O/D on or off?

[35Remmy]

I ALWAYS take OD OFF when driving around town (LESS than 45MPH) My 5R55E loves to drop into OD constantly, and I hate that chugging feeling. Like a 5 speed manual doing 35MPH in 4th gear.

Besides, the transmission is shifting MUCH LESS...which means LESS wear on the tranny. Below 45MPH my RPM's are at maybe 2,600RPMS.

There's NOTHING wrong with this...it will hurt NOTHING...as everyone else has stated, though, do NOT do this running 70MPH down the highway.

 

[patman]

the second i start my car, once all the dash lights go out i turn my overdrive off, because i drive in town mostly and the overdrive doesn't kick in until i hit 50 mph so unless i know i'm going to be doing over 50 mph i turn it off

 

[sgtwaddy]

has anyone had the problem of the O/D light flasing after about an hour of driving. After an hour or so my O/D light starts flashing and I havent been able to pin point the problem at all.

 

[Joe Dirt]

sgtwaddy- welcome to the forum. Start here:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210969&highlight=flashing+light

Then search for "flashing OD light" and read lots more... You're having tranny issues. You should go to a place like Autozone and have your codes read so we can help more.

 

[Dylansav]

so is it better for the tranny as a whole to drive with OD off when not on the HW? I really want to preserve my transmission and if that will help out, that just one more thing.

 

[Brandon@BTF-fab]

so is it better for the tranny as a whole to drive with OD off when not on the HW? I really want to preserve my transmission and if that will help out, that just one more thing.

I believe it's better for the trans to operate in drive (od off) while not on the hwy. Less shifting between 3rd/4th all the time means less heat on the trans, and even helps keep your brakes alive longer because of engine braking effect is better in the lower (3rd) gear. I am in the habit of pulling the trans into 3rd as soon as I get on the offramp.

also, transmissions generally don't like high load/low speed situations where the tq. convertor is slipping...that gets them hot. Higher rpms allow the tq. convertor to lockup and reduce heat.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I pretty much agree with -NOD- as I usually kick the OD off in the city, rather than have the OD drop in and out the 45-50 MPH zones. The brakes argument is a bit of a stretch though... I've never been a fan of engine braking in cars.