I have the 2008 XLT 4.0L SOHC 4x4 with the 5 Speed Automatic with Overdrive Transmission
When I turn overdrive off, it goes through five shifts still, when it is on, it shifts five times and then enters overdrive, which is like a 6 speed in my views, anyone else ever notice this?

Will post a video when I can find a way to mount my camera to my truck properly.

 

That's weird. You should only feel 4 shifts. You start in first, and then start shifting...dunno.

 

Scratch that, if you're not in OD you should only feel 3 shifts. 5th gear is the OD gear.

 

When watching the tachometer or listening to the engine, it is easy to misinterpret a torque converter clutch engagement as a gear change.

 

This ^^^

 

Nailed it. Had the same thing in my F150. 4 speed trans. Felt like it shifted 5 times, one of the "shifts" was actually just the Torque converter locking.

 

+1 torque converter... I've got a scangauge II and I can watch the gear ratio and the torque converter slip ratio and watching the rpm it can look/feel like 6 or 7 speeds but there's only 5 gear ratios and rest is just torque converter locking and unlocking.

I want an auto trans like my wife's new car... torque converter between 0-5mph only after that it's a 6 speed computer automatic controlled manual. Very cool and great for gas mileage too with no torque converter in play.

 

what type of vehicle is this? if the torque converter were to engage at that low of a speed, you would expect the engine to stall or atleast lug down