Overdrive?

[TIE-YOTA]

When do you use Overdrive?

[peid]

All the time unless towing something large and heavy.

[czechm8]

Yes, always unless towing or ascending a steep grade when loaded down. Also, if you live in a low altitude region and travel to higher altitudes, you may want to disable the O/D to gain more revs and torque.

[TIE-YOTA]

Yeap, which brings me to my next question. From a towing standpoint, what do you think the break over load (lbs.) would be for switching over? You can tell the overdrive needs to be ON due to RPM increase when it is OFF under normal conditions. The thing I was curious about and wondering is what the break over load lbs. is?

[czechm8]

I don't think there is any specific weight you can assign to "when to use the O/D." The road conditions and grade are much bigger factors. Your manual probably states that if the tranny keeps wanting to shift in and out of O/D while towing, then disable the O/D to save the gears and keep the tranny heat down. If you are on a level grade cruising down the highway, then you are probably OK with using the O/D.

Let the feel in the seat of your pants tell when you need to disable the O/D. The tranny will do all talking for you.

[TundrastruckDave]

Originally Posted by TIE-YOTA

Yeap, which brings me to my next question. From a towing standpoint, what do you think the break over load (lbs.) would be for switching over? You can tell the overdrive needs to be ON due to RPM increase when it is OFF under normal conditions. The thing I was curious about and wondering is what the break over load lbs. is?

Hey TIE-YOTA,

Whas..up?! Saw your question above and thought I'd offer my 2¢ worth.

Fact is... I honestly... have NO IDEA what an actual "weight cut-off point" might be? But I think czechm8 is right. It's a good "rule-of-thumb" which, has worked well for me, over the years. You probably have already used this "method" before... when towing, but in most cases... it works. You know the old saying: "an ounce of prevention... is worth a pound of cure". Better to "err" on the safe side. Anyway... let's say you're towing in overdrive... and you're on relatively "flat ground" (i.e. no long grades or hills such as in the foothills of a mountain range)... and the overdrive keeps kicking "in-n-out" when you encounter... even a minor grade... then... a GOOD "rule-of-thumb" would be... you DEFINATELY... DO NOT... need to be in overdrive.

Truth is though... I'd have to agree with you. It'd be nice to have an actual "weight cut-off point" for "when" and "when not" to use overdrive. But taking into consideration the many variables in driving conditions... as czechm8 said... such as terrain... that makes it even harder to "pin-point" a specific "weight cut-off point". A load being towed over flat terrain... might be O.K. for using overdrive... while the same exact load... towed over hilly terrain... may require that you take the truck "out" of overdrive.

As I said... it's just my 2¢ worth anyway. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Cheers,
Dave

[Boxer]

I towed 4 tonne (crushed stone) in a trailer this morning and kept the overdrive off the whole time (highway/in town).