What is overdrive on a car used for exactly and when...?

Question

and when should it be turned on and off? I just bought a new car and it has an overdrive button. Best answer 10 points. Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

I work for nissan. Overdrive can be left on at all times where it gets the best gas mileage. By turning OD off light on shifts down to third gear which is good for stop and go around town where the highest gear is seldomly used. Also over gearing slows the motor speed resulting longer lasting engine. Year Make Model and I can tell you exactly what the gear up ratio is.

Answer 2

It depends on the function of the button. Some buttons turn the overdrive off, and some turn the overdrive on. Overdrive allows the car to move faster while the engine does less work whic provides better gas mileage. So anytime you drive is a good time to use overdrive with a few exceptions. Overdrive should be turned off if you are carrying heavy loads, driving hilly areas, towing something, or any combination of the three. When if overdrive, the engine can't deliver the power needed to do the job and in trying to do so will destroy your transmission. Find out whether the button turns the overdrive on or off and drive with it accordingly.

Answer 3

Overdrive is like fuel-efficient mode. When you are on the freeway and driving in relatively stable way, you can save gas by switching into the overdrive. That will save energy.

The draw back is lack of power. You will notice the difference in acceleration when you have overdrive on and off.

When you want to accelerate with a little more boost, you turn off the overdrive. If you want to save gas and run a bit more fuel-efficient, then you have the overdrive on.

Answer 4

Basically it's an additional gear for high speed. It was the earrly arragement for enhancing a four speed gearbox which is now covered by the five speed 'box,

A normal "top" gear is a direct drive from the engine thru the gearbox to the propshaft (i.e. 1:1 gearing).

An engaged overdrive provides a drive which gives gearing of <1:1.

You should find out from the manual for your car how and when to operate it, as they may vary. On some cars, you should only engage them in third and top and NEVER in reverse.

Answer 5

Overdrive is the final gear in a car. the gear is used for gas efficiency and is usually weaker then the other gears and designed for highway cruising. You should leave it on unless you are towing somthing through the mountains, turning it off will lower your mpg. Most modern cars and turcks have an overdrive.

Answer 6

i own a repair shop,,and overdrive on any car is an extended gear in the transmission the reduces the rpm,s of the engine when your cruising down the free way,and it also makes one get a lot better gas mileage and helps reduce wear and tear on the engine,,if your in town its a good idea not to have it on,,it will shift its self to death going in,and out of over drive,,this is caused from the stop,and go driving in the city,,but when on an open stretch of road use it,,it will make your fuel mileage much better,,but basically this is what it is ,and what its there for,,good luck i hope this help,s.

Answer 7

The overdrive gear is help decrease your rpm at higher speeds (50 mph and up)and help fuel consumption, it should be turned on out on open road and off in the city.

Answer 8

I never saw a button before, I would ask the dealer.

Normally overdrive is an extra gear that allows the transmission to shift into a higher gear then normal allowing the engine to run at a lower speed. It would happen automatically with most transmissions. Maybe yours needs the button to engage.

Answer 9

An overdrive is used during steady cruising when there is MINIMAL load on the engine during which engine RPM (revolutions per minute) or engine speed is REDUCED to maximize fuel economy, or reduce fuel consumption, whichever way you prefer to look at it. It should only be turned off during conditions that put the engine under a heavy load. (Climbing steep hills, pulling trailers etc.)

Answer 10

Use it just about every time you plan on going 40 MPH or higher, unless you're driving through steep mountains. It helps keep the RPM down, which means your engine is working less and you'll get better gas mileage.