My brother-in-law and I are presently having this discussion :)
2006-08-12 17:56:52 · 20 answers · asked by Jim Gwapo 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Overdrive ON is more fuel efficent.
Overdrive allows the engine to operate at a lower rpm for a given road speed. This allows the vehicle to realize better fuel efficiency, and often quieter operation on the highway. When you switch it on, you allow the transmission to shift into overdrive mode after the certain speed is reached (usually 30 - 40 mph depending on the load). When it is off, the transmission shifting is limited to the lower gears. For normal driving conditions, operation of the overdrive should be enabled.
It may be necessary to switch it off if the vehicle is being operated in a mountainous area.
Please let me know if you need more information before you choose the best answer!
2006-08-12 18:07:28 · answer #1 · answered by User 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Overdrive Fuel Efficiency
2017-01-16 13:06:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Overdrive on......It lets the tranny shift into a higher gear which lets the engine run at lower rpms, thus using less fuel. Unlike the old days, the new electronic shift tranny's are designed to kick down into drive when the bog down a little so you don't have to do the work. The computer does it for you. It will not damage your vehicle to always leave it in OD when you drive. Years ago you were supposed to shift out of OD when on hills or running low speed. That's not the case now.
2006-08-12 20:57:58 · answer #3 · answered by Craig H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
overdrive kicks in at a certain speed ie crusing speed it is about a 1 to 1 gear ratio in the transmission it dont matter if you put in overdrive the trasmission will decide like the others said you need to use a lower gear for long up and own hills or towing but for normal driving overdrive is ok
2006-08-12 18:07:35 · answer #4 · answered by turkey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well you need to trust me here, it is desined to be it O/D if it is the gear selector type with no elect overide buttion, its best to leave in O.D, if say like an american car with a 4 speed say ford AL-4OD, stands for Automatic Lockup Converter, with 4 foward gears with the no# 4 being Overdrive, when the vehicle comes to a dead stop, its automatily is in low range at a stop sign and as you take off it shifts up to the od position, like on the freeway and is best for the motor since the rpm's are down and the converter is locked up called a lock up converterther is a EL-4OD means Eltronic Overdrive 4 speed automatic, since there is such a wide verity of trans type out on the road today some of the imports ,its best in stop and go to leave it off , some call it power switch ,and the list is long and complcated , so to awnser your question the automatic in normal condition its best to leave in the overdrive position, some aplacations this is not true, but in most domestic full size vehicle's, its best for the trans to be in full operation cause when say are going 65mph on the freeway with it inguaged (or in the o/d mode) and start a incline and keep your throttle pressure the same, as the vehicle starts to slow because of the incline ,it will automaticly kick out of O/D and go to the next lower range then even lower if the hill increases, and when leveling out it will automaticly up shift to get itself back into high gear, or O/D. hope this helps you , best millage is in O/D function on the freeway maintaing the same speed .great question, and all this is bypassed when you hit the passing gear, take care
2006-08-12 18:46:05 · answer #5 · answered by Mechanical 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Overdrive on! It's just a higher gear. It won't be in "overdrive" when you're going slow. That is exactly what overdrive is for...fuel efficiency.
2006-08-12 18:00:49 · answer #6 · answered by Sir Sandwich Slayer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are driving a japanese car then dont overdrive below 100 cuz that just ruins your fuel efficiency. If the car is german then it really dosent make a difference. But if it is not a very big engine car and from any other country chances are fuel efficiency will g down unless you are doing more than 180.
2006-08-12 18:05:01 · answer #7 · answered by Zac 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Overdrive on. It provides an additional gear ration for improved fuel economy above certain speeds, depending on the specific vehicle model.
2006-08-12 17:59:47 · answer #8 · answered by Jack 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With overdrive off your RPM's will be alot higher,thus burning more fuel.With your overdrive on you catch a higher gear for high-way travel or even normal everyday driving.Use your overdrive off when accelerating with a load,going up steep grades with a load.
2006-08-12 18:12:07 · answer #9 · answered by jamstrings 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Overdrive on the highway, overdrive off iin the city.
2006-08-12 18:02:17 · answer #10 · answered by heffinator 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋