A lot of you guys say that driving in speeds of excess of 40MPH turning overdrive on is ideal. Granted this allows an automatic transmission to go into 4th gear. But my question is going say 65MPH the car runs at around 3000RPMS is this normal? Having overdrive off puts the car in 1500RPMS? What's ideal for best fuel mileage, what's good for the transmission/engine?

 

Leave your OD on (default) unless your in heavy city traffic. You'll get the best mileage that way.

 

So why do 9 out of 10 people say drive with OVERDRIVE OFF in speeds of 45MPH+...?

 

I've never heard anyone say that. The RPM's in 3rd gear at 75 mph are too high to be good for gas mileage or carbonization of internals.

 

Some information of how many people recommend it on this thread, so if what you say is correct then when should I turn off overdrive?

HERES THE THREAD:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ight=overdrive

 

You should turn overdrive off in stop and go traffic. This prevents the transmission from constantly switching back and forth between gears trying to "find" a good gear to go into.

 

Ok so then the opposite of what people have been saying is ture? Turn OD OFF in stop and go traffic (90% of the time I'm in stop and go traffic ) lol, so on the highway speeds in excess of 45MPH turn OD ON? Thanks, I'm just trying acheive maximum MPG because gas is ridiculous here in NJ.

 

You're not going to notice any difference any way. I've been driving with OD on for 1st 6 months of owning my MAX. Past 4 months I've only been turning OD on when 40mph and above. The MPG are identical...

 

That may be true but I look at it as saving your tranny too. If you leave OD off then you save 2 shifts (1 up and 1 down) between every redlight or stop sign. That is why I do it.

 

U think gas in jersey is bad, check out the prices lately here in NYC!!

 

this O/D thing gets confusing because then OD is OFF the light is ON, and OD ON is light OFF... gets confusing..

O/D OFF (OD light on) or "3" instead of "D" is good to use until the 40-45mph range as someone said to keep the gear "searching" from killing your tranny in the long run. After 45mph turn O/D to ON (light is off). At speeds above that you pretty much use O/D OFF like you would downshift, to take a quick dash into another lane, or if you're racing from a roll

I guess either way it's explained, it's always confusing. If you're an economic driver then the gas mileage won't differ much if at all. Gas mileage sucks when you feel the pull of the gears at high RPMs and so you punch it more (to hear the good ol' intake as well).

 

Nicely explained

 

i don't know how gas is in NYC or Jersey.. but here in So. Cal it's $2.15 for 91 octane

 

I paid $1.77 for Shell 93 octane and i think it is a lot.

 

What is overdrive? Someone explain. I have a 5-speed, but my Durango has O/D... never noticed a difference when it on or off.

 

Under 45MPH - O/D off. (light on)
Over 45MPH/Under 125 MPH - O/D On (light off)
Over 125MPH, trying to hit 140 - O/D off (light on)

 

 

That's cheap compared $1.93 I paid tonight at EXXON. The Mobil across the street had the same price as well.

Corner of Queens Blvd. and Hillside Avenue (Queens, NYC).

 

Your 5spd has overdrive too, it's called 5th gear.

An overdrive gear is any gear with a ratio of less than 1:1

 

$2.05 for ultra 94

 

Wow, I'm around that way. I've seen the exxon on the corner of Liberty Ave. and the van wyck service road $2.13 this morning

 

I get on average about 22-23 mpg with OD on all the time. but yeah good point about saving the transmission a few steps so i will keep it off in stop and go traffic..

Oh and about the gas prices, you all have it easy.. anyone got any higher price than my area?

Darien, CT gas station....

drum roll please.....

for 93 octane.....

$2.18

 

you all get 93 and 94 octane for the same price i get 91.. FRIGGIN 91!!!! Nissan needs a badazz lookin electric car.

 

You should check here in Mtl before taling about high gas prices. Today, the gas is Can0.88$/liter = US2.15$/gallon
Oh yeah and I forgot, this is for 84 octane so for 91, it's
$2.30/ gallon.

 

i'm cheap... i pay $1.77 for 87 unleaded!!! bay area gas is too expensive

 

Its up to 1.82 here in Az for the premium

 

i thought i could be a chaepo and run 87, so i id, and the car would run like crap. Then i swithed to 93, and it ran fine. then i ran one last tank of 87, and the car ran like crap agin. Never again will i run anything under 93. Hell, my car eats better than i do right now.