does it really do that much? do you drive with it on or off?

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=405399

 

But yea, I usually don't mess with it. The 5th gens have that OD button, the 5.5s is just a matter of switching from 3 to D. I always leave mine in D when driving.

 

it works when used in the right spot. you dont want to run it all the time. youll wear out the power band in 3rd gear plus your gas mileage goes down the sh!tter. leave it on for even a little bit and youll see how much gas you burn. flippin it when going to pass someone on the highway or something like that is when it comes in handy. i usually dont bother tho. just stomp on it, she'll get movin

 

Do you mean leaving it off will be bad for MPG? OD should be left ON most of the time. I will shift the car into 3rd (turning OD off) when passing on a two lane road. Other than that, I leave it alone.

 

so with a 5.5 gen i should be driving with it on 3 if i want to save on gas? will it hurt the tranny to shift it to d while im on the highway going 60+?

 

No, you should be driving with the shifter in D if you want to save gas. If you put it on 3, then you'll be limited to 3 gears instead of 4.

 

Just leave it on D and don't worry about it.

 

Put it on during highway speeds, leave it off in city speeds. SIMPLE

 

Any truth to this? I've never heard of 3rd gear problems, mostly peoples clutch packs burn out due to down shifting at high revs etc

 

Why leave it off in the city? If it wants to shift into 4th gear (OD), why not let it? With gas prices as high as they are, it just doesn't make sense, to me at least, to not take advantage of all of your gears.

I say, if it wants to shift into 4th, and save me some gas $$$, then it can go right ahead and do so!

 

OD simply means 4th gear. some say always driving with OD is bad for the tranny (but it only goes to 4th gear if it gets high enough.) it's bad for those that drive hard and brake a lot causing it to shift back and forth excessively. there you would be better limiting it to 3 gears.
best to always use OD unless you decide to drive like above or you want to stay in low gears due to snow or steep declines.
For awhile (last car) I drove in D then only OD if on the highway like someone suggested. but I found myself forgetting and staying in D (3rd) while on the highway I feel that is worse then the possibility of hitting 4th gear in the city momentarily b/c you always use OD.