When do you use the overdrive on a car?

Question

What does it do?

Answer 1

overdrive is designed as the fourth gear in an automatic transmission if you are driving at speeds under thirty-five mph at all times it is fine not to use it but otherwise it should be on at all times unless you are hauling something off the bumper but just leave it on it saves the transmission from overheating and frying up the fourth gear clutch pack

Answer 2

You should use overdrive most of the time especially the highway. This will reduce the RPM's of your motor therefore increasing your fuel mileage.

However, if your vehicle is under load or your hauling a trailer drop the transmission to Drive or take out of Overdrive to reduce stress on your transmission. Also, this will reduce the chance of overheating your tranny because it is constantly changing gears because of the load you are pulling or carrying.

Or you can shift your transmission to a lower gear when you are decending to allow the motor to hold your vehicle back and reduce the chance of your brakes overheating.

Answer 3

Use overdrive always. There is no reason other than while towing a heavy load, in severe winter weather, or in mountainous terrain to drive around in any gear than overdrive.

Answer 4

When you get up to speed, it kicks in and lets the engine run at a lower, easier rpm for fuel mileage. That's in a automatic transmission if it's a manual transmission overdrive would be simply 5th gear .. lol

Answer 5

You can use overdrive all the time if you want, but it's meant for when your doing more than 45mph. Your car will also drive better if you only use it on flat roads. If your driving on a road with a lot of uphills & downhills, you should just leave it in drive.

Answer 6

Overdrive is your highest gear - use it on the open road when you are doing at least 50 mph, and you will save on gas because your engine doesn't have to turn as many RPMs.

Answer 7

When cruising and no need for power ,but when you need more power or a burst of speed shift to a lower gear or depress accelerator to the floor and let things happen automatically. I'm sure you have rode a bicycle with different speeds. The idea is the same, the higher the gear the slower you pedal but you must pedal harder if you want to increase speed. For more power you shift to a lower gear and pedal faster. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

overdrive is fourth gear the only time i dont use it is when pulling a tralier or to slow the vehicle on a long down hill strech of road

Answer 9

i leave it in overdrive all the time won't hurt anything . the only time i take it out is if i get stuck in the snow

Answer 10

Over Drive only comes in automatics. Simply put, O.D. is like an extra gear. I use it on my car primarily for passing. I didn't know how to use either, it just takes practice to learn it.