Hey guys, just wanna know what the purpose of Overdrive is for.. And when im launch from standstill.. Is it best to keep O/D on or off or eliminate the pause? And when im crusin... and about to do a rolling start race, is it best to keep O/D on or off to eliminate the pause?

There is a post b4 that says something about O/D being on or off, and that it locks the toruqe convertor and something about 4th gear.. Need help!

 

if you are gonna race, OD needs to be off. I'm pretty that it just allows you to engage 4th gear.

 

It allows your automatic transmission to get up into 4th gear and once in 4th gear, your torque converter will lock up.

If you keep OD OFF you have a 3 speed automatic. Nice for city stop and go traffic conditions. For racing, if your not on the highway going for max. speed, you may keep it off. It's not going to make you faster, but if your in 4th and punch it (rolling start) you may get a bit more lag while the trans. downshifts.

Play with your OD switch on some back roads at 50 MPH and see how it works. Then use it to enhance your ability to control the auto. trans a little more.

 

oh so when you keep the OD switch ON, its best for highway crusing because you'll stay in 4th at low rpm... Then i believe if you are crusin at low RPM, you hit the OD button and then it'll shoot back to 3rd gear automatically, right?

Just like BMW autos.. right behind the gas pedal is the Kick Down button.. Like an ordinary auto tranny, once in a high gear like 4th, and you punch it, the slight delay is caused by the switching from a high gear to a lower, high RPM gear. (like 2nd or 3rd) With this button, it automatically changes to a low gear so there is no delay

Does OD perform like this?

 

True, but with the bmw, wouldn't the car downshift BEFORE WOT is reached? I mean, If you go to 90% on the bimmer is it just gonna stay in 4th gear? I bet not.

Hmm....maybe I should go post on bmw.org.

 

get a 5spd!!!!!!!!

 

o/d is a crusing gear. It means on the highway you get better gas milage for the most part. IN terms of racing, most will never hit 4th gear.

 

In terms of reckless, welcome to Maxima.org.

 

Your right on track! Usually a transmission will downshift before you hit WOT. Depends on how fast and what gear it's in. Step on the gas about 3/4 at 70MPH and I get 3rd gear!

 

If you really wnat to reduce some delay, turn of TCS. They just sip gas and reduce your off the line acceleration.

 

ok...in racing conditions..........you turn off overdrive and gun it. This will engage the torque convertor and lock up 4th gear. If you want a smoother ride you leave overdrive on.