Stupid question: what exactly does Tow/Haul mode do on 2013 Escalade ESV?

[skpyle]

Hello All!

I have what is likely a VERY stupid question: what exactly does the 'Tow/Haul' mode do in my 2013 Escalade ESV?
I am assuming it alters the shift timing and characteristics of the 6L80E transmission?
I have read section 9 in the Owner's manual, it discusses Tow/Haul some, but I am missing something. Or I am just dense. Which is always a possibility.

This is mainly an academic curiosity. I have not, nor intend, to tow more than a small single axle trailer with a lawn tractor on it. Nowhere near the max trailer weight of 7,700lbs my Escalade is rated for.

Thanks for your time!

 

[rockola1971]

Tow/Haul Mode accesses a specific map in the PCM for shifting patterns and input characteristics while towing. It also prevents hunting back and forth when just over the top of one gear and into the next. This was a common problem in the 4L60E/65E/80E trannys. While towing in 4th (OD) the tranny would hunt back and forth between 3rd and 4th gear depending on weight hauled/incline/throttle position. It didnt end well for the 2-4 band. It would burn the 2-4 band up prematurely and dish the input drum where the band grabs to hold it stationary. Very common for the TH700R4 and 4L60 which is the great grandfather of the 4L60E/65E.

 

[Rocket Man]

You are correct, it changes the shift characteristics of the transmission. There may be more than that with your particular vehicle/ trans combination, I’m not sure. I know on the 4l60’s that’s all it does.

 

[skpyle]

You are correct, it changes the shift characteristics of the transmission. There may be more than that with your particular vehicle/ trans combination, I’m not sure. I know on the 4l60’s that’s all it does.

Thank you!
The more I read the owner's manual over and over again, it sorta makes sense. However, I am interested in the real world knowledge of you guys.

 

[skpyle]

Tow/Haul Mode accesses a specific map in the PCM for shifting patterns and input characteristics while towing. It also prevents hunting back and forth when just over the top of one gear and into the next. This was a common problem in the 4L60E/65E/80E trannys. While towing in 4th (OD) the tranny would hunt back and forth between 3rd and 4th gear depending on weight hauled/incline/throttle position. It didnt end well for the 2-4 band. It would burn the 2-4 band up prematurely and dish the input drum where the band grabs to hold it stationary. Very common for the TH700R4 and 4L60 which is the great grandfather of the 4L60E/65E.

Ah! That makes sense. Thanks!
(Hmmm...maybe I should not be towing the aforementioned trailer anymore with my little '84 S-1 with its GMPP HT3400 crate engine and TH700R4.)

 

[swathdiver]

Hello All!

I have what is likely a VERY stupid question: what exactly does the 'Tow/Haul' mode do in my 2013 Escalade ESV?
I am assuming it alters the shift timing and characteristics of the 6L80E transmission?
I have read section 9 in the Owner's manual, it discusses Tow/Haul some, but I am missing something. Or I am just dense. Which is always a possibility.

This is mainly an academic curiosity. I have not, nor intend, to tow more than a small single axle trailer with a lawn tractor on it. Nowhere near the max trailer weight of 7,700lbs my Escalade is rated for.

Thanks for your time!

I've engaged it when unladen or lightly laden and it holds the shifts longer and feels funny. When towing over 5K pounds, the shifting feels just right, there's no benefit to it unless you are within 75% of your GCWR of 14,000 pounds. Well, if you have the "hotel" wire hooked up, when tow/haul is engaged it sends power back to the trailer to power its internal lights, refrigerator, etc. If you leave it connected when you shut the engine off, it will continue to draw power. Of course, this does not apply to the lawn trailer, you would be using a 7 to 4 pin adapter which only works the running lights and signals.

How does the transmission feel after the upgrades?

 

[rockola1971]

Ah! That makes sense. Thanks!
(Hmmm...maybe I should not be towing the aforementioned trailer anymore with my little '84 S-1 with its GMPP HT3400 crate engine and TH700R4.)

700R4 is fine to tow with. Just keep it in 3rd and it will never hunt back and forth between 3-4. Put it in 4th(OD) and it will hunt and eventually burn the 2-4 band up. A corvette servo helps tremendously with this problem.

 

[skpyle]

I've engaged it when unladen or lightly laden and it holds the shifts longer and feels funny. When towing over 5K pounds, the shifting feels just right, there's no benefit to it unless you are within 75% of your GCWR of 14,000 pounds. Well, if you have the "hotel" wire hooked up, when tow/haul is engaged it sends power back to the trailer to power its internal lights, refrigerator, etc. If you leave it connected when you shut the engine off, it will continue to draw power. Of course, this does not apply to the lawn trailer, you would be using a 7 to 4 pin adapter which only works the running lights and signals.

How does the transmission feel after the upgrades?

Excellent, thank you! Correct, I am running a 7-4 pin adapter. Lights on the trailer only.

Transmission feels great! Granted, it is not end of the world different, but it feels better. Shifts are tighter and firmer. More pronounced when I put my foot in the water pump.
However, now I am getting antsy about the torque converter. Mileage is around 127,800. Just a shade under 4000 miles on the transmission after the upgrades and fluid exchange. I saw no metal in the pan, but she is at the age where the torque converter clutch starts to go. I am within a month or two of paying off the vehicle loan. After that, I will have money freed up. However...I have a 2 year powertrain warranty on the vehicle. I am on the fence: do I go ahead and pull the transmission for a new Circle D torque converter and engine rear main seal now? And possibly void the warranty? Or, wait it out until the transmission goes south, and hope the warranty does right by me...

 

[skpyle]

700R4 is fine to tow with. Just keep it in 3rd and it will never hunt back and forth between 3-4. Put it in 4th(OD) and it will hunt and eventually burn the 2-4 band up. A corvette servo helps tremendously with this problem.

Makes sense. I usually left it in 3rd when pulling the trailer. The GMPP HT3400 is stronger than the original 2.8L, but it is still a V-6, and the transmission is the original V-6 spec trans. Though I had it overhauled when I put the crate engine in. I have always tried to drive like I had some sense while towing.

Thanks!

 

[Geotrash]

Excellent, thank you! Correct, I am running a 7-4 pin adapter. Lights on the trailer only.

Transmission feels great! Granted, it is not end of the world different, but it feels better. Shifts are tighter and firmer. More pronounced when I put my foot in the water pump.
However, now I am getting antsy about the torque converter. Mileage is around 127,800. Just a shade under 4000 miles on the transmission after the upgrades and fluid exchange. I saw no metal in the pan, but she is at the age where the torque converter clutch starts to go. I am within a month or two of paying off the vehicle loan. After that, I will have money freed up. However...I have a 2 year powertrain warranty on the vehicle. I am on the fence: do I go ahead and pull the transmission for a new Circle D torque converter and engine rear main seal now? And possibly void the warranty? Or, wait it out until the transmission goes south, and hope the warranty does right by me...

It's the AFM engage/disengage that causes most of the problems with the TC lockup clutch on these. Since you have AFM disabled (you do, right?), I would be inclined to wait until your extended warranty is up. I still have the original transmission and TC in my 2007 (no AFM), and am coming up on 220K.

 

[skpyle]

It's the AFM engage/disengage that causes most of the problems with the TC lockup clutch on these. Since you have AFM disabled (you do, right?), I would be inclined to wait until your extended warranty is up. I still have the original transmission and TC in my 2007 (no AFM), and am coming up on 220K.

Most assuredly! I had Black Bear turn off AFM, and set TCC lockup only in 5th and 6th gears. Good point. If the transmission goes south and the warranty doesn't stand by it, I will find the money to have it overhauled. And bomb-proofed.

Thanks!

 

[swathdiver]

Excellent, thank you! Correct, I am running a 7-4 pin adapter. Lights on the trailer only.

Transmission feels great! Granted, it is not end of the world different, but it feels better. Shifts are tighter and firmer. More pronounced when I put my foot in the water pump.
However, now I am getting antsy about the torque converter. Mileage is around 127,800. Just a shade under 4000 miles on the transmission after the upgrades and fluid exchange. I saw no metal in the pan, but she is at the age where the torque converter clutch starts to go. I am within a month or two of paying off the vehicle loan. After that, I will have money freed up. However...I have a 2 year powertrain warranty on the vehicle. I am on the fence: do I go ahead and pull the transmission for a new Circle D torque converter and engine rear main seal now? And possibly void the warranty? Or, wait it out until the transmission goes south, and hope the warranty does right by me...

Most 6L80 torque converter failures are with the K2s, not the 900s. I'm closing in on 170K and have no problems with mine. Oil sample came back fine two years ago. Which reminds me, time to send out engine and transmission samples this year. Haven't been towing but we've done some 4-wheeling and made passes down the drag strip. All is well. I'd let it ride if it were mine. I'm of mind to bring it in early for overhaul and upgrades too, just think I'd like to hit 200K first! We've seen them go 300K+ one 6L90 with a utility bed had 420K on it before they drove it in for overhaul.

 

[swathdiver]

Most assuredly! I had Black Bear turn off AFM, and set TCC lockup only in 5th and 6th gears. Good point. If the transmission goes south and the warranty doesn't stand by it, I will find the money to have it overhauled. And bomb-proofed.

Thanks!

Ohh, you had the tune done already? Cool, how do you like it? I love the way the trans runs since Justin did mine.

 

[skpyle]

Most 6L80 torque converter failures are with the K2s, not the 900s. I'm closing in on 170K and have no problems with mine. Oil sample came back fine two years ago. Which reminds me, time to send out engine and transmission samples this year. Haven't been towing but we've done some 4-wheeling and made passes down the drag strip. All is well. I'd let it ride if it were mine. I'm of mind to bring it in early for overhaul and upgrades too, just think I'd like to hit 200K first! We've seen them go 300K+ one 6L90 with a utility bed had 420K on it before they drove it in for overhaul.

Sweet. I am OK with that. My goal is to hit 300,000 miles with this Escalade before I consider looking for a replacement. I expect to have to overhaul the transmission, but I would rather it be after the 200k mark.
Thanks for your advice!

I am going to let it ride as is, and keep to my plan: remote filter changes ever year, and fluid exchange every other year. Excessive? Probably. Make me feel better? Absolutely.

 

[robhotdog]

Hello All!

I have what is likely a VERY stupid question: what exactly does the 'Tow/Haul' mode do in my 2013 Escalade ESV?
I am assuming it alters the shift timing and characteristics of the 6L80E transmission?
I have read section 9 in the Owner's manual, it discusses Tow/Haul some, but I am missing something. Or I am just dense. Which is always a possibility.

This is mainly an academic curiosity. I have not, nor intend, to tow more than a small single axle trailer with a lawn tractor on it. Nowhere near the max trailer weight of 7,700lbs my Escalade is rated for.

Thanks for your time!

Light trailer towing isnt a problem for you at all..tow haul ups the line pressures in your tranny and extends the shift points...if your towing in hills that's causing alot of up shifting you need to use it..tranny will overheat. Single axle light trailer no problem at all.

 

[skpyle]

Light trailer towing isnt a problem for you at all..tow haul ups the line pressures in your tranny and extends the shift points...if your towing in hills that's causing alot of up shifting you need to use it..tranny will overheat. Single axle light trailer no problem at all.

Works for me!
I figured the little single axle trailer wasn't going to faze my Escalade at all. I did fine with the trailer on my little S-10 with the GMPP HT3400/TH700R4, had no issues with it on my Explorer 5.0L/4R70W. The 6.2L/6L80E will barely recognize the trailer is there.

At the same time, I didn't think the little trailer was enough to worry about using Tow/Haul mode.

Thanks!

 

[Timz71]

Thank you!
The more I read the owner's manual over and over again, it sorta makes sense. However, I am interested in the real world knowledge of you guys.

With tow/haul engaged it limits converter lock up as well

 

[Joseph Garcia]

One item that I have not seen mentioned above, is the change in the active suspension shock stiffness parameters, when you go into tow mode. I've watched this feature on 07 Denali with my Tech 2 live while driving, and the shock stiffness changes are much more pronounced in tow mode. Since your Escalade ESV has an active suspension, I would assume that the same changes will apply to your truck when you go into tow mode.

 

[skpyle]

Thank you!
Definitely did not know that.

 

[Geotrash]

Thank you!
Definitely did not know that.

Me either. Good to know since I tow all the time.