City Driving - Overdrive opinions

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

06-09-2003, 07:58 PM

InfiniSteve

Senior Member

Thread Starter

iTrader: (1)

Join Date: May 2003

Posts: 299

City Driving - Overdrive opinions

Hey guys,

All the guys with automatics, was wondering your habits on city driving ..

I usually turn my O/D off when city driving, although I'm concerned with my mpg

Should I be using O/D on in the city or off? I'm more worried about keeping my RPMS too low like 1300 (with O/D on) and not putting enough load on the engine (along with it shifting too much) -- I heard that could lead to premature wear.. what do you guys think?

InfiniSteve
1998 Infiniti I30

06-09-2003, 08:55 PM

infinitiman96

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2003

Posts: 421

Re: City Driving - Overdrive opinions

You should always drive with your overdrive on, transmissions are desigened to handle the load

06-10-2003, 03:44 AM

Pizatt

Supporting Maxima.org Member

iTrader: (6)

Join Date: Jan 2003

Posts: 4,022

why should you drive with your overdrive on?

06-10-2003, 08:13 AM

ThurgoodJenkins

Member

Join Date: Jun 2003

Posts: 59

I've never heard of not putting enough load on an engine.

06-11-2003, 06:24 PM

MetaOrbit

Got Projectors?

iTrader: (19)

Join Date: Apr 2002

Location: Knoxville, TN

Posts: 3,532

The only thing that Overdrive is there for is for fuel economy. Turn it off if you want it to feel "more powerful" - but also realize you'll probably get worse gas mileage. I'd say it probably doesn't make much difference in city driving (O/D off), but definitely leave it on for highway driving (to maximize fuel economy).

06-12-2003, 06:31 PM

gqmac2

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2003

Posts: 393

remember though that over drive gear is basically your fourth gear in your car. (the low gear) Its not wise to drive with it on all the time though. You will burn more gas and risk wearing down the oil in your car faster.

06-12-2003, 07:02 PM

InfiniSteve

Senior Member

Thread Starter

iTrader: (1)

Join Date: May 2003

Posts: 299

Quote:

Originally posted by gqmac2
remember though that over drive gear is basically your fourth gear in your car. (the low gear) Its not wise to drive with it on all the time though. You will burn more gas and risk wearing down the oil in your car faster.

I think the car acts differently in overdrive even if you are not in 4th gear .. ie/ shifting at lower rpm, etc.. do you guys notice that? That's why I asked, because it's always shifting when I'm going slow, up and down, kinda seems excessive to me .. when I have O/D off it seems to shift less up and down on low speeds .. and go to higher rpms ..

InfiniSteve
1998 Infiniti I30

06-12-2003, 07:24 PM

gqmac2

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2003

Posts: 393

ahh yes, thats because you are still in third gear when the overdrive button is not pushed (for 2002 and newer models click into the 3-D gear.) AT low speeds its best to drive with overdrive not on. O.D. is only good for maximing fuel economy at higher speeds as others here have said. Don't let that freak you out, its nothing wrong with your tranny, thats just the beauty of a slushbox that we have.