Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 12:40 pm, by: Sam Sulley(Ss666x)
lol, i don't really use it except on highways. i shift it like a manual, 70 kays an hour i shift to second, 120 i shift the third, 160 press the button and then let it slowly slow down so i can cruise control at 108kph. I love jap laws
serious though, i leave mine on most of the time. In PWR as well
Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 02:16 pm, by: Ben James(Silverbullet)
I'm confused should it be on or off ? when I switch it on it seems to lose power or slow down with a grinding noise, and then back to normal, does it save more fuel with overdrive off, or on ?, and is there more performance with it on ? also when switched on, above 80km does it engage 4th gear ?, because I usually drive with mine off, even on the highway going 110km, so does that mean I'm still stuck in 3rd gear with it off ?
Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 06:31 pm, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
Pretty much like Clayton. It is an automatic gearbox and OD is just 4th in it, nothing more. I change down for engine braking or occasionally to get a little more response when I do not want to press hard enough for kickdown.
Note to Ben from his Great Aunty Dorothy: for better fuel economy on the freeway, try changing into top gear...
Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 06:32 pm, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
...although, I am a little concerned about that "grinding noise". Nothing like that is expected. In top the gearbox should be smooth and quiet. Who does the mechanicals on your car?
Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 11:00 pm, by: Ben James(Silverbullet)
no its not a bad noise, its just there for a second ,when overdrive is switch on, obviously at the wrong time, so Im better to use it after 80km an hour ? unless it was on from the start ?
Monday, October 24, 2005 - 03:34 pm, by: Lincoln Carter(Dex)
on all the time (ie O/D off displayed)would think they would have a light for when its on not off... but anyways, soemtimes use it for breaking. gotta save that fuel.
Monday, October 24, 2005 - 04:40 pm, by: Steve Nolan(Hiddenvision)
Oh golly,
Leave the button alone and play with the passenger instead. Except on long downhills, then it is not safe to fiddle with the passengers buttons and best to play with you own.
The Light To show it is OFF is good as the normal position is on (thus no distracting light)
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:14 am, by: Bernie Juckers(Burn)
I have always believed that because the ratios in overdrive are so high, it puts more strain on your engine and components if you use it at low speed around the city. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:27 am, by: Peter Nitschke(Pen)
Bernie, firstly at low speeds the torque converter allows the engine to rev at a comfortable level while making the torque required to move the car. Second, the smarts decide if it needs to go down another gear or not.
If you try too high a gear in a manual, it will judder quite noticeably, something you won't experience with the automatic.
Manuals don't have the "give" of a torque converter, nor the smarts to manage the gearbox.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:27 am, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
Less effective torque through the system in a higher gear means less stress on the driveline , not more. As for the engine, you have an automatic gearbox and it will change down whenever it feels the need. Leaving overdrive on reduces stress rather than raising it. High revs kill engines, not low.
The ratio in overdrive is not "so high", it is a standard 4th gear and should be treated as such.