should I use overdrive?

all4fun222 · 12-12-2005, 05:09 PM

I was told recently that I am crazy to drive my 1998 gmc sierra 350 vortec in OD. I was told to drive it in drive 3, unless I am going over 45mph. Any input on this?

vanhal · 12-12-2005, 05:35 PM

i have a 98 chevy and i drive in OD all the time the tranny will shift when it has to the torque and rpm. look after it just fine .. now if you pull a heavy
trailer then i use drive 3 .................pete

mrjohnwayne · 12-12-2005, 09:33 PM

Thats nonsence. As vanhal said unless you are pulling a heavy load yeah keep it in 3rd. If it is just the truck put it in OD. That is why it is there. To help lower RPM's which in return helps raise MPG.

DodgeChick · 12-12-2005, 10:10 PM

Amen to what MrJW said... my truck is hardly ever not in OD.
Whoever gave ya that info should be smacked lol

chevyguy · 12-13-2005, 09:19 PM

Well, the higher the gear the less fluid pressure you have moving thru the trans and cooling and cleaning the internal peats like it is designed to. I drive in 3rd around town and use OD for the highway. Maybe thats why my last 1992 chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 had 245,000 miles on the origional trans when I sold it.

all4fun222 · 12-14-2005, 02:33 PM

Well I appreciate all your inputs. They guy that told me this told me in general what chevy guy said. Does make sense.

chevyguy · 12-15-2005, 05:45 PM

I used to race alot of dirt track and i would gear my cars to run in first gear only. i could get 3-4 years out of a transmission where the guys that run lower gears and use second couldnt even get a season. these are extreme conditions for a trans, but if you can keep them cool , and well lubricated they do last longer.

Itstali25 · 12-15-2005, 09:05 PM

Yeah i've always heard keep it in 3rd unless highway. Dunno, works for me so, wuteva

390FE · 12-16-2005, 01:08 PM

not to upset the boat here but with all the computers in todays cars does is still matter if your in D(3) or OD. and some cars don't have OD but have 6 speeds in the auto. My mom drives her A6 in D all the time (no OD) and when I drive it I am playing with it in D, S, and the triptronic setting. Gotta love the psuto manual

And my 72, my only auto, only has 1, 2, D. and I haven't drive it in so long I think I forgot how to drive an auto

I had a Early 80's bronco (ok it was my parents but...) and it was driven in OD from mile 0 (or 6 or somthing.. it was new) to 180K with no tranny trouble. It leaked oil out of every seal but no tranny problems. you could heear it clunk(not a loud clunk) into OD all the time but I was told it was normal and it never hesitated.

chevyguy · 12-16-2005, 09:20 PM

it does shorten the life of the trans.Maybe not alot depending on how the car is used, but it is better to have more fluid flow

12-12-2005, 05:09 PM	#1
all4fun222 Full Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 14	should I use overdrive? I was told recently that I am crazy to drive my 1998 gmc sierra 350 vortec in OD. I was told to drive it in drive 3, unless I am going over 45mph. Any input on this?

12-12-2005, 05:35 PM	#2
vanhal Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 109	overdrive i have a 98 chevy and i drive in OD all the time the tranny will shift when it has to the torque and rpm. look after it just fine .. now if you pull a heavy trailer then i use drive 3 .................pete

12-12-2005, 09:33 PM	#3
mrjohnwayne Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,789	Thats nonsence. As vanhal said unless you are pulling a heavy load yeah keep it in 3rd. If it is just the truck put it in OD. That is why it is there. To help lower RPM's which in return helps raise MPG. __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

12-12-2005, 10:10 PM	#4
DodgeChick Senior Member++ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 850	Amen to what MrJW said... my truck is hardly ever not in OD. Whoever gave ya that info should be smacked lol __________________ 2002 Patriot Blue Ram 1500 4x4 in the process of some mods ***Voted Best Truck on HGS*** Silly boys!! Trucks are for girls!!! "Grab Life By The Horns"

12-13-2005, 09:19 PM	#5
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,555	Well, the higher the gear the less fluid pressure you have moving thru the trans and cooling and cleaning the internal peats like it is designed to. I drive in 3rd around town and use OD for the highway. Maybe thats why my last 1992 chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 had 245,000 miles on the origional trans when I sold it. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, Basically useless, But fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.

12-14-2005, 02:33 PM	#6
all4fun222 Full Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 14	Well I appreciate all your inputs. They guy that told me this told me in general what chevy guy said. Does make sense.

12-15-2005, 05:45 PM	#7
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,555	I used to race alot of dirt track and i would gear my cars to run in first gear only. i could get 3-4 years out of a transmission where the guys that run lower gears and use second couldnt even get a season. these are extreme conditions for a trans, but if you can keep them cool , and well lubricated they do last longer. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, Basically useless, But fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.

12-15-2005, 09:05 PM	#8
Itstali25 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southern Missouri Posts: 708	Yeah i've always heard keep it in 3rd unless highway. Dunno, works for me so, wuteva __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/644045 Trucks are just cars when they grow up!!! If your gunna get a truck....Get a TRUCK!!

12-16-2005, 01:08 PM	#9
390FE Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: S. NH Posts: 336	not to upset the boat here but with all the computers in todays cars does is still matter if your in D(3) or OD. and some cars don't have OD but have 6 speeds in the auto. My mom drives her A6 in D all the time (no OD) and when I drive it I am playing with it in D, S, and the triptronic setting. Gotta love the psuto manual And my 72, my only auto, only has 1, 2, D. and I haven't drive it in so long I think I forgot how to drive an auto I had a Early 80's bronco (ok it was my parents but...) and it was driven in OD from mile 0 (or 6 or somthing.. it was new) to 180K with no tranny trouble. It leaked oil out of every seal but no tranny problems. you could heear it clunk(not a loud clunk) into OD all the time but I was told it was normal and it never hesitated.

12-16-2005, 09:20 PM	#10
chevyguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 3,555	it does shorten the life of the trans.Maybe not alot depending on how the car is used, but it is better to have more fluid flow __________________ Some people are like slinkies, Basically useless, But fun to watch when you push them down the stairs.

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