Overdrive
Overdrive
This may seem like an obvious question, but I've received so many different answers. I've always wondered when to drive in overdrive and when not to. I've been told always drive in O/D....never to drive in O/D...and to drive in O/D only on the highway by various folks. It seems that driving in O/D all the time would be ok since it seems to save gas, however, that doesn't seem right since you have the option of turning overdrive off. What exactly happens in O/D and when is it good/ not good?
I've never actually tested it, but everything I've ever read or been told says to use over-drive when you are on the highway, and turn it off when you are only in city traffic. I've been told that it will actually use more gas when its active in city traffic, then when its off. But, as I said, I can't confirm that personally.
I believe overdrive is 1:1 ratio, which means the motor doesn't rev as high and saves wear and tear on the rotating assy, which as Droll said would save on gas mileage on the hwy. In city driving I wouldn't think it would make a difference either way if it was stop and go driving. If alot of passing was happening it would probably be better to turn overdrive off, to keep it from going from drive to overdrive, and to keep the motor in the powerband.
The botton is there so when you are climbing a grade you can turn it of so it does not continuosly shift back and forth between overdrive and drive. unless you dont live anywhere close to a 6% incline you know what I am reffering to. do any of you still have your owners manual? pop it open it has a paragraph or 2 on the operation of that switch and its intended uses. That was only one of them.