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Overdrive Button ?!

   
Old Aug 8, 2003 | 09:46 AM
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Overdrive Button ?!
Can anybody give me an informative and inteligent explaination on how to "properly" use the overdrive button on F-Series with auto trans?


MDH
 
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Old Aug 8, 2003 | 11:10 AM
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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
The overdrive is a feature of the transmission to lower engine speed while driving at higher speeds; this is to improve the fuel economy of the vehicle. My practice is to turn the O/D off (which means the O/D light on the drive selector is ON) while driving around town. The idea here is to save the transmission from constantly cycling in and out of overdrive when you accelerate at in town driving speeds (Below 50 mph). On the hiway, dependent on your load, it's a good idea to turn the O/D ON (which means the O/D light on the drive selector is OFF) to get better fuel mileage and decrease the work on the motor. When driving in the mountains, I apply the same technique for driving in town; I turn the O/D off to keep from cycling the transmission.
If you have the owner's manual, the guidelines set forth are pretty useful for when/how to use overdrive.
Tom
Denver, CO
 
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Old Aug 8, 2003 | 01:17 PM
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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
 
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Old Aug 9, 2003 | 12:21 AM
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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
 
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Old Aug 9, 2003 | 06:27 PM
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Overdrive Button ?!
I think it only comes on after 50 MPH or so
 
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Old Aug 10, 2003 | 03:59 PM
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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.
 
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Old Aug 10, 2003 | 04:07 PM
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Overdrive Button ?!
I'll have to check that out
 
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Old Aug 10, 2003 | 09:54 PM
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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
 
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Old Aug 10, 2003 | 11:07 PM
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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
 
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Old Aug 11, 2003 | 05:57 AM
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Overdrive Button ?!
It was saying "don't mess with me"
 
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