To drive with overdrive on or off

wl1193 · 11-06-2011, 10:08 AM

Hi. I have a 2wd 5.4 E250 extended body with 3.73 gears. I sometimes tow my boat and trailer which weigh about 3500 pounds give or take. For everyday driving should I drive with the overdrive on or off? What about towing? Are there any advantages or disadvantages? Where do I want my rpm's when doing 60 to 70 mph? Thanks.

Ford_6L_E350 · 11-06-2011, 10:14 AM

As long as the engine is pulling the load and the transmission is not 'hunting' between gears you can leave the OD on.

You can turn off the OD at the bottom of hill is you think the trans will downshift anyway. You can turn off the OD for more engine braking going downhill, or when the trans keeps shifting.

Ford programmed the engine and trans controllers to work with OD normally on.

Mike

carringb · 11-07-2011, 01:30 AM

What he said ^

I leave my OD on even when pulling 15,000 pounds, unless I'm in stop and go traffic or coming down a steep hill.

**daveb** · 11-12-2011, 10:13 PM

I agree with everybody here. I leave it on unless it hunts back and forth or I'm in town.