422]

That's because it's not supposed to be in 10th gear yet. That's kind of the point.

I guess im confused here. If the vibration only occurs under high load low rpm conditions, How is driving in a mode that doesn't reproduce those conditions supposed to help me track down the vibration?

Am I missing something?

 

[Snakebitten]

If using a different shift strategy avoids the condition altogether, then you might avoid the whole hassle of dealing with Ford or a dealership keeping the truck multiple times and never really finding a remedy regardless.

Or put another way, if manually overriding (locking out) the gear selection of one of the pre-programmed shift strategies eliminates the issue, you have eliminated the issue. No?

 

[scott011422]

If using a different shift strategy avoids the condition altogether, then you might avoid the whole hassle of dealing with Ford or a dealership keeping the truck multiple times and never really finding a remedy regardless.

Or put another way, if manually overriding (locking out) the gear selection of one of the pre-programmed shift strategies eliminates the issue, you have eliminated the issue. No?

Lol! Maybe for you! Problem is still there, Id just be avoiding it! Like the BMS, it would drive me crazy!

100% though on the dealer. To be fair, my dealer comes very highly recommended, But i've never used them short of ordering the truck. But unless they are the best dealer I've ever seen, I know i'm pretty much going to have to wrap this up in a bow if I expect anything to happen.

 

[Snakebitten]

The first thing I would eliminate is the fluid level. These 10R80's have shipped underfilled and overfilled. They also seem to be sensitive to the level.

The issue with checking the level is that it's not easily done unless the transmission has reached full operating temperature, which is 205-215F. A short drive will not suffice.
There's a reason Ford instructs the level to be checked at a temperature range, and it suggests that checking it at a temperature below that will give a false reading.

 

[scott011422]

Still haven't been able to get the trans to temp, So there that....

Was playing around yesterday testing conditions. I can make the noise very briefly in 9th. Then it kinda dawned on me, What if it was the tires? The noise has always been small in frequency. 10th gear ratio is .636. So at 1500 rpm the driveshaft is spinning at 2358 rpm. That also means from the front of the engine to the rear axle is between 1500-2358 RPM. That's a high frequency as far as a bearing or shaft noise would be. At 3.73, my tires are only spinning at 632 rpm. Much slower. I cant get this noise to show up on camera, but its slow. What if I'm hearing something odd with a tire when ITS under a load?

 

[Mac83]

Scott, were you able to remedy this situation? This is exactly what I’m experiencing and it’s driving me crazy. I’m getting that noise/feeling in the pedal in 10th gear between 52-65+ MPH. It’s been to the dealer for a week and was told it’s normal after a week in the shop. Another owner on this forum said he had transmission fluid changed and his has been good since. I’m contemplating trying it but from what I hear, it’s around $300. I’m at a loss of next steps.

 

[Jerome10]

Are you getting rattling noises at all or vibration only?

I get some metallic rattle noises on mine at particular RPM if the engine isn't hot. I'm still investigating but have been told it is the wastegates. It sounds baaadd though.

I don't get vibration. But wondering if you're around 1500-1600 RPM if you've got this noise too and you're also feeling it?

Any chance you've searched TSBs that might address this? I think there was something for bellhousing noise but I believe it was only the V8.

What about resetting the shift tables and hopefully it learns to downshift and not lug when you're in those conditions?

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