timber

Hi All,
Newbie here so please be kind.

My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on it.

I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill, it
lasts a second or so.

Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?

Ralph E Lindberg

In article <NdydnZ2dnZ24DHLVnZ2dnVnjZt-dnZ2dRVn-0p2dnZ0@storm.ca>,
"timber" <nothere@notmyaddress.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
> Newbie here so please be kind.
>
> My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on it.
>
> I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
> upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill, it
> lasts a second or so.
>
> Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?
>
>

What's the service history on the trany? I have mine done every 25K
miles.
As as side note, that sounds like a small engine for that size of a
5er (I have the V10 and a 24 ft 5er)

--
--------------------------------------------------------
Personal e-mail is the n7bsn but at amsat.org
This posting address is a spam-trap and seldom read
RV and Camping FAQ can be found at
http://www.ralphandellen.us/rv

lugnut

On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 12:37:23 -0400, "timber"
<nothere@notmyaddress.com> wrote:

>Hi All,
>Newbie here so please be kind.
>
>My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on it.
>
>I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
>upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill, it
>lasts a second or so.
>
>Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?
>


What you feel has a good chance at being torque converter
shudder. The shudder usually starts when the fluid is
degraded. It is important to use the best quality fluid you
can find especially where the trans is "worked". The cure
is usually a complete service including draining the torque
converter. If you have had it serviced where they only
dropped the pan and did not drain the converter, that was
not good enough. You only changed half the fluid. I am not
a fan of "flushing" these units unless the fluid is known to
have been contaminated. It may help to use an additive made
by LubeGard to help with the shudder and help the trans
operate more smoothly. The capacity of your trans would
require 2 bottles.

Good luck
Lugnut

timber

<Snip>
>> My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on it.
>>
>> I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
>> upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill, it
>> lasts a second or so.
>>
>> Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?
>>
>>
>
> What's the service history on the trany? I have mine done every 25K
> miles.
> As as side note, that sounds like a small engine for that size of a
> 5er (I have the V10 and a 24 ft 5er)
Not sure about the history, I just bought it.
You can tell it's there when towing and if I could have found a truck with
the bigger motor or a diesel that I could afford I would have got that.
I only plan to do a short hop regularly, with one longer trip a year.
Thanks for your input.

timber

<Snip>
>>My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on it.
>>
>>I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
>>upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill, it
>>lasts a second or so.
>>
>>Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?
>>
>
>
> What you feel has a good chance at being torque converter
> shudder. The shudder usually starts when the fluid is
> degraded. It is important to use the best quality fluid you
> can find especially where the trans is "worked". The cure
> is usually a complete service including draining the torque
> converter. If you have had it serviced where they only
> dropped the pan and did not drain the converter, that was
> not good enough. You only changed half the fluid. I am not
> a fan of "flushing" these units unless the fluid is known to
> have been contaminated. It may help to use an additive made
> by LubeGard to help with the shudder and help the trans
> operate more smoothly. The capacity of your trans would
> require 2 bottles.
>
> Good luck
> Lugnut

Thanks for the advice, I'll get a complete service and add Lubegard if I can
find it at a local retailer, I don't see one listed for Canada on their
site.

Tim.

Spdloader

I'm not a transmission guy, but just my .02c is that most people
automatically change the fluid and filter when they sense a problem with the
transmission. A lot of times the problem gets worse. Just ask people with
early to mid '90s Dodge Intrepids. There is nothing, to my knowledge, in a
bottle or a can that can replace worn out or damaged engine and transmission
components simply by pouring it in.

My '99 F350 started the same thing yours is doing, and I stupidly ignored it
for about 3 months. Mine even started "growling" when shifting up. By the
time I got it checked out, it the overdrive had gone out, and my only choice
was to replace the transmission. I did upgrade to a better torque converter
at the same time, and now I tow with the O/D turned off.

Spdloader



"timber" <nothere@notmyaddress.com> wrote in message
news:s4ydnSosH_8z7J7eRVn-hQ@storm.ca...
> <Snip>
>>>My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on it.
>>>
>>>I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
>>>upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill, it
>>>lasts a second or so.
>>>
>>>Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?
>>>
>>
>>
>> What you feel has a good chance at being torque converter
>> shudder. The shudder usually starts when the fluid is
>> degraded. It is important to use the best quality fluid you
>> can find especially where the trans is "worked". The cure
>> is usually a complete service including draining the torque
>> converter. If you have had it serviced where they only
>> dropped the pan and did not drain the converter, that was
>> not good enough. You only changed half the fluid. I am not
>> a fan of "flushing" these units unless the fluid is known to
>> have been contaminated. It may help to use an additive made
>> by LubeGard to help with the shudder and help the trans
>> operate more smoothly. The capacity of your trans would
>> require 2 bottles.
>>
>> Good luck
>> Lugnut
>
> Thanks for the advice, I'll get a complete service and add Lubegard if I
> can find it at a local retailer, I don't see one listed for Canada on
> their site.
>
> Tim.
>

lugnut

You are quite correct that nothing can repair a worn out or
damaged component short of a rebuild. The fact is that the
torque converter clutch becomes a bit glazed making it
harder for it to engage and fully lock. This additional
slippage time is when the shudder occurs and wear is
accelerated making the problem worse every time it locks.
The fresh fluid enhances the ability of the clutches to
fully lock. The LubeGard product further enhances this
ability while improving the lubricating characteristics of
the fluid for the mechanical components. Most of the shops
in my part of the world add it as part of an overhaul to
reduce comebacks. I have used it in my personal vehicles
for several years now and find that it is one of the damn
few additives that do exactly what they claim in most cases.

Lugnut

On Wed, 17 Aug 2005 17:51:09 GMT, "Spdloader"
<askforit@nospam.triad.rr.com> wrote:

>I'm not a transmission guy, but just my .02c is that most people
>automatically change the fluid and filter when they sense a problem with the
>transmission. A lot of times the problem gets worse. Just ask people with
>early to mid '90s Dodge Intrepids. There is nothing, to my knowledge, in a
>bottle or a can that can replace worn out or damaged engine and transmission
>components simply by pouring it in.
>
>My '99 F350 started the same thing yours is doing, and I stupidly ignored it
>for about 3 months. Mine even started "growling" when shifting up. By the
>time I got it checked out, it the overdrive had gone out, and my only choice
>was to replace the transmission. I did upgrade to a better torque converter
>at the same time, and now I tow with the O/D turned off.
>
>Spdloader
>
>
>
>"timber" <nothere@notmyaddress.com> wrote in message
>news:s4ydnSosH_8z7J7eRVn-hQ@storm.ca...
>> <Snip>
>>>>My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on it.
>>>>
>>>>I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
>>>>upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill, it
>>>>lasts a second or so.
>>>>
>>>>Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What you feel has a good chance at being torque converter
>>> shudder. The shudder usually starts when the fluid is
>>> degraded. It is important to use the best quality fluid you
>>> can find especially where the trans is "worked". The cure
>>> is usually a complete service including draining the torque
>>> converter. If you have had it serviced where they only
>>> dropped the pan and did not drain the converter, that was
>>> not good enough. You only changed half the fluid. I am not
>>> a fan of "flushing" these units unless the fluid is known to
>>> have been contaminated. It may help to use an additive made
>>> by LubeGard to help with the shudder and help the trans
>>> operate more smoothly. The capacity of your trans would
>>> require 2 bottles.
>>>
>>> Good luck
>>> Lugnut
>>
>> Thanks for the advice, I'll get a complete service and add Lubegard if I
>> can find it at a local retailer, I don't see one listed for Canada on
>> their site.
>>
>> Tim.
>>
>

Spdloader

I'm an advocate of such things as a preventative, or for performance
enhancer, but in my case, the damage was already done.

Later,

Spdloader



"lugnut" <lugnut@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:l4a7g1pnblrjh125m7q2gt6su7d4m64kgf@4ax.com...
> You are quite correct that nothing can repair a worn out or
> damaged component short of a rebuild. The fact is that the
> torque converter clutch becomes a bit glazed making it
> harder for it to engage and fully lock. This additional
> slippage time is when the shudder occurs and wear is
> accelerated making the problem worse every time it locks.
> The fresh fluid enhances the ability of the clutches to
> fully lock. The LubeGard product further enhances this
> ability while improving the lubricating characteristics of
> the fluid for the mechanical components. Most of the shops
> in my part of the world add it as part of an overhaul to
> reduce comebacks. I have used it in my personal vehicles
> for several years now and find that it is one of the damn
> few additives that do exactly what they claim in most cases.
>
> Lugnut
>
> On Wed, 17 Aug 2005 17:51:09 GMT, "Spdloader"
> <askforit@nospam.triad.rr.com> wrote:
>
>>I'm not a transmission guy, but just my .02c is that most people
>>automatically change the fluid and filter when they sense a problem with
>>the
>>transmission. A lot of times the problem gets worse. Just ask people with
>>early to mid '90s Dodge Intrepids. There is nothing, to my knowledge, in a
>>bottle or a can that can replace worn out or damaged engine and
>>transmission
>>components simply by pouring it in.
>>
>>My '99 F350 started the same thing yours is doing, and I stupidly ignored
>>it
>>for about 3 months. Mine even started "growling" when shifting up. By the
>>time I got it checked out, it the overdrive had gone out, and my only
>>choice
>>was to replace the transmission. I did upgrade to a better torque
>>converter
>>at the same time, and now I tow with the O/D turned off.
>>
>>Spdloader
>>
>>
>>
>>"timber" <nothere@notmyaddress.com> wrote in message
>>news:s4ydnSosH_8z7J7eRVn-hQ@storm.ca...
>>> <Snip>
>>>>>My truck has the 5.4L with automatic, and it has abt 60,000 miles on
>>>>>it.
>>>>>
>>>>>I tow a 26 foot fifth wheel and lately I've noticed a slight shudder on
>>>>>upshifts only while towing and only if it's level or slightly uphill,
>>>>>it
>>>>>lasts a second or so.
>>>>>
>>>>>Is there anything preventative I could do? Is this serious?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> What you feel has a good chance at being torque converter
>>>> shudder. The shudder usually starts when the fluid is
>>>> degraded. It is important to use the best quality fluid you
>>>> can find especially where the trans is "worked". The cure
>>>> is usually a complete service including draining the torque
>>>> converter. If you have had it serviced where they only
>>>> dropped the pan and did not drain the converter, that was
>>>> not good enough. You only changed half the fluid. I am not
>>>> a fan of "flushing" these units unless the fluid is known to
>>>> have been contaminated. It may help to use an additive made
>>>> by LubeGard to help with the shudder and help the trans
>>>> operate more smoothly. The capacity of your trans would
>>>> require 2 bottles.
>>>>
>>>> Good luck
>>>> Lugnut
>>>
>>> Thanks for the advice, I'll get a complete service and add Lubegard if I
>>> can find it at a local retailer, I don't see one listed for Canada on
>>> their site.
>>>
>>> Tim.
>>>
>>
>

TranSurgeon

"timber" <nothere@notmyaddress.com> wrote in message
news:s4ydnSosH_8z7J7eRVn-hQ@storm.ca...
>
> Thanks for the advice, I'll get a complete service and add Lubegard if I
can
> find it at a local retailer, I don't see one listed for Canada on their
> site.
>

Tim;

E-mail me if you need LubeGuard

G

timber

<Snip>
I don't see one listed for Canada on their
site.
Tim;
>
> E-mail me if you need LubeGuard
>
> G
Age is really getting to me, I checked again, NAPA stores carry it and
there's a one in my town (pop. 4,000)! I gotta start double checking things,
old-fartism is setting in real bad <g>, but thanks for the offer.