When to use 'OD' or 'D'
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 9
From: USA
For the way you described how you use the truck, OD is fine. If you live in an area where there are alot of hills, you would be better off driving it without overdrive to save on brakes and transmission wear/heating from shifting back and forth. If you are pulling a long grade and the transmission starts 'hunting' between 3rd and OD, lock it out of OD. Otherwise OD is fine 
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Platteville, WI
OD is only useful at highway speeds. Whether you have it in D or OD in town is irrelevant—since OD will not kick in until you go through all the gears.
DesertRider is correct, any area with hills or when towing is the only time you really need to lock out the OD.
DesertRider is correct, any area with hills or when towing is the only time you really need to lock out the OD.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
As for towing, it depends on which tranny you have. If you have an AOD and are towing more than about 2000lbs, stay in D (I think my F150 says OD up to 50% of tow rating). The E4OD tows much better in OD (than the AOD) for all but the very heaviest of loads, but I don't recall what the manual recommends.
Jason
Jason
