[Steve]

If you push the mode button the little red little will come on and it changes the shift pattern for going up hills it keeps it in the gear a little bit longer and it will use more fuel if you are going down the road , I use it if it’s up and down lots so the trans does not shift so much

[Peter]

It is actualy (Performance) mode. We recomend running in Performance mode most of the the time. Some transmissions will be set up with Performance being the default, others with Economy. Typically the Allison touch pad will either say Econ or Perf. When the red mode light is on that is the mode you are operating in. Each time you start the coach you need to activate the mode button if you want that program. The fuel mileage will not suffer if you are running on flat ground unless there is a lot of wind, or you are changing your speed often. The reason is that you will typically be in 6th gear with the torque converter locked up. Economy mode tends to lug the engine on climbs, and can result in the transmission hunting for the proper gear.

[Peter]

That’s good Steve just what I was trying to say, most are set up for Economy mode and when you push the mode button it’s in performance mode for going up and down lots of hills so it does not lug the motor so much and will keep it in the gear longer

[Steve]

Thanks for the clarification that it’s really not a retarder but gives the transmission more precision in selecting the right gear … so when in “D” I should select the “Performance” mode all the time for better performance and really no noticeable loss in MPG, got it.

[Tim]

No I would put in drive and that should be economy mode and if in the hills push mode button and then it will be in performance mode to hold the gear longer , in all my coaches I have always done that and in the trucks I have had same thing , unless you are pulling a heavy trailer then I would put it in performance mode , or going up and down hills other wise economy, if you feel like the trams is having a hard time finding a gear to stay in because of speed you can push the mode button so it will hold longer in that gear and not hunt for one,

Tim you should drive it and see what it does in both so you know how it is set up and if it shifts sooner or it holds the gear then u will know what’s what!!!!! And when to use which mode

[Peter]

Think of the performance mode this way………..

In economy mode which is our default the coach upshifts sooner and delays the downshifts. That keeps the engine turning at lower RPM with the presumed benefit of better fuel mileage at the expense of performance.

In performance mode the engine will delay upshifting until the RPMs are up a little, and it will downshift sooner, especially under load, such as climbing a hill.

Our torque curve for the Series 60 peaks early at 1200 RPM, but then drops off, while at the same RPM the HP is only about 380 or much less than peak 515 HP. The sweet spot for performance is at about 1800 RPM where peak torque is only off about 150 ft. lbs, but HP is at its peak. So delaying the upshift and downshifting earlier keeps the engine at the higher RPMs to get the best combination of HP and torque. That is essentially what performance mode is doing. The downside is more frequent downshifts and the shifts are harder, or more noticeable.

You will develop your own driving style. You can be aggressive and stay in performance mode, or just leave it in economy and let the coach climb the hills a little slower. If you remain in performance mode you will notice more downshifting and the shifts will be less smooth, but as Steve says if the driving is mostly on the flat you likely will not see much difference in mileage.

I stay in economy mostly, but I drive the hills “like I stole it”. If I am able to anticipate a long steep grade I increase my speed as I approach the hill, manually drop a gear to fifth, and hit the performance mode button. As I climb the hill I get my foot off the accelerator and let the cruise control take over because it gives me a few more HP that way. As soon as I am out of the hills, I go back to economy mode and upshift to 6th.

[Archived]

Excellent information!

[Archived]

I’m usually heavy towing and used performance mode for a few years but found it would downshift too easily on even slight grades. I now use normal mode and downshift manually with the shift pad as necessary…hunts less for me. But, as Jon says, your driving style, the roads you drive, and the weight of your vehicle will all have an impact. Find what you like best.