I have a 95 Ranger Ext. Cab with a 2.3L and 5 speed and 3.73 rear end . I was wondering if other people use overdrive with they are running 60 mph. I live in a kinda of hilly part of Virginia, and every once in a while, I have to shift out of Overdrive and into 4th. Should I just Run in 4th all the time or shift out of overdrive and into 4th(like I'm doing now) on hills?

 

Select a gear that doesn't bog the engine down, with a 4 banger OD is probable not good in the hills.

 

Forgive me for asking, but are we talking AUTO. or Manual Tranny? (I'm assuming you're talking manual?) I can relate to the dilema in that I have a 3.0 (V6) 4 spd, Auto. (3 w\ OD, 4th being OD) and I currently live in the mountains of VA. (Highland County). I can leave it in 4th (OD) most of the time through-out the Commonwealth, and I do until I get to the 1st 20 mph hair-pin turn, (coming from east to west - FROM the "hills" heading UP into the "mountains") then turn the OD off to climb the mountain. If I did happen to get up enough speed (as I occassionally did IN THE PAST!) for an automatic 'up-shift' from D to OD, it would be time for the automatic to start down-shifting again for the next hair-pin turn VERY soon, and it would just cause excessive shifts that I'd rather not put my trans. through. It's REAL easy to get speed enough going down the other side of the mountain for it to shift up again to 4th, but again, it's excessive shifting (wear & tear) as you're gonna have to slow to about 20 mph to make a turn soon, in addition, it helps the brakes last longer by using the lower gears to slow you more quickly (and more SAFELY!) I agree w\ Ken - you certainly don't want to bog down the motor, the little bit of fuel you might save is more than off-set by the extra heat you'll put on your engine (going up, and brakes going down), better to pay a little now - fuel - than ALOT later - engine & brake jobs!). I know the rolling hills of VA pretty well as I run back and forth quite a bit from the Staunton\Charlottesville to Stafford\Fredericksburg and No.VA areas and the 3.0 automatic is fine all along (though time I get into Fredsburg and north of that point I'm often leaving the OD OFF due to "stop&go" and "bumper to bumper" TRAFFIC! -D#$@%&*!F!!!) I'm even leavin' her in OD up and down Afton mountain, if you know that area (where I-64 crosses the Blue Ridge) but the 4 cylinder engine I would think would need 3rd gear more often - just don't tach the RPM's too high. My GENERAL rule of thumb is - if I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be over 40 - 45 mph for at least a couple, 3 or 4 miles I give her the OD. Hope you get more advice or suggestions along the same line - best of luck - Glenn . . .