I heard it was for 40 mph or over... but everyone I know ALWAYS drives their car in overdrive - which would mean...they are in essence putting it in Drive! What does it mean???
2006-08-15 18:44:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
a gear higher than drive.... drive is 1:1 over drive is usually 0.78-0.73:1 so you can use less gas
and in cars where you just put it in drive or overdrive and go automatics, they start in 1st and shift up to the highest one youve set it
2006-08-15 18:49:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Overdrive makes the driveshaft turn faster than the engine's crankshaft.
In the lower gears, like 1st and 2nd, the engine is spinning 2 or 3 or 4 times for every time the driveshaft rotates, which gives your engine the leverage to be in it's power band and to accelerate. You can't accelerate very well if the engine is only spinning at, say, 600rpm.
Once you attain highway speeds, and no longer need to accelerate, it' desirable to get the engine rpm's down so you use less fuel and also extend the life of the engine.
Overdrive accomplishes this by gearing that lets the engine spin more slowly than the driveshaft.
Yes, everyone you know may be "using overdrive", but that's only once highway speed is achieved and there is little throttle being applied. It works automatically and there's rarely any reason to turn it off, whether auto tranny or manual. All it means with a manual is that the top gear, or sometimes top two gears, are O/D. The lower gears are not.
2006-08-15 19:02:21 · answer #2 · answered by BobBobBob 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
overdrive is for highway driving on flat to to low grade hills other then that you should not drive in overdrive, overdrives gives you another gear ratio on the highway, which is more like a direct drive which will lower the rpm's of the engine to save fuel. overdrive usually kicks in at 42 mph, and if you are driving in town this will cause it engage and disengaged if you reach the 42 mph and then slow down and will cause premature failure of the transmission. also you should not tow a trailer using overdrive. in town driving under 42 mph, put it in drive
2006-08-15 18:57:32 · answer #3 · answered by taknadvantageof 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
overdrive is for highway use going long distance at 55 &over to save gas
2006-08-15 19:00:34 · answer #4 · answered by comon sence 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can drive in overdrive at any speed but you should not if you care about your autos tranny. Use overdrive at highways speeds and disengauge it at city speeds. When in town it will be in a lower gear and you will have more lowend power and use your brakes less. And overdrive lowers your RPMs, if it made them higher it would be called underdrive, lower RPMs at higer speeds increases your engine life.
2006-08-15 18:54:13 · answer #5 · answered by Later Me 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It feels like the enter shaft snapped or the differential contained interior the transmission have been given here aside with each and each of the spinning. you in elementary terms gained't understand till ultimately you bypass to a transmission save for a prognosis.
2016-12-17 11:39:05 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
overdrive usually increases your rpm, which should only really be used for when you are pulling a heavy load, going up steep hills, (or my favorite) when you possibly need a quick burst of speed to get up to your desired speed. I would definatly not recommend using overdrive all the time, all that is doing is making your rpms higher and putting more strain on your engine; and that will eventually take its toll on both your car and you wallet.
2006-08-15 18:53:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Isn't that what you use when you're crossing a bridge? Or driving "over" to someone's house? lol! jk
2006-08-15 18:53:27 · answer #8 · answered by Living the Alaskan life 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋