The overdrive function is a mechanism that makes automatic transmissions shift to an ‘overdrive gear range' under certain conditions, which typically results in slightly higher gas mileage.
a car's transmission operates like this. as you accelerate for less-loaded inclines (i.e., fewer gears), the car shifts smoothly through the gears at its own pace; these are called ‘incline-sensitive gears'. for engines running under high loads–fewer gears–as on a mountain road or when going really fast, sharper shifts occur as the transmission downshifts and upshifts with each added torque of acceleration and deceleration, respectively. when the engine starts to labor hard near maximum load â elevated ratios
when should you drive your car in overdrive?
it depends on your vehicle and driving situation. we recommend checking with the manufacturer's manual to determine the best speed for your vehicle.
the driving conditions that conspire against using overdrive vary greatly depending on how they affect drivetrain wear, fuel economy, engine performance, interior noise levels, and engine control strategies.
is it bad to drive with overdrive off?
it is best to leave the overdrive off when driving at lower speeds, but turning it on when you're going fifty miles per hour or faster.
generally speaking, overdrive will help your car get better gas mileage and can improve your engine's efficiency. however, driving with too much engine compression can cause a white smoke to come out of the exhaust system and it may make an irritating noise if you turn on the air conditioning. this is because lower air flow in the compressor causes condensation in water vapor for this operation mode. turning overdrive off will keep that from happening. in addition, an idle clutch isn't needed when there is no load on it so it can drain away more power from the alternator wire if left
what does putting your car in overdrive do?
is a car faster with overdrive on or off?
it all depends on the car and driving conditions.
a number of factors will determine whether overdrive is advantageous to your driving in a specific situation. you should experience at least a 5% increase in mileage with over drove activated in most vehicles, but this value may vary between vehicles. for instance, when it comes to higher-powered cars used for acceleration–such as an suv or sports car–over drive will not provide any appreciable benefit. furthermore, it's important to note that certain transmission types can actually hinder engine performance when exceeded their limits (specifically clutches). if you're never experienced any difficulty with the transmission before, we recommend you change/disable overdrive mode and see if there is any improvement if your vehicle
