Overdrive Button ?!
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Overdrive Button ?!
Originally posted by live2hunt
Can anybody give me an informative and inteligent explaination on how to "properly" use the overdrive button on F-Series with auto trans?
MDH
Can anybody give me an informative and inteligent explaination on how to "properly" use the overdrive button on F-Series with auto trans?
MDH
If you have the owner's manual, the guidelines set forth are pretty useful for when/how to use overdrive.
Tom
Denver, CO
New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Overdrive Button ?!
Why isnt the design to where its OFF when you first start up the truck...if the OD is for highway driving...then why have it ON at startup when most everybody has to drive through town to get to the highway... ??? just a thought really....
I love my SC F-150 I just got but I have always heard of the ford trannies being well quite a problem...I have to constantly remind my wife to make sure to turn the OD OFF if she takes the truck ...she only drives it around town ...I drive it on the highway and around town...I just wish they had made it where its OFF when you first crank up the truck, then I wouldnt have to go running outside in my shorts when she gets up before me and tries taking the truck that day...haha..sorry for the rambling
I love my SC F-150 I just got but I have always heard of the ford trannies being well quite a problem...I have to constantly remind my wife to make sure to turn the OD OFF if she takes the truck ...she only drives it around town ...I drive it on the highway and around town...I just wish they had made it where its OFF when you first crank up the truck, then I wouldnt have to go running outside in my shorts when she gets up before me and tries taking the truck that day...haha..sorry for the rambling
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,Ky.
Overdrive Button ?!
The off button is for towing and when you are in situations where you are constantly speeding up and slowing down, like in heavy traffic, to keep the tranny from kicking inand out of OD. This will help the tranny last longer.
Any other time, leave it on for better economy and longer engine life due to the lower rpm's
Jimmy
Any other time, leave it on for better economy and longer engine life due to the lower rpm's
Jimmy
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Hawaii
Overdrive Button ?!
When I'm driving along on a flat road at 30 MPH in cruise control and press the OD button, the rpm's raise by a hundred or so. This leads me to believe that the trans. shifts into OD even at slow speeds.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 9,303
Likes: 48
From: Lyndonville, Vermont
Trending Topics
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 22,436
Likes: 17
From: Louisville,Ky.
Overdrive Button ?!
It will if not under a load. This is to lock the torque converter to reduce heat and for greater economy. The computer will put the tranny into the highest possible gear for the conditions to keep the economy at it's best. It will not hurt anything unless it is constantly shifting in and out of OD due to traffic, then I would lock it out until traffic smoothed out and you can keep a more constant speed.
Jimmy
Jimmy
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!
Michael S. Palmer
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)
Joe Kucinski
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Overdrive Button ?!
I have another question...i was fooling with my OD button and all of a sudden it started blinkning at me and it quit working...after i killed the engine it was back to normal...it has worked fine ever since.....any ideas on what that is