Drive or Overdrive??

[93liftedXLT]

i am getting mxed opions on wether or not to drive in DRIVE, or drive in OVERDRIVE around town below 50 mph

i thought it was DRIVE below 50mph and OVERDRIVE above 50mph,

can some one correct me if i am wrong, thanks

 

[93liftedXLT]

10 Views and no replys......

 

[osker75]

just drive...

 

[96limitedX]

i allways have it in drive unless im on the highway doing 65MPH.

 

[prozachappy]

Are we talking about a manny or auto trans
I'm guessing auto, cause in my manny anything unda 65 would be to low of RPM's for 5th.
In an auto the OD is always on unless towing.

 

[bwhited]

When electroinc overdrive first came out they were very unreliable.
In an atempt to make the trans last longer it was a widely held belief that only using drive would make the trans last longer.
Did it work? Not really sure.
My theory in this is the trans is designed to be put into OD and driven.
Unless there is a very compelling reason then just leave it in OD and be happy.

 

[93liftedXLT]

its a automatic, i would think D , would be for driving around town, and OD, would be towing or freeway, i am confused

 

[greenbeer]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128070

 

[cdwright]

its a automatic, i would think D , would be for driving around town, and OD, would be towing or freeway, i am confused

I hope this helps....

When you are in Overdrive your transmission (automaticly) acts according to your driving speed or (RPM's). Actually, there is no diffrence between drive and overdrive on this level.

However, if you run your car in Drive it will not automaticly shift to overdrive at higher speeds, which allows your cars to run more efficiently and conserve gas mileage.

I keep my truck in overdrive....and oh, by the way...this information is even in your manual if you still have access to it.

Now as for towing? That all depends...Your truck has what's called a peak torque performance. It's designed to tow at around 2,000 rpms so even if your in overdrive, your car will adjust automaticly depending on the RPM's. You don't want to tow at anything higher anyway to be honest but if you do, your covered if your in OD. You'll be fine if you keep your car in overdrive because again, it will adjust but I would just keep in mind that peak torque is around 2k RPM on most of fords trucks.

If you are towing in town you should use drive because of the superior engine breaking. If you live in an area that has a lot of hills, definitely consider your 2nd and/or 1st gears for supreme engine breaking capability. What your towing factors here too.

Again, hope that helped.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Good information cdwright

 

[Brandons]

I would even tow in overdrive, id rather swap transmissions then engines hehe.

 

[cdwright]

I would even tow in overdrive, id rather swap transmissions then engines hehe.

I agree with this comment....it's safer to just tow in overdrive.

 

[falls guy]

I personaly, under the advice of a tranny mech. friend, drive in D unless I'm going 55 or over. Otherwise alot of times it will go into OD way too soon thus causing too much stress on the engine. It has to work too hard. The clutches in the tranni will want to slip trying to pull the truck along at too slow of a speed. Especially on inclines or towing. The lower the RPM the lower the tranni line pressure pushing your clutches together. Thats the way he explained it to me anyway. Makes sense to me. :smoke:

 

[cdwright]

I personaly, under the advice of a tranny mech. friend, drive in D unless I'm going 55 or over. Otherwise alot of times it will go into OD way too soon thus causing too much stress on the engine. It has to work too hard. The clutches in the tranni will want to slip trying to pull the truck along at too slow of a speed. Especially on inclines or towing. The lower the RPM the lower the tranni line pressure pushing your clutches together. Thats the way he explained it to me anyway. Makes sense to me. :smoke:

Okay, he must be referring to in town towing I imagine? I am thinking he is...if not, a properly running tranny should adjust properly. It's designed to automaticly shift in overdrive triggered by various gear shift mechanisms related to the speed of your vehicle. The only time it will shift prematurely in overdrive is if it isn't working properly. Maybe a tranny tech will see this and speak in more detail to this theory of shifting in overdrive early...I am not sure that I have experienced this. I haven't driven my truck in drive ever and never experienced any tranny problems. I don't even flush the fluid on schedule...but still lucky knock on wood.

 

[falls guy]

This is always a good debate! LOL

Okay, he must be referring to in town towing I imagine? I am thinking he is...if not, a properly running tranny should adjust properly. It's designed to automaticly shift in overdrive triggered by various gear shift mechanisms related to the speed of your vehicle. The only time it will shift prematurely in overdrive is if it isn't working properly. Maybe a tranny tech will see this and speak in more detail to this theory of shifting in overdrive early...I am not sure that I have experienced this. I haven't driven my truck in drive ever and never experienced any tranny problems. I don't even flush the fluid on schedule...but still lucky knock on wood.

It's not that it shifts too early but rather if it shifts when it is designed to, on a steep hill or with a laod(trailer)etc, the engine has to work too hard. Also the 1991 Explorer owner's guide on page 150 says, and I quote, "When towing a trailer with a vehicle equiped with an A4LD transmission,operate in Drive rather than Overdrive. This will eliminate excessive downshifting and upshifting to maintaine speed" I can't find it now but I read somewhere else in one of my manuals to leave it in drive when in stop and go traffic.
To each there own I guess.

Peace

 

[JohnnyO]

Depends what the terrain is like. If where you live is pretty flat I'd say leave it in OD. Where I live is pretty hilly so I often shift out of OD in town to save on the brakes.

 

[cdwright]

Depends what the terrain is like. If where you live is pretty flat I'd say leave it in OD. Where I live is pretty hilly so I often shift out of OD in town to save on the brakes.

Good Point! I live in atlanta...which is really flat...but if I lived in Tallahassee or something, you probably don't want to keep it in OD.