Ok, sorry for using the term "complainers"! Wanted to get people's attention. This thread is for people who experience vibrations while under light throttle at intermediate speeds and low rpm.
I am extremely confident that people frustrated with pilot vibrations are actually experiencing one of the following conditions:
1.). Normal Torque converter lockup vibration. I say normal because my 95k mile 2004 pilot vibrated under light load and low rpm the entire time I owned it (from new for 7 years.). It's vibrating when it's on the verge of lockup (moderate speeds, low rpm and light throttle position.). If you don't believe me, get your pilot out on a flat stretch of road where you can easily maintain 45 mph with a light throttle in the normal d position on the transmission. Get the truck to get into "Eco" mode. When you get it to start vibrating, shift to "D3". This forces the car to a lower gear and prevents the torque converter from locking up. Once it's settled into D3, lighten the throttle enough so VCM or "Eco" mode is activated again. You won't feel nearly the vibration. In fact, you'll find it's extremely faint if noticeable at all. I think this is 90% of the vibration complaints out there. Now, I'm not trying to tell anyone that there isn't vibration...the torque converter is definitely a chattery one...but it is operating normally and isn't a symptom of a looming mechanical problem.
2.) Low oil level / old oil causing Excessive VCM vibration. I have noticed that my VCM operates much more and kicks in easier right after an oil change. Perhaps one reason I don't experience any excessive VCM issues is due to the fact that I perform frequent oil changes-about every 5,000 miles-due to the fact that I regularly tow a 3600 lb boat and trailer. The VCM system is activated by oil pressure, so oil quality and quantity which can both impact oil pressure can impact VCM system operation.
3.). Bad engine mounts. Likely a few folks...the great minority...have a failed engine mount, which could easily cause vibration problems.
Here's my challenge to those at their wits end with vibration under light loads....don't go more than 5000 miles inbetween oil changes regardless of what that maintenance minder says. Also, try a tank of 91+ octane. The engine, like all modern auto engines, has what's called a knock sensor. It's one of the factors that allows our pilots to run on 87 octane. That being said, it's there for a reason and under high load conditions, the motor can knock or ping occasionally. The engine's ecu will pull timing enough to quell the pinging. Doing so also cuts horsepower, which can make the truck feel a little more sluggish particularly if you have the ac on or have a good load onboard, or are towing. Running higher octane will minimize the situations in which the ecu will pull timing and can help you eek out a hair more gas mileage while maximizing the engines horsepower under a wider range of operating conditions. Here's the important part....it helps the engine and trans operate more smoothly, including the VCM system.
Try these things and report back to this thread. Really give them a shot. I'm confident that a large number of people complaining about vibration will notice a difference in the vibration. At the very least, those that run thru the steps I outlined in item #1 above will see it's not the VCM system, it's just the transmission's normal torque converter operation. :29:
I am extremely confident that people frustrated with pilot vibrations are actually experiencing one of the following conditions:
1.). Normal Torque converter lockup vibration. I say normal because my 95k mile 2004 pilot vibrated under light load and low rpm the entire time I owned it (from new for 7 years.). It's vibrating when it's on the verge of lockup (moderate speeds, low rpm and light throttle position.). If you don't believe me, get your pilot out on a flat stretch of road where you can easily maintain 45 mph with a light throttle in the normal d position on the transmission. Get the truck to get into "Eco" mode. When you get it to start vibrating, shift to "D3". This forces the car to a lower gear and prevents the torque converter from locking up. Once it's settled into D3, lighten the throttle enough so VCM or "Eco" mode is activated again. You won't feel nearly the vibration. In fact, you'll find it's extremely faint if noticeable at all. I think this is 90% of the vibration complaints out there. Now, I'm not trying to tell anyone that there isn't vibration...the torque converter is definitely a chattery one...but it is operating normally and isn't a symptom of a looming mechanical problem.
2.) Low oil level / old oil causing Excessive VCM vibration. I have noticed that my VCM operates much more and kicks in easier right after an oil change. Perhaps one reason I don't experience any excessive VCM issues is due to the fact that I perform frequent oil changes-about every 5,000 miles-due to the fact that I regularly tow a 3600 lb boat and trailer. The VCM system is activated by oil pressure, so oil quality and quantity which can both impact oil pressure can impact VCM system operation.
3.). Bad engine mounts. Likely a few folks...the great minority...have a failed engine mount, which could easily cause vibration problems.
Here's my challenge to those at their wits end with vibration under light loads....don't go more than 5000 miles inbetween oil changes regardless of what that maintenance minder says. Also, try a tank of 91+ octane. The engine, like all modern auto engines, has what's called a knock sensor. It's one of the factors that allows our pilots to run on 87 octane. That being said, it's there for a reason and under high load conditions, the motor can knock or ping occasionally. The engine's ecu will pull timing enough to quell the pinging. Doing so also cuts horsepower, which can make the truck feel a little more sluggish particularly if you have the ac on or have a good load onboard, or are towing. Running higher octane will minimize the situations in which the ecu will pull timing and can help you eek out a hair more gas mileage while maximizing the engines horsepower under a wider range of operating conditions. Here's the important part....it helps the engine and trans operate more smoothly, including the VCM system.
Try these things and report back to this thread. Really give them a shot. I'm confident that a large number of people complaining about vibration will notice a difference in the vibration. At the very least, those that run thru the steps I outlined in item #1 above will see it's not the VCM system, it's just the transmission's normal torque converter operation. :29:
