Accidentally drove in “L” (limit/manual) mode

Gdarling · November 8, 2022

Hey all! I’ve followed this forum and it’s always been helpful!

today I was nearly home from work and I heard what I thought might be a motorcycle around me, just an engine noise, and after realizing I was the only one in my lane I looked down to see that my truck was in “L2”

I live about 20 min from work and half of it is freeway. The rest is 45-50mph limit rd

I must have dropped it into L after backing up at work. Obviously distracted, I had gotten a phone call

checked to see my trans was at about 185-190F and drove it around the block to let it cool.

I drove a little and tried to simulate what I’d been doing to see if I’d potentially driven from work to my house like that but after driving in L2 I pushed the truck up to 4500 rpm’s (50mph ish) and the truck was gutless or “pretty obvious” so I know that I may not have.

my question is.. could I have potentially hurt my motor or tans having potentially driven like that?

im usually very focused on operating the truck while driving so I’m a bit disappointed in myself and anxious.

No irregular noises

truck is shifting fine

changes gears fine.
Trans temp staying around 180 +/- 1

thanks in advance

CamGTP · November 8, 2022

Put it this way, they wouldn't allow you to put it into manual mode if it was going to hurt the engine. They test these engines in some cases for a week to 2 weeks straight at full throttle just to torture test them.

I take you've never towed a steep grade either with a heavy trailer doing 5,000rpm for miles, it's made to do that. Transmission temps are not a problem until 225-230+.

Everything is fine, don't worry about it.

Naughty Donkey Performance · November 8, 2022

4 minutes ago, CamGTP said:

Put it this way, they wouldn't allow you to put it into manual mode if it was going to hurt the engine. They test these engines in some cases for a week to 2 weeks straight at full throttle just to torture test them.

I take you've never towed a steep grade either with a heavy trailer doing 5,000rpm for miles, it's made to do that. Transmission temps are not a problem until 225-230+.

Everything is fine, don't worry about it.

I concur

Gdarling · November 8, 2022

15 minutes ago, CamGTP said:

Put it this way, they wouldn't allow you to put it into manual mode if it was going to hurt the engine. They test these engines in some cases for a week to 2 weeks straight at full throttle just to torture test them.

I take you've never towed a steep grade either with a heavy trailer doing 5,000rpm for miles, it's made to do that. Transmission temps are not a problem until 225-230+.

Everything is fine, don't worry about it.

Thank you. that really puts my mind at ease. I appreciate your help and taking the time to reply.

KARNUT · November 8, 2022

It’s been awhile since I tried the test. But judging by the op statement that his truck was in L2 when he realized it he was in manual mode. There’s a point it will shift on it own in manual mode at least out of L1. Most vehicles feel vastly different cruising at 4K than 2K. Unless the radio is blasting it won’t take long to notice. Being I put tunes 99 percent of my trucks and put the hammer down daily merging on the freeway. Love to hear the glass packs sing. You were a long way from harm on a healthy motor. I always would move my full throttle shift points as close to 6K as I could. Even my 21 year old 180K miles avalanche get the full throttle treatment for the 1-2 shift once a week. Although it’s the only one that I’ve owned that hasn’t been treated to a tune or loud exhaust. I may be older but not dead yet, so it could happen.

Edited November 8, 2022 by KARNUT