'16 Silverado - First Tow, RPM Escalates

Bergy21 · May 16, 2016

Towed my boat for the first time with our 2016 Silverado 5.3L. When I let off to slow down and come to a stop the transmission really downshifts and the RPM's increase to 3,500 to 4,000. This doesn't seem right. My wife and daughter even noticed and they usually don't say much regarding mechanical issues.

JerryCanada · May 16, 2016

Don't remember what it's called but it's a system to help with braking. Does it with mine too. Think you can turn it off by holding the tow/haul button for 15 seconds.

fondupot · May 16, 2016

Its grade braking.

If you want to turn it off, hold the tow/haul button for 5 seconds. You will see a note pop up on the center screen.

muddkatt · May 16, 2016

Its normal, working as designed.

jjvito · May 16, 2016

completely normal. even my work truck (3500 HD) does that. its definitely a shock when you first hear it though

Nathan79 · May 17, 2016

It's supposed to do that and it's a good thing.

jamin87ss · May 17, 2016

Yup, think of it as a Jake brake, when in manual I believe it's disabled

1300c · May 17, 2016

Towed my boat for the first time with our 2016 Silverado 5.3L. When I let off to slow down and come to a stop the transmission really downshifts and the RPM's increase to 3,500 to 4,000. This doesn't seem right. My wife and daughter even noticed and they usually don't say much regarding mechanical issues.

That's completely normal, and actually a good thing as it helps shorten your stopping distance. In the duramax trucks it's even better, as you can couple it with the exhaust brake.

BigBadSierra · May 17, 2016

Scared me the first time I heard it. I didn't know the truck even did it. Had it for a year and never heard it until I bought the a big travel trailer and stopped pulling the hard top.

ha ha.

thejimmian · May 17, 2016

Yup, think of it as a Jake brake, when in manual I believe it's disabled

manual does disable grade braking.

Bergy21 · May 17, 2016

Does it hurt anything to disable the grade braking? Is there an advantage mechanically? Long term is there anything that the truck will see as an advantage?

scott19677 · May 17, 2016

Yeah its normal but it will scare the shite out of you the first time it happens.

1300c · May 17, 2016

Does it hurt anything to disable the grade braking? Is there an advantage mechanically? Long term is there anything that the truck will see as an advantage?

It shouldn't. It's just there to help slow you down, and help save your brakes.

Silverado Steve · May 17, 2016

Depending on the size trailer or load your towing, you're better off using your engine and transmission to slow you down then riding your brakes. Here in Colorado you routinely see emergency runaway ramps for semis and trucks who burnout their brakes. Mostly you see older HDs and 1/2 tons that don't have this feature parked on these gravel ramps.

thewhitestallion · May 17, 2016

Does it hurt anything to disable the grade braking? Is there an advantage mechanically? Long term is there anything that the truck will see as an advantage?

the downside to turning this feature off is that you will work your brakes harder and given the right conditions you could experience brake fade and loose your brakes. i would leave it on and let the trucks engine / transmission help you brake. when you transmission down shifts and the engine winds up to 4k rpm it uses no extra fuel and acts and a huge air brake.