Hmmm. Looks like the competition is trying to keep up....

[RVTRKN]

Didn't downshift out of 6th gear unless someone was going slowin front of me.

Be careful while towing with a G56 in 6th gear, especially with the 3:42 differential. On long strait aways, on level roads, 6th is OK even though the Manual says not to if towing, if you start to climb, you should downshift to 5th no mater what the grade is, the G56 can and will get hot, but you will never know it. I see my trans get up to 250*, and that is only at 15K GCVW. You can't see it very well in the picture, but the bearings are browned and the races tell it all, these bearings are browned from getting to hot. I have always been very careful while towing, but even then they got hot. I'm installing a auto trans cooler with a pump to keep it cool with the temperatures I've been seeing.

BTW, welcome to TDR.

 

[AH64ID]

On long strait aways, on level roads, 6th is OK even though the Manual says not to if towing

Where in the manual does it state that?

 

[Newsa]

I saw this and didn't think towing in the mountains was a problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZYmMt1tVaA
This guy is towing GVCW about 5000-6000 lbs more than me. He has a chip. I don't. His is a 2006 which also has the G56 transmission.
He is towing up a 10 mile grade, I only had about a 3-5 mile grade. I have considered purchasing a fast transmission cooler from Geno's garage and installing it.
It just makes the transmission a little larger (about 3-4 quarts) and has cooling fins on it.
Also have considered a bypass oil filter for the engine. But I am going to wait until the 3 year, 36,000 mile warrantee has expired before doing any mods on it.
I don't see any towing tips in the owner's manual for the standard transmission. I only see towing tips for the automatic transmission.

My vehicle is just getting broke in. and only has 8300 miles on it (2425 miles of it is towing a trailer). Most of that towing is on Florida Flatland because I live in Miami.

I will be a bit more careful in the future. I really thought the G56 was designed for towing. So I thought it could handle GVCW less than 13,000 lbs.

Since I don't have a tuner or chip in it, I thought that transmission wouldn't overheat. If it does, the warrantee covers it.

The evidence you show is somewhat compelling and I will take it to heart. A truck can have worn and browned/overheated bearings and the driver might not know it.

Did your transmission ever spring an oil leak? Or run low on oil? I am a bit confused about what caused the damage you show. Not sure it was solely due to running in 6th gear.

 

[Grmoore1964]

The competition is literally heating up!!!

http://autoweek.com/article/car-new...op&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive

 

[Motschman]

A friend of mine has been exclaiming the "glory" of ford for the last few years but today my ram had to come to the rescue they are moving and their F-350 had to go to the shop to fix the def system. Only 60,000 miles. Their last Ford a F-250 had so many issues at 65,000 miles that they had to get rid of it and get their current f-350. Oh the irony, I think I might have them convinced to get a cummins for the next one...

 

[mwilson]

The competition is literally heating up!!!

http://autoweek.com/article/car-new...op&utm_content=body&utm_campaign=awdailydrive

No, No, I don't want people to follow the link to see the picture so I am posting it directly!!!!!!!Oo.

 

[Grmoore1964]

[h=2]​Good idea - I'll post the text!


Camouflaged aluminum Super Duty explodes then melts on desert highway[/h]Another month, another prototype fire. Following last month's Acura NSX Nurburgring meltdown, a 2016 Ford Super Duty pickup was spied catching on fire and exploding in the desert by some eagle-eyed photographers. The fire reportedly started in the left front wheel well before engulfing the entire truck; the Super Duty was reportedly destroyed in about 20 minutes.
Both engineers in the truck at the time escaped unharmed, thankfully. The raging fire and molten metal left over at the scene indicate that most of the new Super Duty is made primarily from aluminum, ending the discussion of whether the Super Duty version would get the same lightweight engineering as its smaller F-150 cousin. The camouflage only seemed to add to the carnage.
Of course, that’s what these prototypes are for. The shooter notes that temperatures hit 120 in the desert, and this truck is clearly hauling a trailer.
When reached for comment, Ford spokesperson Mike Levine said, "While testing an experimental vehicle in Death Valley, there was a fire. We are investigating."
The new Super Duty is scheduled to start production in 2016.
- See more at: http://autoweek.com/article/car-new...tm_campaign=awdailydrive#sthash.iJj2xdMd.dpuf

 

[Doubleclutch]

Could use a little more DEF

 

[JR]

I would be interested in seeing the inside report on the causes of that one.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I would be interested in seeing the inside report on the causes of that one.

They will be very quite about it...............hell, they deny outright failures when caught red handed!

 

[Wingate]

I would be interested in seeing the inside report on the causes of that one.

They will prolly blame it on bad fuel!
Look at it this way, they dont have to pull the cab on that one!

 

[RVTRKN]

Where in the manual does it state that?

I couldn't find that, now I'm wondering if I got that from my 04.5 with the NV5600. Anyway, they run hot regardless, I'll still down shift when climbing just out of habit. I'm going to contact Richard at Standard Transmission and get his opinion on 6th as an overdrive and the do's and don'ts seeing how he rebuilt my trans.

 

[TJJEEPER]

There isn't enough left of that Ford to analyze what happened. Another report I read said all that was left was puddles of aluminum.

 

[AH64ID]

I couldn't find that, now I'm wondering if I got that from my 04.5 with the NV5600. Anyway, they run hot regardless, I'll still down shift when climbing just out of habit. I'm going to contact Richard at Standard Transmission and get his opinion on 6th as an overdrive and the do's and don'ts seeing how he rebuilt my trans.

I haven't seen it in my 05 manual, or could I find it in the 04 manual.

There is something about the 5th gear nut on the NV4500, but not sure about anything on the NV5600 or G56. The ATF in the G56 seems to be too light, but then again we are going into the 11th model year of the G56.

 

[RVTRKN]

OK, I talked to Richard at Standard Transmission and he confirmed that the recommendation not to haul heavy up grades in 6th is correct. He is also aware it's not in the owners manual, he went on to add, if your at or above Dodges GCVWR (23k as an example) not to haul in 6th on level or up grades as well. He says the G56 is more vulnerable than the NV5600 but both can grenade when climbing in 6th gear heavy.

 

[RVTRKN]

Back on subject, it goes to show you how much plastic is used in the modern vehicle, aluminum won't burn.

 

[RustyJC]

Back on subject, it goes to show you how much plastic is used in the modern vehicle, aluminum won't burn.

Well, actually:

Aluminum (Al): Aluminum is used both as a commercially pure metal and as an alloy. In
finely divided powder or dust form, aluminum and its alloys are combustible in air and
present a serious combustion explosion hazard. Aluminum will react violently with many
chemicals. Aluminum particles and smaller turnings will react with water to form hydrogen
gas which is highly flammable and explosive in favorable concentrations. The rapid
vaporization of water in contact with molten aluminum can result in rapid phase
transformation explosions. Halogenated extinguishing agents should not be used.

Source: http://www.ehs.pitt.edu/assets/docs/combustible-metals.pdf

 

[PMcCall]

I wouldn't consider an AL frame to be "In finely divided powder or dust form"

 

[RVTRKN]

Everything has a flashpoint, but doubt there is aluminum burning in that picture, that is causing the thick black smoke.

 

[mwilson]

For those that missed the other thread on this fire, this slideshow is from start to finish. The big flare about 1/2 way through is interesting, possibly magnesium??

"Here is the entire slideshow, start to finish......Hit the picture, a new window opens with arrows so you can go through the slides."
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/08/04/ford-f-series-super-duty-fire-photos-amazing/

Mike.