If overdrive is for towing and carrying large loads then why does it make the shift point lower? It should make the shift point higher so it can tow things better right? I don't understand how lowering the shift point is going to be better for towing things if its always in a higher than usual gear. Somebody please explain. BTW 2001 Dodge Ram v6
2007-03-25 03:48:04 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Quite the opposite. Overdrive is the last or next to last highest gears depending upon the number of gears in your transmission. A glance at your transmission spec. sheet explains what the gear ratios are in your transmission.Think of a standard 5 - 6 speed manual transmission. In a five or six speed trans. generally speaking, fifth and sixth are the over-driven gears. That means, the input shaft of the transmission turns at a slower rpm. as compared the faster rpm. out put or tail shaft while you are in fourth and fifth gears.
In a car, over-drives are used when the car is unloaded and traveling on relatively flat highways to keep the engine rpm. as low as possible for fuel economy. If you approached a hill in high 4th-5th gear you would stall the engine while towing or carrying a load. Cars pulling loads need to shift to a lower gear while pulling hills for the same reason loaded trucks do. The reason: To keep the engine torque and rpm. operating within it's maximum power range.
An inner cooled turbocharged tractor (truck) diesel can cheat these rules somewhat because diesels produce 20 -30 times more foot pounds of torque than a normal automobile. They need to shift because if the the massive tonnage they carry. Large trucks have very close ratio gear sets to keep the engine rpm operating at peak torque.
2007-03-25 05:51:46 · answer #1 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Excuse me? You turn overdrive OFF, not on to tow or for mountainous driving, and it makes the gear ratio lower when you do, not higher.
If will drop your ratio down to a 1:1 instead of overdrive's 0.75:1 ratio.
2007-03-25 04:06:17 · answer #2 · answered by oklatom 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just the opposite. Overdrive is for highway driving with small or no loads. If you have a load or are towing something, overdrive should be locked out (NOT used).
2007-03-25 03:57:05 · answer #3 · answered by jomcgre3 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should never tow in overdrive...It reduces engine speed thus in turn reducing trans cooling capabilities..that is what burns up automatic transmissions HEAT....START here..
2007-03-25 03:57:11 · answer #4 · answered by GMGUY 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That 3.9 barely has enough oomph to haul itself down the highway. If you are hauling weight, push that button to cancel out the OD like mentioned already.
2007-03-25 04:49:02 · answer #5 · answered by done wrenching 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋