I recently bought a used for explorer and am wondering what the overdrive is for? Is it better to keep it on or off? what is better for the engine and how do i get better gas mileage?
2007-07-19 09:58:21 · 7 answers · asked by jiod i 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
so keep it on all the times, but turn it off when I go up hills?
2007-07-19 10:17:53 · update #1
Better mileage with Overdrive On
More power with overdrive off.
Basically overdrive is a high gear, and for maximum fuel efficiency in the city you want to keep overdrive on. If you want to quickly pass someone on the freeway and you want full control, you can turn overdrive off to give you a boost of power (though you typically get the same results when you simply stomp down on the accelerator).
2007-07-19 10:01:27 · answer #1 · answered by hsueh010 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The normal driving position is to leave the overdrive on. You only need to turn it off if you are towing something heavy. This will give you the best gas mileage that you can get. It will shift into overdrive when appropriate and out when you need the extra power. good luck.
2007-07-19 17:02:58 · answer #2 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Overdrive is an additional gearing beyond the last gear in the transmission. It functions in all gears and lowers the power to the wheels thus giving you better gas mileage so leave it on most of the time.
When you need pulling power, turn it off. Then when you are done, turn it back on.
2007-07-19 17:08:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Over drive on an automatic is to increas e engine proficience at highway speeds. Its like having an extra gear the car can go into to increase economy.
as people have said if you are towing anything dont use ver drive it puts too much stress on the overdrive gears.
When you go up hill the car uses lower gears for the hight torque needed.. hence your engine revs increase.
If you live in very hill or mountainous areas dont use overdrive. you want more engine power torque to get up those hills ..
2007-07-19 17:09:55 · answer #4 · answered by tony b 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Overdrive is basically a higher gear for highway use to save on gas, but you can leave it on all the time and it won't hurt anything.
2007-07-19 17:03:40 · answer #5 · answered by Handyman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep it on at all times. Better for the engine and much better for gas mileage.
2007-07-19 17:04:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Going up hills!
2007-07-19 17:04:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋