E40D questions???

[powerstrokes only]

I recently purchased a '94 factory turbo with an E40D tranny. Looking at the service records the tranny only has about 7000 miles on it. I added a big tranny cooler to it before I ever used it, so I think it is alright for heat. I always service my auto tranny's at 15,000 mile intervals because I pull big trailers a whole lot. I am going to service this tranny soon and I am wondering if it would be worth it to put synthetic fluid in it? This is the first E40D I have had and it shifts diff. than the other four autos I have owned. When I really push it hard it really hesitates right before it shifts, kind of sits there for a second, then shifts, is this normal? I have a friend who drove it and said his brothers did the same thing. Would it be a good idea to put a shift kit in it? And if so what kind? What about a Banks trans command? Are there any others that anybody would recomend? The truck runs awesome, I am pulling a 40' flatbed with it and it pulls good, just want to take care of my tranny. I put a new exhaust from the turbo back and a new air intake from Hypermax and my EGT's are down at least 200 degrees. This truck has about 289,900 miles and is within 5 to 10 mph of my 6.4 pulling the same trailer on the same hills and is getting about twice as good a milage doing it! If anyone has any ideas or opinions on the tranny shifts and upgrades please let me know, thanks!

[viper5]

I had a '96 PSD/W E4OD and it shifted the same way. When the trans died at 269,000 I had it rebuilt and when it came out of the shop it still shifted like that, so I would say it's normal for them

[Bamfster]

I have the banks trans command on my '94 with a transgo shift kit. There is no hesitation whatsoever. If i'm driving it easy, as in regular traffic, it shifts on time and firmly with no hesitation. If i get on it really hard it shifts really hard almost like it wants to chirp the tires, if i'm on a dirt road or on road sand it will spin tires on the 1-2 shift. They can be modified to perform better and my local tranny guy did mine for about half the cost of what ats wanted for the same mods.

[Pest007]

I have a 96 with the trans command and a larger Trans cooler with electric fan, and it does the hessitation thing just before it shifts as well, I think that is just how these trans are. It shifts firm with the trans command (without it it really feels like a slush box) but from everything that I'v read and researched a Valve body is the way to go, but my trans command with hold me over until mine dies, makes a big difference vs stock having that trans command tho, nice and firm shifts.

[gunner 70]

I have a 93 f350 and when it shifts from first to second,it hesitates and then shifts perty hard, is that normal,feels like it would bark second if it had a little more power.