When you drive around town, do you put it in D or OD??

I put it in OD

D will yield the best mileage in town but is a pain to use.

Originally posted by aldive
D will yield the best mileage in town but is a pain to use.
I agree. I wish there was a way to make the truck start in D instead of OD.

Mine just had OD 2 1. it possible to put in in D? I know my Bros 93 has OD D 2 1.

I leave it in OD and use the button if I need to slow down a little.

Originally posted by Digger196
Mine just had OD 2 1. it possible to put in in D? I know my Bros 93 has OD D 2 1.
Just push the button on the column.....

Oh thanks. Didn't know that.

My Explorer has the 5 speed but when I'm driving a car with automatic I put it in D around town.

Carl :us:

D for good reason. My A4LD likes to go into OD WAY too early, like 1200 RPM and 32 MPH, so until I get that fixed (adjusted some more) it's D unless I'm on the highway. Also your OD tranny will last longer in D simply because the A4LD has a weak overdrive unit (see my other post..)

Yeah.. i usually leave it in OD too... force of habit

D always in town then OD on the highway:D

It depend's...

if I'm cruisin around town look'n at "T" I use "D"
if I'm haulin "A" on the highway I use "OD"
:D :D :D

D for around town. On my trucks the trans will hunt between D and OD if I leave them in OD and never get over 45. Normally I put it in OD when I get upto around 55 or when I first get on the freeway.

Living in the mountians means that I use OD going down to the to the city, and D on the way up back up to Big Bear.

But really around town and out on the freeway I leave the tranny in OD. again unless climbing a grade etc...

I don't believe the tranny will reach speeds where OD would kick in with the stop and go of town or city driving.

I could be wrong, if I am let me know

I know what happens to the tranny when it is left in OD around town, so I put it in D. It is really bad for the overdrive band and drum to lugg it and put a lot of torque through it like when driven around at lower speeds. It wasn't designed for that purpose.

I would have to say I agree with most people by sayying D under 45 and OD if I am going over 45 or on Highway, but I have seen No change in gas mileage on either, if you drive sane!

I always use OD, unless I am climbing a hill doing over 65 KPH, or pullling a trailer.

i usually stay in D around town. 2 chamber flow with dump is really lowd at 40-45 mph in OD.

I'm in D with anything under 60. So most of the Time its in D. Less shifting in and out since its hilly around here, and I get better milage.

Around town, I always use D unless I go over 40 mph. On the freeway, I accelerate up to about 70 mph and then kick it down in OD, acceleration is just so much better when you're in D.
Greg

I was thought to leave it on OD and forget about it. :p

I mostly put mine in D, because its hilly and it kicks in an out to much. Now if i'm on the highway thats a diff. story then i use OD but mostly D around town.

When driving in hilly, up-down terrain, or long down grades.

Mine is slightly different to yours (floor shift). Is says D but you can press a button to turn off the OD. Under normal driving my book says leave it in D without pressing the button. So effectively thats like your OD position.

Originally posted by Howard
Mine is slightly different to yours (floor shift). Is says D but you can press a button to turn off the OD. Under normal driving my book says leave it in D without pressing the button. So effectively thats like your OD position.

The '95 and up ones are setup the same(but different) way. We have D and on the end of the shifter is a button for turning OD on and off

I use OD until I think it is hunting in and out of OD too much. I also think you should be able to start in D.

My truck feels much more responsive when in D. I usually just leave it in OD but I don't do a whole lot of highway driving, so I might try to switch it over more.

Well crap, does it make a difference? When I went to the track I was so excited that I forgot to take it out of OD and leave it in D. Would that have contributed to my slower time, best of 16.4?

Your ET would have been better in D.

That is what I thought, BLESS AMERICA! Thanks Al. I will have to get over there for test&tune night and try it again in D

I wish it would just remember what it was(D/OD) when you turn it on. I do 99% in D and I sometimes forget to turn OD off.

I am with the rest of the first gen'ers, D unless I can do a stedy 55 or more.

i use od all the time. just because it a habbit. it seems to do pretty good but it does shift to od to soon.

D for city driving, OD for highway driving

why bother using D in town?? it never shifts into OD anyway when your in town. How come with an a4ld, if you count the shifts there are 4 shifts?? and if you leave it in D you only get 2 shifts. so leaving it in D is like dropping down 2 gears. beacause i think the 4th shift is the torque comverter locking.

The 4R55E in my XLT seems to shift into OD at around 45 mph and 1300 rpm. Does not seem like a problem until you step on the gas a little more, and then it goes to D and then back to OD. Seems like a lot of shifting for nothing! I try to drive in D around town, and OD on the hiway. My trans blew at 101k - now have 107k on the truck. This trans has 4 forward gears, and a lockup converter, right? BTW, my converter will lock in D or OD.

I've replaced my transmission at 70,000mi. Always left it in OD. This time around I'm going to be more selective and only use OD hughway speeds. But, does anyone know what Ford recommends?

Yes, I know I probably should use D in town but, I did an experiment, I actually got better in OD in town than D in town. It may have something to do with my 3.73's. I haven't had my 32's long enough to experiment with them.

I have a 5 speed, so I can't put mine into OD unless I am on the highway

I always throw it in OD... unlike you guys... my torque converter doesnt lock until about 42. or so. Then it hits 4th around 50. If im still on the accel. I wish mine would kick in sooner. After the factory A4LD blew out at 46k (what a joke) the tranny guy told us to run around town in D... but OD on the highway for gas mileage..

Shane

I voted D, but that is because all my vehicles are 5-speed Manuals, no OD.

In most manuals the top gear is the overdriven gear.

Drive, uses less gas

Drive doesn't use less gas uinless the transmission is continually shifting in and out of OD.

is there maybe a way for sumone who has connections to ask FORD this question and what is best for in town and then highway and overall the biggest problem i have is What has the best gas mileage?

For slower speed, or in town driving you want to be in Drive. You can, for the most part, just leave it in OD unless it is shifting up and down too much.

i've heard that its better for the tranny when traveling in town,

i always remember to switch it into od as soon as i hit the highway

In most manuals the top gear is the overdriven gear.
Many manuals are labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, OD, R

Mine is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, R

That is why I said I don't have OD, but it's all semantics anyway.

Actually, it has nothing to do with semantics. Overdrive is any gear that has a greater ratio than 1:1.

Actually, it has nothing to do with semantics. Overdrive is any gear that has a greater ratio than 1:1.

Well, I stand corrected, but I drive in whichever gear most fits the speed I'm going

Around town keep it in Drive, better response. Highway, looking for gas mileage put it in OD.

uh..... mine doesn't have D or OD...... it just has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and R. and I use all of them in city driving..........city driving makes my left leg sore too. But I love the stick and will never ever own a auto. :D