did a search but i couldn't come up with the answer i was looking for. when your just driving regularly like going to the store and stuff, do u turn the OD OFF or do you leave it ON??? i know its kinda stupid q but i dotn know what the correct way would be...thanks!
The only time I ever turn mine off is when I'm towing my boat. I think others have trouble with the term Overdrive, I'm betting that's why the new Dodge Durangos actually changed the button from O/D on/off to Towing On/Off.
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1997 Pathfinder XE
Air Lift Air Bags, Warn Hubs
did a search but i couldn't come up with the answer i was looking for. when your just driving regularly like going to the store and stuff, do u turn the OD OFF or do you leave it ON??? i know its kinda stupid q but i dotn know what the correct way would be...thanks!
OD is simply the 4th gear on your transmission (or 5th gear for us with manuals). By locking out 4th gear, all you do is not let it shift into 4th, and it stays in 3rd. On my Cadillac, my floor shifter has D-3-2-1. I drive in 3rd all the time...which is the same affect as you turning your OD off. Much of my driving is around town, and having it shift into and out of 4th gear all the time just causes needless wear and tear on the transmission. There will be a small price in fuel mileage, but it'd be so small you wouldn't be able to tell. Similarly, I rarely use 5th gear on my truck in town. My 4th gear is 1:1, which is the same as your 3rd gear, so again, this is the same affect as you turning OD off.
Out on the Interstate, by all means use OD. But around town, I always use 3rd.
The only time I ever turn mine off is when I'm towing my boat. I think others have trouble with the term Overdrive, I'm betting that's why the new Dodge Durangos actually changed the button from O/D on/off to Towing On/Off.
Some vehicles actually have different transmission shift schedules for towing vs. not towing. The Chevrolet Silverado, for instance. There's a TOW ON/OFF button on the end of the shift lever, but you can also drop it down into 3 from D (to take it out of OD). The TOW ON feature keeps the vehicle into gear longer and the shift is VERY firm. It's a pretty neat feature. I bet this is what the Durango has.
The TOW ON feature keeps the vehicle into gear longer and the shift is VERY firm. It's a pretty neat feature. I bet this is what the Durango has.
Jadcock you're right, I made that same comment to my Dad when he showed me his new Durango and he corrected me that it changes the shift points, not that it limits the top gear like O/D. Completely forgot. They got the new 5.7L Hemi Magnum and it is pretty sweet, sad to say that beast of an engine in that thing is much more quiet than my 3.3L.
Also check your owner's manual, it usually has a good section on when to use O/D and when to turn it off for your particular model.
Looks like Nissan added to the confusion a little in my 97 owner's manual, it has this statement:
The overdrive will not engage until the engine has warmed up.
Shouldn't that be the torque converter won't lock up until the engine is warmed up, you can still go into 4th when the engine is cold unless I'm missing something.
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1997 Pathfinder XE
Air Lift Air Bags, Warn Hubs
Looks like Nissan added to the confusion a little in my 97 owner's manual, it has this statement:
The overdrive will not engage until the engine has warmed up.
Shouldn't that be the torque converter won't lock up until the engine is warmed up, you can still go into 4th when the engine is cold unless I'm missing something.
I agree -- I bet the truck will shift into 4th gear (overdrive), but it's the torque converter that won't engage until the engine is warmed up.
What kind of mileage does your dad get with his Hemi? 12-13? If they incorporated MDS on the truck Hemis like they do on the 300C cars, I would be half interested in one.
They came for a visit right when they got the Durango and got in the upper 17s on the highway, I don't think they even want to check the city MPG. The hemi was purchased mainly for its towing capacity, almost 9,000lbs. They are planning on getting an RV for retirement life.
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1997 Pathfinder XE
Air Lift Air Bags, Warn Hubs
The Armada is set up with a five speed, gated shifter (so you can select the gear, including 4 or D) and a tow button.
Tow button is great for either a truck towing or a truck full of adults on hilly roads. It delays shift points and it works great to keep the tranny from hunting for the right gear.
I use 4 vice D anytime my top speed will be below 45. So mostly around town I'm in 4. Again, it helps keep the truck from hunting for a gear. And BTW, the gated shifter on the center console is a huge improvement over a column shift.
i always use OD, the only time i dont use it is going up a hill, passing, or towing, i have a 1988 kingcab, 2wd, 3.0 litre, and its got a 4 spd auto with electronic overdrive
They are planning on getting an RV for retirement life.
My folks are retired and they're in an RV (full-time). They sold the house and everything in it. They've been doing it for a few years now and they love it. They've got a 42' Monaco Dynasty and pull an '03 Jeep Liberty. It's fun to drive, if you like driving busses.
If your folks start doing it all the time, they'll love it.
The overdrive will not engage until the engine has warmed up. Shouldn't that be the torque converter won't lock up until the engine is warmed up, you can still go into 4th when the engine is cold unless I'm missing something.
Most Nissan transmissions have an internal temp. sensor that locks out 4th until the transmission has warmed up some. The older Maximas seemed to be more dependent on engine temperature. My mom's 1988 would either not go into 4th, or hunt in and out until I replaced the faulty thermostat, so that the engine could get into the "normal" temperature range. The J30s tend to have problems with an internal transmission temp. sensor.
I don't notice it on the Qs, but I have remote start and always let it warm up for several minutes before driving...
Heath
__________________ 1997 Nissan XE Truck - 133,000 Miles
1990 Infiniti Q45 - 91,000 Miles
2005 Infiniti G35 Sedan - 34,000 Miles
The Armada is set up with a five speed, gated shifter (so you can select the gear, including 4 or D) and a tow button.
Tow button is great for either a truck towing or a truck full of adults on hilly roads. It delays shift points and it works great to keep the tranny from hunting for the right gear.
I use 4 vice D anytime my top speed will be below 45. So mostly around town I'm in 4. Again, it helps keep the truck from hunting for a gear. And BTW, the gated shifter on the center console is a huge improvement over a column shift.
I am with Matt.. The Armada performs much better this way. From a dead stop with it in OD it just doesn't get off the line the same as with D. Not that I am racing or anything, just feels not so sluggish. OD above 45 or 50 for sure.
Linear Mode
