Got my Allison "Mode On"

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Got my Allison "Mode On"

June 08, 2019, 09:55:28 pm

Feeling really "dumb" this evening. I have had this coach 4 years now and over 30,000 miles in those 4 yr. I have been over this bus from one end to the other wrenches and rags, done all of my own maintenance. I've "thought" I have read my "Big Red Book" from front to back. Spent countless hours reading all I can find on this wonderful forum about my vintage coach. I traveled from the east coast to the west coast and back, Florida to Canada and back, then last year to Utah and back to Florida.
AND Today was the first time I used "mode on" on the Allison. What a difference it makes when you want to use cruise control in the hills and traversing overpasses. It torques right on up the hills no downshift. I would in the past just turn cruise off and try to keep my speed up enough to keep it from downshifting to 5th. Made the drive today more pleasant for me anyway, 550 miles and could do more. But I ain't. Stopped for the night.

I guess I'm the only "dufass" that didn't know to push the "mode" once while driving. 😩

Thanks to All and especially Michelle and Steve for keeping this forum going.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #1 – June 08, 2019, 10:28:58 pm

You may look around for a recent post by me on the same subject. Not the only one.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #2 – June 08, 2019, 10:52:23 pm

Here is a recent discussion on the Allison "Mode button":

"Mode" button on Allison

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #3 – June 08, 2019, 11:03:37 pm

Mine is programmed to default in the economy mode. I am in the opposite position as you. I have only ran mine in power mode a couple of times in nine years. I will have to drive it in the power mode more to see how it feels.

Mark

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #4 – June 09, 2019, 08:13:52 am

Thanks to recent comments on this subject, I ran mode on for the 1700 miles to Houston and back. Ran great, didn't downshift and never slowed down. Granted, not a lot of "hills" through Tx, OK, & KS but it was still impressive on how well it ran.

Larry

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #5 – June 09, 2019, 12:14:04 pm

The mode setting shows how much torque your particular Diesel engine has.

Some motors have more torquey drive versus hp.

In other words some motors pull hills faster downshifted and revved versus up shifted and use the torque..

My m11 after mods still pulls grades a few miles per hour faster downshifted and revved hard versus up shifting in the mode on economy mode.

Before the mods it was much more noticeable that the hp climbed grades faster than the torque.

Parasitic fan losses and a restrictive muffler choked the engines power.

Drove like a gas engine. Hp. Downshifted itself on every grade in normal mode. Now stays in gear in normal mode unless floored

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #6 – June 10, 2019, 10:15:41 pm

Quote from: MAZ – June 08, 2019, 11:03:37 pm

Mine is programmed to default in the economy mode. I am in the opposite position as you. I have only ran mine in power mode a couple of times in nine years. I will have to drive it in the power mode more to see how it feels.
Mark

Here is a document that tells when they changed the default mode
https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=4208

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #7 – June 10, 2019, 10:27:30 pm

I guess the earlier MD3060R were programmed differently?
My '95 build 4673 is economy (I assume) with "Mode On"

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #8 – June 10, 2019, 10:32:45 pm

Quote from: Super8mm – June 10, 2019, 10:15:41 pm

Here is a document that tells when they changed the default mode
https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=4208

Mine is build number 5469. I guess the previous owner had it changed. He had the whole coach custom ordered. It was his 4th Foretravel he bought new.

Mark

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #9 – June 10, 2019, 10:46:00 pm

On our coach mode "ON" is economy. I leave it "OFF" running in city "stop & go" traffic cuz the coach feels more "lively" in that setting. It holds the lower gears longer, which makes it feel more nimble, and if a burst of speed is needed it will down shift quicker with less throttle input.

Out on the highway, I'm in mode "ON" 95% of the time, and let the torque do the work.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #10 – June 10, 2019, 11:03:53 pm

My 97 mode on is economy

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #11 – June 10, 2019, 11:45:50 pm

Ya, that Foretravel document in reply #6 is quite confusing.

If it were stated in language such as this, THEN it would be clear:

When first started the engine, the Allison ECU will be in XX mode. This is the "default mode".

Pushing the mode button which turns on the mode light changes it to YY mode.

Would someone with Motorcade privileges contact James Triana and please get his clarification.

Thanks.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #12 – June 11, 2019, 10:17:08 am

OK, I talked to James at FT and first not sure what a 3066 trans is as that is what the document says but if that is a type-o the following applies

coach #5746 and newer the default would be Power and if you hit the mode button it would be economy.

coaches older than #5746 the default would be economy and if the hit the mode button it would be the Power mode

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #13 – June 11, 2019, 10:23:42 am

Quote from: Super8mm – June 11, 2019, 10:17:08 am

OK, I talked to James at FT and first not sure what a 3066 trans is as that is what the document says but if that is a type-o the following applies

coach #5746 and newer the default would be Power and if you hit the mode button it would be economy.

coaches older than #5746 the default would be economy and if the hit the mode button it would be the Power mode

Thanks, Steve.

The Allison 3066 was introduced in 1996. Earlier Allison 6 speed electronic transmissions were designated 3060. And, after the 3066 came the 3000 series. The Allison MD3066 Transmission

BUT, many of our first hand experiences with the MD3060 indicate that default is POWER mode. Mode button ON to select ECONOMY.

While puzzling, as I posted earlier, very simple to verify on a coach:

With mode off (i.e. in default mode which is the mode the transmission starts in each time the engine is started) from a stop sign on a clear road, go to WOT (Wide Open Throttle) and accelerate to 40-50 mph. Note max RPM in each gear.

Next stop sign, with mode ON, do the same.

Post your results.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #14 – June 11, 2019, 02:30:48 pm

So Brett, did FT use any of the MD3066's?
If the MD3066 came out in 1996 which one would my coach have in it?

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #15 – June 11, 2019, 02:39:01 pm

Steve,

I'm not Brett but the best way to know exactly which transmission you have is to crawl under the coach and look at the tag on the transmission. It will be on the drivers side of the transmission next to the power cable.

Mike

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #16 – June 11, 2019, 02:43:14 pm

I am Brett, and Mike is absolutely correct.

Copy down both model and serial number from that embossed tag. Use it when buying Allison filter kits or any other Allison parts.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #17 – June 11, 2019, 03:49:03 pm

Thanks, guys

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #18 – June 11, 2019, 10:14:21 pm

I've owned this coach since 2006, never messed with the mode button. My build # is 5400, I believe my default is economy mode, mode on power mode. Faster up shift , down shifts quicker. Don't know as it much matters much to me as I manually manage the trans quite a bit. IE 55mph road speed 5th gear up to 60, pulling and descending long grades manual control of gear selection.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #19 – June 12, 2019, 12:51:58 am

Bruce. I am the same as I like to be in control of that issue
JohnH

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #20 – June 12, 2019, 10:17:00 am

I do the same (use up and down arrows to choose the correct gear).

Leaving the transmission in economy mode gives the driver more control over shifts. Always hated for the transmission to downshift 30' from the top of a grade or a freeway overpass.

Again, no right or wrong, but with economy mode and the up and down arrows, the Allison allows the driver to make most of the down/upshift decisions.

OR, as some do, just leave it in "D"-- it is your choice.

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #21 – June 13, 2019, 10:07:16 am

I too find it easier to manually control the shift points with it in Economy Mode.
In Performane mode it shifts down too soon to suit me.
It has made a big difference in the use of cruise control when climbing small hills and some steeper overpasses. I really like having the option and wish I had used it in the first 30,000 miles of owning it. 🙄

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #22 – June 15, 2019, 07:47:47 am

Did not know about the economy mode and used it yesterday after reading your comments, it was great, I liked the shift points better....and may have saved enough diesel to pay the cost of my first beer!
Thanks all!

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #23 – June 26, 2019, 10:34:57 am

My Allison four speed does not have the mode button,
But I do like the lockers in all gears,
I can put it in the right gear before going down steep hills and it stays there, Second or first gear,
We have a 60 MPH limit here for all heavy vehicles,
What I dont like about my gear box, Is I have to be doing 65 MPH before it goes into Top gear, Speeding,
But it does stay in top gear when I slow back to 60 MPH,

Re: Got my Allison "Mode On"

Reply #24 – June 26, 2019, 10:59:43 am

Quote from: Mr B3 – June 26, 2019, 10:34:57 am

My Allison four speed does not have the mode button.

Correct. The mode feature is only on the electronically controlled 6 speed Allison transmissions.

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