When to use O/D?
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When to use O/D?
I just happened to come across a 2000 F150 XLT with only 4100 miles on it. I am really conserned when to use the overdrive and when not to? I do not tow anything, just regular road driving. I know that O/D is always engaged when the engine is started. Since I only drive and dont tow, do I need to always disengage the O/D? Or will I be OK just leaving it alone?
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From: Virginia
Hi F150Frenzy,
Welcome to F-150 Online!
Excellent question indeed, and it's not quite as simple an issue as we think of it sometimes.
Overdrive, which in these automatics is simply 4th gear, has in many ways spoiled us. We have grown to expect these big heavy trucks to be able to stay in Overdrive without downshifting when towing heavy loads and/or going up grades; something that isn't a reasonable expectation and won't happen often, due to the basic power-to-weight ratio, it's a heavy vehicle, so we just have to have reasonable expectations.
Some people don't like the fact that under light throttle, it will go into 4th gear at speeds as low as 35-40 mph, as it should, that's it's gas mileage strategy at work, making it upshift on light throttle as soon as it senses that it can do so without losing speed.
To directly answer your question, we generally suggest that you leave Overdrive off unless you're going to be driving at speeds consistently above 40 mph. Now of course you can just leave it on all the time if you like, that's what most people do. But to avoid unnecessary cycling between 3rd & 4th gear, I'd suggest leaving it off until you know your speed is not going to drop below about 40 mph or so very often, or you know that you won't be in a driving situation that will cause frequent downshifts into 3rd gear from Overdrive, so you have less downshifting, better throttle response & performance.
When towing, you generally want to go ahead and use Overdrive as long as the vehicle has the power to remain in Overdrive when cruising, like with lighter loads, or on flat terrain. Most people are usually towing at speeds above 40 mph, though there are of course exceptions. If you're speed is not consistently above 40 mph, then leave the Overdrive off when towing, certainly. When going over a series of grades (hills, mountains, etc.), when you know it's going to downshift, you can go ahead and leave the Overrdrive off until you crest the series of grades, again, to lessen the downshifting when towing loads.
The bottom line is that this is really up to *you*, and what makes you feel most comfortable, and gives you the desired performance & throttle response. If you are satisfied with all of that using Overdrive all the time, then fine, you can just leave it on, it's really up to you.
Years ago, with the early AOD transmissions, Ford used to recommend *never* using Overdrive when towing, as their early Overdrive automatics just couldn't take it and would fail with alarming regularity, but that has all changed, and is no longer a concern like it was. When towing, you can use Overdrive as long as it's not cycling between 3rd and 4th gears. It's that cycling between 3rd & 4th gears when there is a load being towed that really puts wear & tear, so to speak, on these modern trannys, so as long as it's not cycling between 3rd & 4th gear with any frequency, you can use Overdrive, even when towing.
I hope that info helps a bit,
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
Welcome to F-150 Online!
Excellent question indeed, and it's not quite as simple an issue as we think of it sometimes.
Overdrive, which in these automatics is simply 4th gear, has in many ways spoiled us. We have grown to expect these big heavy trucks to be able to stay in Overdrive without downshifting when towing heavy loads and/or going up grades; something that isn't a reasonable expectation and won't happen often, due to the basic power-to-weight ratio, it's a heavy vehicle, so we just have to have reasonable expectations.
Some people don't like the fact that under light throttle, it will go into 4th gear at speeds as low as 35-40 mph, as it should, that's it's gas mileage strategy at work, making it upshift on light throttle as soon as it senses that it can do so without losing speed.
To directly answer your question, we generally suggest that you leave Overdrive off unless you're going to be driving at speeds consistently above 40 mph. Now of course you can just leave it on all the time if you like, that's what most people do. But to avoid unnecessary cycling between 3rd & 4th gear, I'd suggest leaving it off until you know your speed is not going to drop below about 40 mph or so very often, or you know that you won't be in a driving situation that will cause frequent downshifts into 3rd gear from Overdrive, so you have less downshifting, better throttle response & performance.
When towing, you generally want to go ahead and use Overdrive as long as the vehicle has the power to remain in Overdrive when cruising, like with lighter loads, or on flat terrain. Most people are usually towing at speeds above 40 mph, though there are of course exceptions. If you're speed is not consistently above 40 mph, then leave the Overdrive off when towing, certainly. When going over a series of grades (hills, mountains, etc.), when you know it's going to downshift, you can go ahead and leave the Overrdrive off until you crest the series of grades, again, to lessen the downshifting when towing loads.
The bottom line is that this is really up to *you*, and what makes you feel most comfortable, and gives you the desired performance & throttle response. If you are satisfied with all of that using Overdrive all the time, then fine, you can just leave it on, it's really up to you.
Years ago, with the early AOD transmissions, Ford used to recommend *never* using Overdrive when towing, as their early Overdrive automatics just couldn't take it and would fail with alarming regularity, but that has all changed, and is no longer a concern like it was. When towing, you can use Overdrive as long as it's not cycling between 3rd and 4th gears. It's that cycling between 3rd & 4th gears when there is a load being towed that really puts wear & tear, so to speak, on these modern trannys, so as long as it's not cycling between 3rd & 4th gear with any frequency, you can use Overdrive, even when towing.
I hope that info helps a bit,
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Western Massachusetts
(OK, I tried, but Mike got in there before me. I'm glad though, because I would have been giving the wrong information. Thanks Mike. I too learned something here. Well this is what I thought
I'm pretty sure the reason the truck starts in the overdrive position is because thats the way it was designed to run. In the event that you are doing anything where power is needed more than efficiency the option is there to switch off the overdrive. I'd think that just driving it the way it is would be fine. Switch off the overdrive when you think you need the power.
Thats my opinion.
By the way, welcome to the boards. There is lots to learn here, and some fun to be had too!
Tom
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'98 F150 XLT,short bed, STX appearance group, 4.6, 5-speed.
Current mods: K&N air filter, cat back exhaust (Flowmaster 40 w/dual rear side exit), Superchip.
Future mods: short throw shifter, K&N FIPK, lowered suspension, other things seen here!
[This message has been edited by wittom (edited 05-31-2001).]
I'm pretty sure the reason the truck starts in the overdrive position is because thats the way it was designed to run. In the event that you are doing anything where power is needed more than efficiency the option is there to switch off the overdrive. I'd think that just driving it the way it is would be fine. Switch off the overdrive when you think you need the power.
Thats my opinion.
By the way, welcome to the boards. There is lots to learn here, and some fun to be had too!
Tom
------------------
'98 F150 XLT,short bed, STX appearance group, 4.6, 5-speed.
Current mods: K&N air filter, cat back exhaust (Flowmaster 40 w/dual rear side exit), Superchip.
Future mods: short throw shifter, K&N FIPK, lowered suspension, other things seen here!
[This message has been edited by wittom (edited 05-31-2001).]
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"Helped out a BIT?" Try, "you've awnsered all my questions." I would like to thank you very much for all the usefull information. I never knew one could learn this much outside of the owners manual ;-) Again thanks!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
HI F150Frenzy,
Good, I'm glad that helped, as that is really what this web site is all about, the exchange of useful information. No matter who you are here, from an engineer to an ironworker (and we have everything from those 2 extremes and everything in between here on F-150 Online), we can all learn a lot more about these vehicles here. Much of it is information that no owner's manual or dealership will ever tell you.
Have fun, & we hope you'll hang out here with us in your spare time!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
Good, I'm glad that helped, as that is really what this web site is all about, the exchange of useful information. No matter who you are here, from an engineer to an ironworker (and we have everything from those 2 extremes and everything in between here on F-150 Online), we can all learn a lot more about these vehicles here. Much of it is information that no owner's manual or dealership will ever tell you.
Have fun, & we hope you'll hang out here with us in your spare time!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
Suspended For Violation of Vendor Rules
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From: Humble, Texas
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Superchips_Distributor:
No matter who you are here, from an engineer to an ironworker </font>
No matter who you are here, from an engineer to an ironworker </font>
HEY!... Don't forget Mr. Toys R' Us employee here
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Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hey Talleywhacker,
Or as a friend of mine & I who love to shop at Toys R'Us call it, "We be Toys".
Nope, we can't forget anyone, you're right!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
Or as a friend of mine & I who love to shop at Toys R'Us call it, "We be Toys".
Nope, we can't forget anyone, you're right!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer