I am a new f150 ower I have a 2004 5.4 I was wondering what is the over drive and what does it do? I have heard multiple things of what this is.
I was wondering if it is for towing or highway driving or what. Any help in this matter would be great thank you

 

overdrive is for your everyday driving. If you are going to tow, take it out of overdrive

 

Over drive is just a term for a gear that has a ratio of less than 1:1. The overdrive gear in your truck is .70:1 meaning that the crankshaft only has to make 7/10 of a rotation for every 1 rotation of the driveshaft. This lowers the engine rpms at cruising speed and helps with fuel mileage. Like was said above, just leave the overdrive on unless you are towing something. Towing with overdrive on can be hard on the transmission.

 

so while i am towing I should push the button and the o/d light will light up and that is what I want while i am towing for that light to be lit. when the lite is lit that means that o/d is off correct

 

yes


it electrically isolates the 4th gear (overdrive)...this protects the tranny, and puts the motor into the powerband...which makes it easier to tow

 

While I won't totally disagree with what has been said about towing and using OD, it should be noted that a person CAN tow in OD. Ford's modern transmissions are designed with towing in mind. The weight towed has a lot to do with it as does the terrain in which it is being towed.

To give a blanket statement that the OD should be locked out when towing is misleading. What if the guy is towing a 900lb utility trailer across the plains of Kansas?

The OD should be locked out if...

1. The transmission continually hunts between 3rd & 4th (to prevent overheating). Hunting is often described as multiple shifts up & down within a 1 mile distance. Slightly hilly areas can cause the tranny to hunt. Erratic and varying speeds can cause it to hunt.

2. You want additional engine braking going down hill.