To overdrive or not to overdrive

[Marcus Merritt]

1994 F150; 6 cyl; automatic; 143k miles... I use my truck without a heavy load in the back most of the time and drive in town and on the road. Occasionally load it up with a half ton + of lumber, wood, gravel, etc. but not often. On a daily basis should I have the Overdrive on or off? What's the advantage to each? Thanks.

 

[O'Rattlecan]

The overdrive's advantage is obviously fuel economy. If you are driving around with no load, I wouldn't worry about it.

I'd shut overdrive off if I was hauling a heavy load and found my transmission constantly hunting between 3rd and OD. The idea is to minimize transmission wear.

Ryan

 

[DZG]

Running O/D with a big load also causes excessive heat. Heat=death for auto trannys.

 

[polarbear]

93 F150 4X4, 5.0, 4EOD. 232,000 miles when sold.
95 F150 4X4, 5.0, 4EOD. 274,000 miles.
'01 Grand Marquis. 207,000 miles.

ALL of them had/have the original transmissions. The trucks haven't been used gently. I never drive with O/D enabled unless I'm consistently going over 55-60 mph. Go to "OD off" on long climbs, or any situation where the transmission starts to "hunt" for a gear.

This isn't true of the newer Automatics. Newer 4/6 spd. Auto's get slapped in "D," and always seem to know what gear to be in.