Which Gear for SC "Foothills"?

[Marky Dissod]

About "tuning" — I've looked into it several times, and I'm interested, but I'm finding the cost way outweigh the (understood) benefit. (non-Mac PC, +Software, +Credits, etc.).
FYI — the "lurching" only happens with "Tow/Haul" engaged. So, I can live with it, as I only tow/haul about every 6 months or so.
@Fless — I wish I had an ATF temp gauge! I just have to be satisfied with knowing I more than doubled the transmission cooler.

So part of the problem is that some benefits are less-than-thoroughly understood.

Actually, that sounds about right. If everyone who owns a GM V8 fully understood the long-term benefits of a tune,
EVERYONE who owns a GM V8 would get their vehicle tuned.

Part of why the lurching happens because those Tow / Haul shifts haven't been tuned yet.

PCMperformance dot com charges $250 to tune a P01 or P50 PCM. (Yours is a P01.)
Mail in a (as in ANY) 12200411 pcm, it comes back with a plug&play, turnkey offyego tune. No credits involved.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thank you, again to @Marky Dissod , @Fless , & @Doubeleive ! You took a weight off me!

About "tuning" — I've looked into it several times, and I'm interested, but I'm finding the cost way outweigh the (understood) benefit. (non-Mac PC, +Software, +Credits, etc.).

FYI — the "lurching" only happens with "Tow/Haul" engaged. So, I can live with it, as I only tow/haul about every 6 months or so.

@Fless — I wish I had a transmission temp gauge! I just have to be satisfied with knowing I more than doubled the transmission cooler.

depending on driving conditions "lurching" with tow/haul enabled is perfectly normal, especially on the 4l60 if there is no load and you using it then you will notice it a lot more. after around 2010 gm added a transmission brake assist w/tow enabled (6l80e) which works well even without a trailer attached, later years I think in 2013+ the function is (optional/automatic) without tow/haul enabled. They also added things like hill start assist.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... after around 2010 gm added a transmission brake assist w/tow enabled (6L80E), which works well even without a trailer attached ...

Seem to remember driving my (at the time) 2012 Yukon XL rather assertively in a very hilly and curvy area in Bronxville,
such that the 6L80E double-downshifted (ostensibly) unbidden by me during an unusually hard and long downhill braking effort.
I drove less like myself for the next hour ... Was VERY GLAD the 6L80 did me this solid favor.
After pondering just long enough for a small amount of smoke to issue forth from my ears,
took it to one of the very few 24hour mechanic shops in Queens, had my wornout brake pads replaced on the spot with PPV-spec pads.

Long story short: 6L80 ain't nothin t' fuhqwit.

 

[Doubeleive]

Seem to remember driving my (at the time) 2012 Yukon XL rather assertively in a very hilly and curvy area in Bronxville,
such that the 6L80E double-downshifted (ostensibly) unbidden by me during an unusually hard and long downhill braking effort.
I drove less like myself for the next hour ... Was VERY GLAD the 6L80 did me this solid favor.
After pondering just long enough for a small amount of smoke to issue forth from my ears,
took it to one of the very few 24hour mechanic shops in Queens, had my wornout brake pads replaced on the spot with PPV-spec pads.

Long story short: 6L80 ain't nothin t' fuhqwit.

the feature has come in handy for me from time to time allowing the brakes to cool down and "holding" the gear while stuck in flat lander traffic. I am a aggressive driver so being stuck behind a person that is scared to or is unable to "take a curve" is very annoying. It can certainly be used to your advantage

 

[NELLY1947]

Howdy!

I've just moved from very flat, Central Florida — to hilly, Greenville area, South Carolina.

I had the automatic transmission rebuilt (twice) and upgraded the transmission radiator/cooler.

I remember my Florida, transmission mechanic saying something about keeping the Tahoe in 3rd gear (instead of "D"), for our trip to mountainous, North East Tennessee. However, I'm not sure which is appropriate for our moderate, hilly region in Upstate Carolina. (To be clear, I'm not towing or hauling anything. Just a daily driver with kids.) Thoughts?

Also, when we do take a trip to the mountains (1 hour away), should we be in 3rd gear?

Vehicle Details:
2000 TWD 5.3 Tahoe
205K Miles
Automatic Transmission: 4L60E 4-X Speed

As long as you are not shunting leave it in D. If you are getting bogged down then manual shift. But don't over rev. "Automatic" means under normal work load it will shift on its own.

 

[swathdiver]

Howdy!

I've just moved from very flat, Central Florida — to hilly, Greenville area, South Carolina.

I had the automatic transmission rebuilt (twice) and upgraded the transmission radiator/cooler.

I remember my Florida, transmission mechanic saying something about keeping the Tahoe in 3rd gear (instead of "D"), for our trip to mountainous, North East Tennessee. However, I'm not sure which is appropriate for our moderate, hilly region in Upstate Carolina. (To be clear, I'm not towing or hauling anything. Just a daily driver with kids.) Thoughts?

Also, when we do take a trip to the mountains (1 hour away), should we be in 3rd gear?

Vehicle Details:
2000 TWD 5.3 Tahoe
205K Miles
Automatic Transmission: 4L60E 4-X Speed

As long as everything is in good order, just drive it as normal. These trucks do benefit from an engine and transmission tune.