2007-10-01 15:33:59 · 7 answers · asked by bniceb1 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Vehicles with overdrive, especially the newer ones, are designed to run in overdrive all the time, city or highway driving. The transmissions are computer controlled and will take care of the shifting as needed. The only time you need to put it into drive instead of overdrive is if you are towing something or have the vehicle heavily loaded and climbing hills and the car is shifting in & out of overdrive repeatedly as it tries to maintain speed, this can damage the transmission. Otherwise just put it in overdrive and don't worry about it, the manufacturer designed it just that way. You can find this listed in any vehicle operators manual, check yours or any of your friends' manuals if you don't have yours available.
Have fun.
2007-10-01 16:33:18 · answer #1 · answered by Denver Al 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Depends on if the vehicle is new or old, manual or automatic.
Older or new manual transmissions are best only used in overdrive at higher speeds and not pulling any heavy loads. Lugging the engine at low RPM's is hard on the engine parts. Kind of like you trying to go uphill on a 10 speed bicycle in 10th gear. You would have to push really hard on the pedals and it is the same for an engine.
Now if it is an older automatic transmission it is mostly controlled by hydraulics and you have the option of moving the lever into the overdrive or simply using the lower gears. Some of them even showed a P R D 3 2 1 on the dash and D was fine for most driving except hilly country where it would shift up and down a lot. Best to use 3 in that situation.
The newer O/D transmissions are controlled by a combination of electronics that read everything from engine temperature and throttle position to the temperature of the outside air and the vacuum in the intake manifold. They will not usually allow overdrive if the engine is pulling too hard but in hilly country they might shift up and down quite a bit always "hunting" for the best fuel mileage. If you are towing a trailer or even facing a stiff headwind in hilly country you might do your transmission a favor by shifting it out of overdrive. The engine will run a bit faster but it won't have to work as hard and the transmission will stay in one gear.
Now, out on the open road, on fairly level ground you should let the transmission on a newer car shift to the highest gear possible for the best fuel mileage.
2007-10-01 16:54:20 · answer #2 · answered by Harley Charley 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I recommend that people drive it in drive at speeds under 40 to save the trans form stress and slipping to much and use overdrive on the highway .. some cars have an overdrive off button and it works well for holding the car back when going down a long hill and speeds under 55
2007-10-01 15:41:33 · answer #3 · answered by twandrews mechanic 20 years 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
this is a four speed automatic? if it is overdrive all the time but when towing or anything to that effect you want it in drive
2007-10-01 15:40:52 · answer #4 · answered by buckethead 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In hwy speeds under no heavy loads. Most modern cars are "smart" enough to do it for you.
But if is a manual and you are towing something, is not recommended.
Read the Owner's Manual for more info.
2007-10-01 15:38:43 · answer #5 · answered by spammer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I leave my o/d on all the time. It doesn't kick in till about 50 mph. On the highway, if there are hills to climb, turn it off so it is not constsntly shifting. When hills are gone turn it on.
2007-10-01 15:43:33 · answer #6 · answered by tronary 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
overdrive is for traveling on a road like interstate 95 or the nys thruway. for local driving you should use just drive
2007-10-01 15:38:47 · answer #7 · answered by hermitofnorthdome 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋