Over drive or not?
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New User
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: So Cal
Over drive or not?
Just got ourselves a 2001 F350 Lariet 4x4 crewcab 7.3 turbo.....blah, blah.
We are moving up from an F150.
Both w/auto transmission.
I was always told, when towing, to always disengage the auto-overdrive
on my old F150. Does this hold true for the F350 as well?
I'm doing my first trip tomorrow up into the high desert and the sierras.
and I need to know.
Thanks
We are moving up from an F150.
Both w/auto transmission.
I was always told, when towing, to always disengage the auto-overdrive
on my old F150. Does this hold true for the F350 as well?
I'm doing my first trip tomorrow up into the high desert and the sierras.
and I need to know.
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,097
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No need to shift out of overdrive unless it keeps hunting for the right gear or you are going up and down hills. I used to drive with overdrive on in my 150 when I towed my boat. Owners manual stated to leave it on except for the conditions I stated above.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 4
From: Western NC
A wise man told me to lock out the OD at speeds under about 60 MPH. I used this method and am totally happy with it. I was worried that my 4.10 gear would turn too many RPMs, and it would if I stayed out of OD at 70 MPH. I just lock it out until I get her wound out to about 60, and it works just great. Most definitely you need to be out of OD before your truck's tranny starts searching for a lower gear as you are slowing down. Just remember that extra heat will be generated in your tranny if you don't and heat is the death of a transmission.........
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 327
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From: Columbia, MO
G-Bone, if you are towing the same trailer that you were towing with your 150, I agree with Kingfish, as long as the tranny isn't "hunting" leave it in OD. My '96 F-250 had 3.55's and when I sold it it had about 190,000 mi and no problems. 120,000 mi or so of the 190K was pulling a 5-W. Does your F-350 have 4.10 rear dif? How many mi on your F-350? If you haven't had the tranny serviced or if you don't know when it was last serviced you should have it serviced, compete fluid change. About the only time I would lock out OD would be on long grades of maybe 5% and above. But usually if I hold the fuel feed down the tranny is pretty good at staying in gear without "hunting". Have fun camping. 
Last edited by bocomojoe; Aug 25, 2005 at 11:48 PM.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
I asked at the tranny shop last spring when I had my AOD rebuilt, and was told as long as it was pulling in OD and not shifting in & out that towing in OD was OK.
John
John
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
To throw my two cents in...
The reason that some people recommend it is that when towing a load some vehicles hunt between gears. If the driver lets it happen for too long, it will burn up the tranny very quickly. To cover their behinds, manufacturers have always said lock it out of OD when towing.
The reality, of course, is that you have to use common sense and good judgment. As long as your tranny is not hunting back and forth, using overdrive is fine. It will not harm the tranny at all.
The reason that some people recommend it is that when towing a load some vehicles hunt between gears. If the driver lets it happen for too long, it will burn up the tranny very quickly. To cover their behinds, manufacturers have always said lock it out of OD when towing.
The reality, of course, is that you have to use common sense and good judgment. As long as your tranny is not hunting back and forth, using overdrive is fine. It will not harm the tranny at all.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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Originally Posted by andym
To cover their behinds, manufacturers have always said lock it out of OD when towing.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 29
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I just traded in your exact truck and i hauled a very heavy 38' horse trailer. I did what every one else suggested. I took it out of OD only if it was gear hunting or i knew conditions were such that it soon would be.
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