Overdrive Button

[blaindsmith]

for all those automatic people. yes unfortunately i have an automatic. i use that overdrive button on the shifter only when i am on the highway. is this a good thing. maybe i am just being stupid and not totally comprehending the reason for that button. cause that light is pretty annoying to see on all the time when overdrive is off when i am driving off the highway. any info at all out this would be great. thanks.

 

[91 NT Eclipse]

Dude, only turn the OD off when you're racing. It isn't good to rev your engine all the time b/c the OD is off. Do yourself a favor and leave it on all the time, unless you're racing.

 

[Sickinger]

Originally posted by 91 NT Eclipse
Dude, only turn the OD off when you're racing. It isn't good to rev your engine all the time b/c the OD is off. Do yourself a favor and leave it on all the time, unless you're racing.

Why is it that you leave the OD off while racing. I am new to this and honestly don't know, so any info would be appreciated.

 

[silvereclipse]

The overdrive slightly changes your gearing which makes you car slower but overdrive gives you better MPG. Any one correct me if im wrong though.

 

[thehyena]

Originally posted by silvereclipse
The overdrive slightly changes your gearing which makes you car slower but overdrive gives you better MPG. Any one correct me if im wrong though.

OD changes your gearing making your car shift at lower rpm's. When racing you should shift like this in an auto(turn OD off before race) D1, D2, D then turn on your overdrive. but other than on steep hills you should leave your OD on for daily driving

 

[blaindsmith]

thanks guys for clearing up the confusion

 

[thehyena]

Originally posted by blaindsmith
thanks guys for clearing up the confusion

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by silvereclipse
The overdrive slightly changes your gearing which makes you car slower but overdrive gives you better MPG.

Well, it doesn't really change the _gearing_, that stuff's all set up with bits of steel and iron and the like, and it takes a bit more than a pushbutton to move it around. What it changes is your shift points, primarily how high it runs the engine (transmission oil pump/pressures) before the box shifts. Kinda like changing the gearing. Well, exactly the same, other than where it's different. Just like everything else.

 

[thehyena]

Originally posted by Defiant
Well, it doesn't really change the _gearing_, that stuff's all set up with bits of steel and iron and the like, and it takes a bit more than a pushbutton to move it around. What it changes is your shift points, primarily how high it runs the engine (transmission oil pump/pressures) before the box shifts. Kinda like changing the gearing. Well, exactly the same, other than where it's different. Just like everything else.

i am now so confused i don't know where i parked my car

 

[mavisky]

basically what he's saying is that by pressing the overdrive it puts your transmission into an "economy" mode and lets it engage the 4th and final "overdrive" gear when cruising to keep the rpms extra low.

 

[Bigpav7]

i was told that u have to leave ur OD off around the city.. this way there is less wear on it and we all know how often the dam thing gets messed up!

 

[thehyena]

Originally posted by mavisky
basically what he's saying is that by pressing the overdrive it puts your transmission into an "economy" mode and lets it engage the 4th and final "overdrive" gear when cruising to keep the rpms extra low.

i have a power/economy button too

 

[nutshot]

Overdrive equipped automatics do indeed have an extra gear. The OD button is designed to give drivers the option of finding the right gear (while climbing a long hill many auto's will hunt between gears, with OD off the tranny stays in the lower gear and does not hunt). Many older folks believe the OD gear is weaker than the rest, which is false. You can drive through town with OD on, regardless of speed (in the same sense, you do not need to keep the tranny in first gear simply because you are going 10 mph).