What is the BEST Gear to TOW A 3T Van?
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- The Y62 Patrol is a brilliant tow car when set up properly. I’ve been lucky enough to drive and tow with a Y62 for the last 8 years and recently I was asked what gear should we be towing in. Watch this video for my controversial response
![Is the Y62 Nissan Patrol Transmission any good? [ service & information ]](/img/n.gif)
Great info Dave. You just described all the issues we had on our last trip. Now I understand what the big girl was doing and more importantly what I wasn't doing correctly.
Thanks Dave. Yeah I drive manual mode in 5th gear. When there is incline i drop to 4th. Water temp goes up around 102/105 degrees when i climb a hill and then 5th gear when going down or flat. Water temp goes back down to 95/98 degrees.
Thanks for the video, I am a 200 series driver and some points you mentioned were interesting. A popular mod some do on the 200 is to have the trans remapped to hold 5th and 6th when towing a van. I do have a torque converter lockup kit for towing which keeps temps well below. My point is what gear to tow in and with the 4.5 diesels what most don't realise is that when their car has a trans tune it holds the car in 5th and when towing up even a modest hill the EGTs go sky high but if your car can go back to 4th the temps come down straight away. Most complain where the 200 series trans changes but they change for reasons that I mentioned about EGT temps to keep them down. Also the engine labors if it is in the wrong gear. Thanks.
Very interesting, I have heard this too re 200’s
It's interesting how the different brands gear boxes worked. I have a Fortuner (Prado/Hilux gear box) and I've driven a 200 and normal hold in 4th but the gear box will always drop back similar to in drive but won't got into 5th. Where as the Nissan's are more a real manual mode by letting you select the gear you think you should be in.
Thanks for this advice Dave. I too had always thought to manually select gears when towing- old school. I’ll be using Auto in future with only brief occasional manual selection.
Thanks for all the good info, towing puts a whole lot more load on the trans so it’s important as you say to know your vehicle. With an auto trans, oil cooler and monitoring trans temp is essential. I tow in 4th manual mode and shift it up to 5th only if I’m on a long straight level or slight downhill section of road but still keeping an eye on the trans temp.
Exactly, but many "car specialists" claim that the Engineers who designed it know better so leave it in auto to do its own thing. I believe they are wrong.
Love my scanguage and after a year of towing off and on...I certainly wouldn't be without it. Scanguage is set to engine and gearbox temps, LPH and real KPH. I run stock tyres and tow 3t at 6.2 gcm. When the roads are good usually tow at 90-95 kph. When fully loaded, I prefer manual and only use auto when starting off and round town. Points of interest...manual temps average 84 to 86 degC but in auto they are 2 to 3 higher at speed. Its no big deal but manual seems to locks out 6 and 7th. Highest temps were 96 going up the Toowoomba Hill in summer.
Average fuel economy is 22ph.
Hi Dave. Another 200 series owner here but in any case, having a Scangauge, Ultragauge or similar that reads trans temps is absolutely vital IMHO if you wish to preserve your transmission. My van is just shy of 3T & I always tow in 4th (6 speed trans) @ 95 - 100 @ about 2400 RPM (diesel I know) Perhaps 5th on the odd ocasion when no incline and flat road! The TC locks easily in (1 to 1) 4th & trans temps stay in the "normal" range. Selecting Drive or 5th/6th in manual mode will see the trans temps skyrocket very quickly, purely because the TC will not lock with the load in those overdrive gears. I have a manual TC lockup installed but find I don't not need to use it when towing as the TC will easily lock in 4th all on its own. The car just purrs along in that combination. That's just my take on it all - being a 200 series owner !! Cheers, Dave.
Yeah, going by the comments this isn’t just a petrol V8 thing. Diesels experience this too (which I know little about)
Great video and you point out that owners need to be aware of the load vehicles are under when towing heavy loads. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee and the manual mode will limit the gears it will use automatically. That is if I select 4th the gearbox will change down automatically but won’t go higher than 4th. I have a 5 speed gearbox. Makes towing a lot easier. The Jeep also has inbuilt trans temp so a separate gauge is not needed. I do carry a cheap scan gauge just in case I need to clear an engine light. Which I have not had to do yet.
Another good topic Dave, I’m much the same as you, I’ll keep it in Drive and shift to Manual when tackling hills then slip it back to drive, much the same principle of driving a manual 4wd. It’s also good to use the manual gears when coming down steep hills such as the Mt barker freeway, less stress on breaks and you can hold the car at the speed you want especially when coming down towing. Just got to get a scan gauge now 🤔.
Top video is a feel thing with your vehicle and some people get it and some people don't. Definitely comes down to experience and knowing your vehicle. Surprised Steve had issues with a super charger. All good 👍
Never tow in overdrive as it cooks the torque converter, monitor trans temp with an OBD2 reader, keep your trans below 100⁰c or your going to blow your transmission over a couple of years.
I use the fuel consumption bar/gauge as the first indicator if the engine is flat chat. Drop it down a gear and you’ll see the consumption bar back off. I also take note of the rpm before the climb. As soon as I see it loose speed then I drop a gear.
I have fitted a double sided trans cooler from wholesale automatics and a larger trans sump from them, holds extra 5 litres of trans fluid the auto now runs at at a ave of 25 deg cooler, before it would be at around 90 now sits at 65 deg and I also tow in D only use manual on steep descents
Your car will tell you if you tune in the mind. There are no right answers but the key is trans temps. Use a scanguage and when the car starts changing up and down and the temps start to rise. (either cooler or AATM) then flick it to manual mode. Then when it flattens out back to drive. Doesnt just need to be towing either. Hilly country is usually best done in manual but once again keep an eye on load and temps
Lockup convertor and a valve body should stop the downshifting and up shifting .. Wholesale automatics in Victoria
Interesting, recently installed a scanguage on my MUX whilst away travelling with 2.5T van on back and noticed tranny temps getting up to 105 on very slight freeway hills when leaving in auto, started putting the 6 speed box in manual 4th for further hills and noticed tranny temps staying a lot cooler. Testing it all again in hotter summer temps in hunter valley area in a few weeks to see if i i ultimately need a tranny cooler or going to manual mode has solved the issue.
love the videos i noticed you said you like to tow at speeds over 100 this is illegal in many states , would be great to advise viewers of this as many dont know and a heap of people watch your videos , thanks
Good advice Dave, thanks mate. I usually go manual, but when I notice any labour, I always change down a gear. I will now go Auto and on the hills I know, I'll go manual then back to Auto. What's that kings gauge?
Kings gauge is ok, but doesn’t to trans temp
@@DASHOffRoad thanks for that, I've found scangaugec2 does trans temp, retail $270
ive never seen 7th gear only 6 and tow in manual at all times towing---- just drive it like a manual, there is no 1 gear to stay in
When will you review that new 12" screen you put in 5-6 months ago please?
I hear what you are asking.
I concur we need an update🤙
I’m surprised you blokes don’t use a Scan Gauge that will show trans temps a Scan Gauge 2 is the same size as the Kings but will do trans temps , it’s a no brainer just get one , only $270
Agree, just gotta go get one when I get a spare minute
Terrifc content as usual. Love ya work !
Hi Dave, I needed this video. Over Christmas I towed from Vic to Perth and back. I have always used manual mode to tow, I’m right at the GCM with the van on. It was super windy on the way home, my car felt like it was struggling in 5, but I made it pull that gear because I thought that was better for economy! My fuel use was over 30lph, on the last day travelling back from Horsham, when the car was cold the trans started to flair under light loads, I parked the car when I arrived home and I hadn’t driven it until yesterday, it has gotten so bad now it’s nearly unbearable until its warmed up a bit. My car is now booked in to Ontrack to have the trans replaced. I’m putting the upgraded one in, all because I cooked the trans without realising. I’m t now makes a lot of sense what your saying. It’s an expensive lesson to learn. Great content as always mate.👍
Wow, what a story. I’ve been meaning to do this vid for years but was just reminded during the week by a customer. At least you will know going forward 👌
Apart from the size? How’s the scangauge 3. I do prefer it’s display. But still sitting on the fence. I really want Trans temp but read somewhere the 3 doesn’t do it?
Hi Dave, unrelated question but do you recommend or sell a dash mat
Find the cabin gets mighty hot when parked in the sun given the black dash and seats
Nissan genuine is the go
Hi Dave have you added or modified the transmission at all like an additional cooler or deeper pan kit for extra trans fluid capacity ?
Negative. Increased rail pressure, but that’s about it
Nice breakdown 👌
Have a Scan Gauge 2 for my MY22 Y62 (bought to monitor trans temp when towing) but it always cuts out after about 15 or 20 mins driving. Have changed data speeds, done factory reset, even return the unit for a replacement one - all to no avail. Anyone have a similar experience and if so, we’re you able to resolve?
I would check your OBD port
What scan tool do you recommend and have?
I don’t have enough research in this area sorry. But I’ll look into it
Get the small scan gauge from the USA.
I have an UltraGauge moved over from another car. Similar to scangauge but you can program 8 pages of data with 4, 6, or 8 gauges. I mostly leave it on 1 page with 8 different data items. It can have user defined gauges but I cannot get transmission temperature. Nissan changed something on the S5 so someone will need to nut out how to get this from the canbus data stream.
My suggestion For 200 series with Aisin 60 :
Set the scan gauge first screen 6 infos to : rpm, load factor, trans pan temp, torque converter temp, EGR temp, engine temp.
After the first 10,000km towing you can set also the alarm function when you know your max temps better, the you even don’t need to look at your gauge so often.
Towing a van: depending on weight:
Go driving, speed up, lock the torque converter and have a glimpse once in a while on the scan gauge to see if you need to shift down to 4th. Gear revs up or with tail wind sailing in 6 gear.
When you get familiar with your gauge you will see most the load factor between 80-90%.
If the load goes to 100% the Aisin will after 5sec force shift down and so on…
6th. Gear is not for towing.. but with a tail wind driving on 100km/h load factor in the 80te. Why not getting the revs and fuel consumption down.
By the end of the day, watch your scan gauge a bit, shift as you need and don’t cook your transmission.
Ok that suits my set up and driving.
Cheers
@@peterclaessens2005 did you get the MX ? Version
What do you consider the minimum mods required to tow a 3t van? (other than tow bar, redarc brake controller & elec connections)
It’s going to be different for different setups, but basically, you need to change rear coils and add air bags
@@DASHOffRoad Thanks for the reply. I thought as much. I was looking at getting the 180kg GVM upgrade (which I have heard is just springs and bags) that people talk about before delivery, but I can't find anyone in the ACT that even knows about it, let alone can do it for me. It would just give me that little bit of headroom with a max TBL of 300kg, noting that axle weights may be the limiting factor at that point. If you know of anyone up this way, I'd appreciate it.
Turn the background music off.
There wasn’t any background music 🤷♂️
@@DASHOffRoad What F$@KING video was he watching lol