When do you use overdrive on a car?

Question

I just recently purchased a Durango..when u start it its already on OD.. I dont know much about cars.. should I leave it on or off??
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Overdrive is a part of the automatic transmission that helps the torque converter (the part of your transmission that converts power from the engine into power the transmission can use) cool itself. When the transmission shifts into overdrive, the torque converter goes into what's called 'lock-up', meaning that it stops turning so it can cool itself and the transmission no longer is using it. When pulling heavy loads, traveling on rough terrain, or up steep inclines, turn your overdrive off, otherwise you could cause damage to the transmission! Otherwise leave it on. I does help your gas mileage on long trips, but then, cruise control does too. Be sure and have the fluids in your transmission changed every 30K or once a year if you live in a highly populated area with lots of traffic, otherwise every 50K or two years.

Answer 2

Overdrive is to be used in everyday use. You should turn off the OD when you are hauling a load. If you are hauling a lot, the OD off just keeps the overdrive gear from kicking in so that the gearing stays lower than the 1 to 1 ratio that the over drive gives. OD off allows lower gearing which means the engine has less load placed on it. The engine will rev a little higher, but that won't hurt anything. Answer When a vehicle is climbing in hilly roads, the gear changes in the transmission are very frequent. The OverDrive button/switch can be used to prevent the vehicle from switching into a top gear. That subsequently increases the RPM of the engine and gives better performance. Overdrive simply means the Top Gear. It should be used on highways or in open road driving only. Do not use it in frequent stop start conditions. Answer You use an overdrive when the engine is not straining, i.e., the road is not going up but rather going down, or your car is not loaded with heavy weights like passengers or goods, and you want to save gasoline. Answer It should be used at highway speeds of over 55 mph, but its OK to have it on all the time since your car wont shift into overdrive until the conditions are right (speed and RPM). Answer You will use it when you are cruising along on the freeway/dual-carriageway/autobahn. Anytime you are maintaining a steady speed and don't expect to slow down or brake for awhile. Answer When I have owned vehicles with automatic transmissions, I used overdrive on the interstates. And this was only if I was approaching 60 MPH on level ground.

Answer 3

How To Use Overdrive

Answer 4

Overdrive is for highway driving, it has nothing to do with rough terrain, driving in snow, or anything else. It is simply another gear which lowers your RPMs to help with fuel economy. If you are on a road with lots of hills, you should avoid using it because your transmission will be constantly down shifting. Also, don't use it if you are towing something of substantial weight.

Enjoy your new car.

Answer 5

Speed implies two things. Top end and acceleration. Each requires lots of power. To accelerate quicker, you want low gears. Tall gears get you to high speeds. Lets address top speed first. It is a steady state equillibrium between Horse power (which is max torque of any given engine rpm times the rpm divided by a constant) and friction. Friction is air resistance and rolling mechanical resistance. Your car has about 220 Horses max. At that rpm, you cannot go any faster in top gear. You are limited by newtons third law-for every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction. Now lets go to first gear. Acceration is dictated by newtons scond law, force is equal to mass times acceration. solving for acceleration you get A=F/m. The less mass you have the higher the acceleration for any given force. That force is all the machanical stuff derived from the torque of your engine. The torque of your engine can be multiplied trough the tansmission given that your have enough reserve rpm. As you run out of reserve rpm, you must change gears. As you change to upper gears, you are losing mechanical advantage but gaining reserve rpm. At highway speeds, 50 to 90 mph, your car need between 15 and 60 Hp. Since your car can produce that at rpms like 2 thousand to three thousand, a gear is made to match the hp to speed. That is what the overdrive is. In race cars, the top gear is designed to match the hp to the max speed that they will probably attain on the track. You obviously have an automatic transmission. For you, since you had to ask this question, keep it on. You will get better gas milage when you are not steping on it. Auto transmissions will stay in lower gears when you "step on it". Oh, if you live in the city, keep it off. If you live in the burbs, keep in on. If you live in the burbs and don't care about great gas milage, tun it off when you are not on the highway.

Answer 6

Leave it on. It will shift to OD around 45 mph. If you're pulling or going up hills, it will usually down shift on it's own, but if it keeps going in and out of OD, then take it off yourself.
OD is not for rough terrain or snow!!! AND it will help with mileage. Geesh

Answer 7

i had a durango and dont worry about the od guzzeling your gas it wont the durango is actually pretty good on gas for an suv

Answer 8

john s is correct. OD is not used for rough terrain or snow .it does kick in at about 45-50 mph. what it also does is reduces your transmissions rpm to lower ratio so that it is not using unnecessary power therefore saving you gas

Answer 9

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Off will give you faster speed. Overdrive is mainly for highway use. It lowers the rpm speed so you conserve fuel on the highway.

Answer 10

45mph or above, but not in stop n go traffic- such as in town, or on hilly roads. Also 45mph is just about the best gas mileage speed- remembering to accelerate just B4 inclines