Overdrive or not?
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New User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Overdrive or not?
Hey guys, I have a 2000 F250 SD with a V10 auto trans and hav'nt towed anything over 3000#. I just bought a boat that weighs around 7000# and I have to tow it 500 miles to get it home. Do I disengage the overdrive or not?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Only if you have money to burn. Disengaging OD is for when the trans is hunting. IOW, if it is at a certain speed where it keeps engaging and disengaging OD, you hit the button to disengage it. Otherwise, leave it alone. Without OD your RPMs go up and that means you burn more fuel.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 320
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From: Stacy, MN
I agree with aklim. I have a 2001 and haul a 8000# travel trailer and I always try and leave in OD. The only time I don't is when I'm towing in a really hilly area and it keeps downshifting repeatedly. Sometimes you need to find the sweetspot for speed and rpm to be in the spot to hold OD. Mine is about 62 mph.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
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From: Simpsonville, KY
Use the OD lockout if the transmission can't find a good gear to stay in. It will use SLIGHTLY more fuel, but not THAT much. The engine works harder in higher gears, so even though its using less RPM's its using more fuel "per RPM" than it would at a lower gear and higher RPM. The engine (V10) is MADE to run at high RPM's to tow with, it will do it well.
Besides, a few extra dollars in fuel is much cheaper than a new transmission, no?
Besides, a few extra dollars in fuel is much cheaper than a new transmission, no?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
Use the OD lockout if the transmission can't find a good gear to stay in. It will use SLIGHTLY more fuel, but not THAT much. The engine works harder in higher gears, so even though its using less RPM's its using more fuel "per RPM" than it would at a lower gear and higher RPM. The engine (V10) is MADE to run at high RPM's to tow with, it will do it well.
Besides, a few extra dollars in fuel is much cheaper than a new transmission, no?
Besides, a few extra dollars in fuel is much cheaper than a new transmission, no?
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thanks guys. You've confirmed my suspicions. I'm going to pick up the boat on the 14th. thanks for the help!!
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