2018 Denali 6.2L 8 speed - cheat code...

[surfcityz71]

I've had my Denali for about 4 months now and I've gotten into a habit that makes the truck more driveable for me, even if it's at the expense of a few mpg's.  

 

When I put the truck into forward gear for around town, city driving, I slide the selector lever all the way to L and then use the stalk button to select 5 as the highest gear.  This keeps the rpm's right where I want them for city driving (under 50ish), prevents the unnecessary upshifting to gears 6-8, and keeps the power available for acceleration/re-acceleration without the need for a downshift and the associated delays. 

 

Anyone else do this?  See any harm in it?   

 

 

[J-man67]

It ALSO keeps your truck in V8 mode. I have a 2015 6spd and it's never been in D. I put it in manual mode, then 5th gear every single day. 180k on the clock and zero issues motor wise. Trans was just rebuilt 5k ago, but I am tough on this truck. I just dropped it off for a new exhaust system actually, so I'm confident in it enough to put more money into it!

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[1SLOW1500]

All you are doing is staying out of overdrive. The 2 down shift is still there. I would have to review that pattern in the 8l90 but sounds like you want a tune. Change the mph the shifts are at. Open up more power and remove dod you will increase power shift better keep mpg and not hurt your trans. Win.

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[surfcityz71]

28 minutes ago, 1SLOW1500 said:

All you are doing is staying out of overdrive. The 2 down shift is still there. I would have to review that pattern in the 8l90 but sounds like you want a tune. Change the mph the shifts are at. Open up more power and remove dod you will increase power shift better keep mpg and not hurt your trans. Win.

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I can get higher shift points just by engaging tow/haul mode and keeping the trans in L5.  The last thing I want to do is start altering the factory setup.  Too many headaches for me.  

 

And although I CAN get downshifts if I lay into the throttle enough, I find that I don't need to do that if my RPM's are already up and I only need moderate acceleration.  It's when the truck is in 8th gear at 50mph that I need to kick down in order to get moving. 

[surfcityz71]

36 minutes ago, J-man67 said:

It ALSO keeps your truck in V8 mode. 
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Not in my truck.  I wish it were that easy.  I still get V4 when in L.  

[JimCost2014]

10 minutes ago, surfcityz71 said:

Not in my truck.  I wish it were that easy.  I still get V4 when in L.  

6 or 8 speed?

 

And which gears, all or just the 6th or 8th depending on which one you have.

[J-man67]

Not in my truck.  I wish it were that easy.  I still get V4 when in L.  

Hmm...not sure. I'm not a trans pro, but seemed to work for me.

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[surfcityz71]

13 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

6 or 8 speed?

 

And which gears, all or just the 6th or 8th depending on which one you have.

8 speed.  

[JimCost2014]

16 minutes ago, surfcityz71 said:

8 speed.  

What gear(s) do you see it in V4 while in manual mode?

[SirenRed16]

8 speed.  

Take it up to L7 and itll stay in v8. M5 is for 6 speeds

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[surfcityz71]

17 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

What gear(s) do you see it in V4 while in manual mode?

I'll have to check next time I'm on the freeway.  Maybe I'm wrong.  

[JimCost2014]

9 minutes ago, surfcityz71 said:

I'll have to check next time I'm on the freeway.  Maybe I'm wrong.  

You could be right, but if you are I think you have a problem.

 

I think as long as you are in manual mode 1-7, it disables the V4 mode, shifting to 8 enables it again even in MM.

[surfcityz71]

6 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

You could be right, but if you are I think you have a problem.

 

I think as long as you are in manual mode 1-7, it disables the V4 mode, shifting to 8 enables it again even in MM.

Even more reason to never be in 8th gear!