Which gear: third or overdrive?
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Which gear: third or overdrive?
Is it true that around town you should Drive in 3rd not Overdrive? Somebody told me today that its better for the transmission to do that and only use Overdrive on trips using a highway.
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Not driving in the city in OD was a recommendation from a lot of old school Ford owners. It used to be taxing on the Ford trannies if they were constantly shifting in and out of torque converter lock-up mode.
It'* not hard on the newer GM transmissions unless you're towing or under heavy load.
It'* not hard on the newer GM transmissions unless you're towing or under heavy load.
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I always drive in OD, with no problems, Dad does too in his Durango.
I agree with Mark (Vital49), alot of Ford owners had problems with driving in OD, in fact my Dad'* friend with a '92 T-bird couldn't drive in OD, as it would get stuck in lockup and stall out in city driving conditions.
I agree with Mark (Vital49), alot of Ford owners had problems with driving in OD, in fact my Dad'* friend with a '92 T-bird couldn't drive in OD, as it would get stuck in lockup and stall out in city driving conditions.
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Originally Posted by J Wikoff
You can leave it in OD. It only engages above 46ish+ mph anyway. Around town, you don't hit that speed much, typically.
And it wouldn't hurt it if you did.
And it wouldn't hurt it if you did.
Iv watched my RPMs change at around 30MPH also when shifted out of OD.
I shift out of OD when i know im going to be on a 45mph road and its going to go in and out of OD a lot. It can help save the input shaft from wear.
FWI for Ford. IF you Put it in 2nd gear in a Ford. its stays in 2nd even when you are going 1mph
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This was not just an issue on the fords...
This was an issue on a lot of early Auto Overdrive transmissions... The early THM440-T4, and the GM 700R4 as well as 2004R iirc would all gear hunt between 3rd and 4th like mad.... This was hard on the trans..
Had a buddy a long time ago that drove a Chevy Astro.... That would easily go into OD too early and apply the TCC Lock at too early of a road speed.. I was forever forcing him to drive around town in 3rd gear to avoid the gear hunt which was bad for the trans...
Some of the old 440-T4'* were also similar..... In the later years that was corrected for and was not a problem.. But being that the Trans was not Computer controlled other than the TCC it still was a little loopy..
For example going up a hill say you get to 50 and fall into Overdrive.... Then you slow up a hair... Say 45mph.... And then you load the engine a little, before you get you foot to move much you have just hit TCC lock going uphill with a 2.84 Gear ratio bonnie at 45 mph with OD and TCC lock meanwhile the engine is groaning up a song twisting at a whole 1250 Rpms.... Untill you mash the gas and get a down shift and TCC unlock... So even the late 4T60(440-T4) was still off a hair...
Part of the reason GM went electronic( more control )
On the newer cars with electronically controlled transmissions this is not an issue these days
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This was an issue on a lot of early Auto Overdrive transmissions... The early THM440-T4, and the GM 700R4 as well as 2004R iirc would all gear hunt between 3rd and 4th like mad.... This was hard on the trans..
Had a buddy a long time ago that drove a Chevy Astro.... That would easily go into OD too early and apply the TCC Lock at too early of a road speed.. I was forever forcing him to drive around town in 3rd gear to avoid the gear hunt which was bad for the trans...
Some of the old 440-T4'* were also similar..... In the later years that was corrected for and was not a problem.. But being that the Trans was not Computer controlled other than the TCC it still was a little loopy..
For example going up a hill say you get to 50 and fall into Overdrive.... Then you slow up a hair... Say 45mph.... And then you load the engine a little, before you get you foot to move much you have just hit TCC lock going uphill with a 2.84 Gear ratio bonnie at 45 mph with OD and TCC lock meanwhile the engine is groaning up a song twisting at a whole 1250 Rpms.... Untill you mash the gas and get a down shift and TCC unlock... So even the late 4T60(440-T4) was still off a hair...
Part of the reason GM went electronic( more control )
On the newer cars with electronically controlled transmissions this is not an issue these days
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