Feel free to call me stupid for this but the L is my first automatic...
Daily driving Im always in D. I realize that in theory I could manually run through 1, 2, and D. And from what Ive heard, switching off OD is for towing. So...am I doing everything right? And if I switch OD off Im going to get a gearing change? Because damn, when I do...she boots! =D
Im an absolute auto n00b I know...

 

Don't wast your time manually doing anything with an automatic.

The tranny is a 4 speed. OverDrive being that 4th speed. When you click OD off, you basically tell the trans to NOT shift into 4th gear. This keeps the truck in 3rd gear while you cruize... giving you a 1:1 gear change between the trans and the rear end. The lower gears give you torque multiplication and 4th (OD) will give you torque reduction. OD is for cruizing at high speeds and saving your engine from turning at 4000RPM while going down the highway.

I will usually turn my OD off while cruizing around town.. speeds below 45MPH. It's more fun to drive that way... it lets you get into the boost easier.

EDIT: You're stupid too! (You told me I could) J/k

 

Cool thats exactly what I thought, but someone told me not to cruise around (-45mph) with OD off cuz its hard on your tranny. So...guess OD is goin off! Ive noticed better blower response the few times Ive had it off, whereas it takes a moment to blow with OD on, especially on the highway where I drop the hammer and it acts like its dropping a gear

 

It might be. I'm not a tranny expert. But they also say to turn OD off on the highway if your towing and going over alot of hills (times where the tranny wants to switch from 4th to 3rd and back and forth).

That's because it is. If your cruizing down the highway with OD ON and you mash the pedal to the floor, the trans will shift into 3rd gear. What I have heard though from ALOT of people is that it's hard on an automatic trans to shift into OD under wide open throttle.

 

Also hard on it to be cruising in OD and mash the throttle, forcing an OD-to-2nd gear change. Should hit the OD button to take it out of OD (manually shift it to 3rd) then nail it....

 

Gotcha.
And what do you recommend for the track?

 

Turn OD off.

Lower your tire pressure

around 1/4 tank of gas.

Have fun.

 

OD off...if this thing is hitting the quarter at 100+ then what about the lack of 4th, wont I be tacking the **** out of her?!?

 

i think i remember that Gregg said that turning the OD off at the track does nothing because under load for the 1/4 mile the truck will not shift past 3rd by the time you get to the end. I think he said it is just unnecessary stress on the motor and pointless at the track. although i always turn it off if i am lining up next to someone.

 

True.

You won't hit 4th at the track.. but when your slowing down at the end, the truck will hit 4th and be easier on the engine/trans... Good Call.

 

Nope Third gear is good way past 100.

Roach

 

There's an additional school of thought from another well known tranny builder and several popular tuners that claim that turning off the OD @ the track is beneficial. I don't recall the exact details but it had something to do with the converter being able to lock up as I recall. Maybe somebody else with a better knowledge of this will chime in and better explain.



Roach

 

Well just as an update Ive been playing around town with OD off and I get a noticeable difference performance-wise. Definately more responsive and get more out of the gears. So like a previous poster said, I save it for lining up =D
But I will finally have the L at the track the 19th so we'll see how it goes!