I heard from a friend that if you're in slow traffic (i.e. peak morning / afternoon) you should disable the Overdrive for the engine because apparently it's of a lower fuel consumption rate, for movement less than 40km/h...

However with that said, if I were to continue to drive at higher speeds with Overdrive off, would that therefore increase fuel consumption in comparison to driving with it in?

Thanks for any advice. :D

Jo drives her TR with the O/D off all the time. (65km round trip to the city). She gets around 500km's a tank, alot better than having O/D on - which i always thought was for highway driving..

And yes, driving at 100km/h with it off will consume more petrol.

Ahh, awesome.

Working in French's Forest, I need to get back to the M2 every night and sometimes the traffic can be quiet thick.

I find that the response of the engine is better with O/D off, also... could be dangerous if I put my foot down :D

I've been experimenting with O/D off in thicker traffic, and then enabling it when I get back to the M2 etc, but even then the M2 is chockers so off it goes again!

Just in the never-ending quest to conserve precious fuel...

hmmm I guess I better turn mine off as well unless i'm on the highway but at what speeds should we turn the overdrive on 70 - 80 ?

I'd say anything that requires the engine to be in 3rd.
Because that's when the higher power comes out of the engine, and as you'll know in slow traffic an automatic transmission will change from 1st to 2nd quite quickly.

But I'd highly agree with turning it back on once you reach that nice "cruising" speed .. between 70-80 as you said

I think my overdrive kickis in at around 80k's

hmmm I guess I better turn mine off as well unless i'm on the highway but at what speeds should we turn the overdrive on 70 - 80 ?

yeh i stick my overdrive on at about 70 kmhs :D

I just left mine on. Definitly see an increase in fuel economy with highway driving. i never really bothered turning mine off in traffic unless it was peak hour on the monash.

i know thw manual for the 2.6lt auto tp states do not use the o/d before 70 klms cause u wear out the syncro's or somthing. it says only for use over 70 or u can damage the trans. i would definetly say that ud use less fuel at the higher speeds on the highway with it on.
cos for example. 80klms speed @3000rpm with it off but when its on 80klms speed @2100. so the engine can reach 100 quicker for over taking but at the same time if ur on a long trip the engine dosent have to try as hard (less revs) to be at a certain speed . like the example above i tryed to expain.so sitting on 80 at 2100 is gonna chew less than with it off at the same speed. but u dont want to damage it by using it under 70 but thats just my 2c

Yah. Interesting argument.
However, when I bought mine it already had 230,000 on the clock and I had no idea about the O/D... I just left it on but since you've brought this information up I'll be more cautious about when and where I use it.

But what you've said does make sense in regards to damage because sometimes when I have O/D on even though it's supposed to give you extra power, it takes a stupidly long time to get to a decent speed, but with O/D off it's like a real boost. (Kinda backwards, I know)

Using the O/D below 70 just labours the engine as it is much harder to push than the 1:1 3rd gear. round town you should get better economy and response with the overdrive off, once you hit a higher speed road and go over 70 or so just push the button and let her into 4th.

Its like when you got on ya bike and had left it in top gear, sure ya could peddle it but ya knackered in no time.:D

Thinking about it that way, it makes lots of sense ... [hmmmm!]

But what you've said does make sense in regards to damage because sometimes when I have O/D on even though it's supposed to give you extra power, it takes a stupidly long time to get to a decent speed, but with O/D off it's like a real boost. (Kinda backwards, I know)
O/D doesn't give you extra power, all it is basically is a 4th gear. What you just described is EXACTLY what its suppose to do. WIth it on, you are in 4th gear, it may kick down to 3rd, but will seem slow to accelerate. Now turn it off, you are driving in 3rd gear, accelerate and it'll kick down to 2nd and feel like a different car. All it is is gearing.
I noticed in my TJ that under 60km/h it wont shift into 4th, so i guess with the true 4spds they fixed it.

i just started using that switch and i actally like it, it goes better o/d off :badgrin: :P compared to my drivving which is o/d on, so i might keep it on for now.:bowrofl:

i just started using that switch and i actally like it, it goes better o/d off :badgrin: :P compared to my drivving which is o/d on, so i might keep it on for now.:bowrofl:
You will use more fuel for highway driving. Just a warning.

You will use more fuel for highway driving. Just a warning. oh ok,

places i drive to are as fellows


Safeway Dandenong - outlook drive- brady rd - stud rd
F/tree gully - stud rd - Wallington rd, lystfield rd
Cranboune - Monash F/way or outlook drive- brady rd - stud rd - pricess hway - sth Gippsland hway
Dandenong Area - Pricess hway
handly use the highway driving, mainly suburb streets.

O/D doesn't give you extra power, all it is basically is a 4th gear. What you just described is EXACTLY what its suppose to do. WIth it on, you are in 4th gear, it may kick down to 3rd, but will seem slow to accelerate. Now turn it off, you are driving in 3rd gear, accelerate and it'll kick down to 2nd and feel like a different car. All it is is gearing.
I noticed in my TJ that under 60km/h it wont shift into 4th, so i guess with the true 4spds they fixed it.
Well said. But the TR is a true 4 speed as well. The only reason I would turn it off was say for towing, and it kept changing constantly 4th - 3rd, 3rd to 4th. Turning it off is like driving your 3rd gen around in 3 instead of D.
Overdrive or 4th won't kick in until a certain speed (probably around 50 or so, havent driven a TR for a while)
Personally I would leave it on unless I was towing or wanted the extra responsiveness of always being in 3rd gear.

I tried it this arvo and I didn't like it with the over drive off felt like it was holding back waiting to go into 4th. So I'll be keeping mine on.

I only turn it on when travelling 80kms an hour or over. O/D is the fourth gear what it's doing is it's making the driveshafts rotate faster than the crankshaft. As smooth2 said earlier, you are also gonna wear the transmission out quicker. Personally I prefer to do the 2nd to 3rd shift myself as well as I find that the tranny will normally shift up too early making the car labour too much.

I only turn it on when travelling 80kms an hour or over. O/D is the fourth gear what it's doing is it's making the driveshafts rotate faster than the crankshaft. As smooth2 said earlier, you are also gonna wear the transmission out quicker. Personally I prefer to do the 2nd to 3rd shift myself as well as I find that the tranny will normally shift up too early making the car labour too much.

so you keep it in 1, then push it up to 2, and finally to D?hmm

I tried it today, i can tell ya i used a fair bit less fuel then i usually do, so thats a good thing, with O/D off at about 75-80 the car was doing about 400 Revs more, noisier too:P but was alot quicker off the line etc.

When Ol' fart Explained it like the bike thing it all made sense....

This thread is great!
Learnt a lot.
I'll make sure i keep it off overdrive unless i hit 70-80km/h :D

Now just wondering, how about the [A/T] Mode button?
Should i keep this on or off? When should it be used and does it make a difference? :thumbsup:

The power button completely changes the fuel map and adds a double shot of nitrous! :shock:















lol hehehe Nah all that the power button does is increase the amount of time that the transmission will hold onto gears, ie it'll shift a couple of 100 rpm later.

']so you keep it in 1, then push it up to 2, and finally to D?hmm

I tried it today, i can tell ya i used a fair bit less fuel then i usually do, so thats a good thing, with O/D off at about 75-80 the car was doing about 400 Revs more, noisier too:P but was alot quicker off the line etc.

When Ol' fart Explained it like the bike thing it all made sense....
I don't put it into 1st I just have it in 2nd instead of drive when I take off, I find that the 1st to 2nd shift is handled by the tranny ok, but if it's in drive and you're crawling along then it'll slip into 3rd and then when you want to start moving the thing is soooooo sluggish. I also use engine braking as well, cos I like the sound of my zorst burbling down hehe. I shoulda just tried to find a manual lol

how the hell do you engine brake?

just knock the shifter down a gear, ie D ---> 2nd, with a touch of accelerator. It takes a little practice to get it so that there isn't a bit of a jerk, but with a little throttle it's fine. Just don't go 2nd ---> 1st, that's impossible to do without having a massive jerk lol

just knock the shifter down a gear, ie D ---> 2nd, with a touch of accelerator. It takes a little practice to get it so that there isn't a bit of a jerk, but with a little throttle it's fine. Just don't go 2nd ---> 1st, that's impossible to do without having a massive jerk lol

I think ill wait till i get my "p"s until i do this.....Sounds tricky...

Well said. But the TR is a true 4 speed as well. The only reason I would turn it off was say for towing, and it kept changing constantly 4th - 3rd, 3rd to 4th. Turning it off is like driving your 3rd gen around in 3 instead of D.
Overdrive or 4th won't kick in until a certain speed (probably around 50 or so, havent driven a TR for a while)
Personally I would leave it on unless I was towing or wanted the extra responsiveness of always being in 3rd gear.
Well yes it is a 4spd, but its not a typical 4spd (probably the word "true" as a bad choice ;)).
O/D will kick in around 40 i believe (if i remember from my old TR). The revs sat about the same as they did in 3rd, so its not gonna make a difference to fuel economy.

']how the hell do you engine brake?
Engine braking is a type of brake that trucks have. Not exactly sure what it does, i tihnk it has something to do with re-using the exhaust to make less power to slow down the engine, could be wrong on that one.
But when someone says engine braking in a car, they usually refer to down-shifting a gear, as the car will slow down much quicker in 2nd, than if it was in 3rd etc. depending on speed.

This thread is great!
Learnt a lot.
I'll make sure i keep it off overdrive unless i hit 70-80km/h :D

Now just wondering, how about the [A/T] Mode button?
Should i keep this on or off? When should it be used and does it make a difference? :thumbsup:
This is PWR mode (light on dash). Basically it means that the transmission will kick down quicker, which means the car will take off quicker while cruising. Will also make the car rev out to about 5,500 rpm instead of changing just before 5,000 rpm. It makes the car much more responsive and makes the car rev out more, giving you "more power" in a way, but you will use alot more petrol with it on.

So if you guys want a quick boost, PWR on and O/D off, though say goodbye to fuel economy. On my TR it made a huge difference (was getting 250km per 50L! :shock:).

Well yes it is a 4spd, but its not a typical 4spd (probably the word "true" as a bad choice ;)).
O/D will kick in around 40 i believe (if i remember from my old TR). The revs sat about the same as they did in 3rd, so its not gonna make a difference to fuel economy.

Engine braking is a type of brake that trucks have. Not exactly sure what it does, i tihnk it has something to do with re-using the exhaust to make less power to slow down the engine, could be wrong on that one.
But when someone says engine braking in a car, they usually refer to down-shifting a gear, as the car will slow down much quicker in 2nd, than if it was in 3rd etc. depending on speed.

This is PWR mode (light on dash). Basically it means that the transmission will kick down quicker, which means the car will take off quicker while cruising. Will also make the car rev out to about 5,500 rpm instead of changing just before 5,000 rpm. It makes the car much more responsive and makes the car rev out more, giving you "more power" in a way, but you will use alot more petrol with it on.

So if you guys want a quick boost, PWR on and O/D off, though say goodbye to fuel economy. On my TR it made a huge difference (was getting 250km per 50L! :shock:).

Sweet.
Thanks M4DDOG.
Got a much better understanding of the overdrive concept and power button now thanks to your write up.
Cool :D

Tried overdrive off just then driving from Strathfield to Carlingford and back, and only put it on after 75km/h.
Noticed fuel economy increased as the needle didn't drop as much as it would have with overdrive on.
This is great :surprised

Engine braking :bowrofl: it's called exhaust brakes that the trucks use I know I drive one :D
tommo is talking about using the revs to slow down as you would in a manual we also do this in truck driving as it helps to slow the truck down fast.

Engine braking :bowrofl: it's called exhaust brakes that the trucks use I know I drive one :D
tommo is talking about using the revs to slow down as you would in a manual we also do this in truck driving as it helps to slow the truck down fast.
Ok so i described exhaust braking and engine braking is just using the gears? gotcha ;). I just assumed they were the same thing as you see signs in residential areas "Trucks dont use engine brakes" or something like that, though i guess a truck dropping down a gear would be pretty loud at high revs?

as you see signs in residential areas "Trucks dont use engine brakes"

yeah that's "Trucks Don't Use Exhaust Brakes" this is because it's even louder when you use them alot louder it sounds like your reving the sh*t out of the engine.

So from what u guys are sayin is that i should keep OD off, until im crusing?? I ALWAYS leave it on, otherwise the way i see it is thta im driving a 3sp auto, and it has to rev higher, using MORE fuel that way. I dont see the point in leaving it off tbh.

So from what u guys are sayin is that i should keep OD off, until im crusing?? I ALWAYS leave it on, otherwise the way i see it is thta im driving a 3sp auto, and it has to rev higher, using MORE fuel that way. I dont see the point in leaving it off tbh.
Ok under 70kmh the revs wont be much different between 3rd and o/d. The only difference is that when you accelerate in O/D the auto has to shift down twice to get to 2nd. Which will wear the transmission out quicker obviously, but i doubt it's a HUGE difference in lifespan.

On my old KS, overdrive would kick in just under 40km/h in "Economy" mode. In "power" mode, the 3rd-4th shift would occur at 46km/h. The 2nd gen "Economy" mode shifts gears at full throttle at 4900rpm, whereas "Power" mode makes the shifts occur at 5700rpm.

I found that the 2nd gen auto gearboxes were a lot like Mercedes Benz 'boxes, as they both liked to upshift early, but were reluctant to pick up 1st, or even 2nd, unless the speed dropped below 10km/h. It would also drop back to 3rd at 30km/h precisely, often with a noticeable jerk.

In contrast, 3rd gen auto boxes will drop back to 2nd at 30km/h, and 1st under 12km/h. The 3rd to 4th shift will occur at 57km/h.

Just my 2c worth of observations

Ok under 70kmh the revs wont be much different between 3rd and o/d. The only difference is that when you accelerate in O/D the auto has to shift down twice to get to 2nd. Which will wear the transmission out quicker obviously, but i doubt it's a HUGE difference in lifespan.

i disagree on the life span. ull cut it by half its life span that is. but if u want some sort of proof talk to magna buff as he is the guru of the auto trans with o/d, from what ive been lead to belive he specializes in it.

LOL specialises in it :bowrofl:

How much does he sell them for lol

WOW, i mean wow......

with having O/D on since, well, forever, ive been acusomt to doing 60....wanting to overtake....and the car just having absolutly no guts at all.....just didn't want to move.

Having O/D off....well with the foot only about half down...the car bloody gunned it and got up to about 80 in absolutly no time at all....i couldnt beilve how fast she took off.

So yeah, im a convert now, car feels unbeilveable to drive, its changed me whole outlook on them..

I've been converted too man!
*high five* :clap:

Driving the car each day to work from strathfield to chatswood on those winding uphill roads seem like such a breeze now with O/D off.
I love it!

Seems to be saving me petrol too by the looks of the needle!
This is great :D

that's why you turn it off on steap hills or press the power switch same thing

I've been converted too man!
*high five* :clap:

Driving the car each day to work from strathfield to chatswood on those winding uphill roads seem like such a breeze now with O/D off.
I love it!

Seems to be saving me petrol too by the looks of the needle!
This is great :D


Dude! I take Fullers Road to get to work! That's uncanny ;)

And yes, O/D off is such a change in your driving style, it's actually like giving you power and control back -- oh how I love it so. :)

Heading back up Fullers Road towards the M2 of an afternoon, I've actually got the torque to head up the mountain with a decent speed, not have to gun the engine just go get somewhere :D

Woooooooooooooo

Dude! I take Fullers Road to get to work! That's uncanny ;)

And yes, O/D off is such a change in your driving style, it's actually like giving you power and control back -- oh how I love it so. :)

Heading back up Fullers Road towards the M2 of an afternoon, I've actually got the torque to head up the mountain with a decent speed, not have to gun the engine just go get somewhere :D

Woooooooooooooo

Na way!! OMG!! :redface:
I take fullers road too!! Via Epping road!! You know that winding up hill then down hill curves on the way home from Help Street, where sometimes you find yourself slamming the brakes towards those set of lights where it can get real jammed, its best to keep it in 2nd, then when the swoopy bend to the right then big uphill to the left you can hammer it. Its awsome.
Might spot ya! If i do i'll give you a wave :D
I'll keep my headlights on from now on hehe

o/d Off Rulz i've been using for Week and half and now i won't turn that feature off, :D :P :badgrin: :P

I put mine back on got sick of hearing the engine sounding like it's reving out at 60 and then when you backed off from 60 you fell engine jolting back a little so I thought that might not be good for the engine mounts. So I'll be keeping it on unless there's a steep hill ti climb.

Yep, mine is back on too.
Looks like i'm getting better fuel economy with it on :nuts:

Also read the manual, clearly states, keep overdrive depressed for greater fuel economy. And i'm getting just that.
I thought i was getting better fuel economy with it off, but it makes sense to have it on because it changes up to the last gear quicker.

So my advice, keep overdrive on if you wan't to save your $1.50 a litre petrol.

:D

My driving style has been adapted to the following:

Peak hour traffic, turn O/D off, stick in 2nd (especially on the M2)
< 60 rolling, keep O/D off (who needs 4th here?)
M2 smooth run: O/D on, blast away

But yes, as MagnaAussie said I do worry about the engine revs, but it's weird because I've been seeing an increase in fuel efficiency with this gearing method...

increase in fuel efficiency

I noticed this as well.

:D Sounds like a plan!

Might give it a try on the way to work on monday

Same, come to think of it. Never gave it much of a thought until now I s'pose.

Just to chip in, engine braking is possible in a car (since it has an engine:D ). Trucks use air brakes (already explained in this thread).

The more breathing mods you have in your car the less it will "engine brake" as the pistons meet less resistance, hence spinning freelier.

It's more or less just changing down a gear in a manual early etc but it's not good for the gear box as it's putting stain on the gears

i just replaced my exhust last week with o/d off, it drives so much better than o/d on, i don't really care if wastes some fuel, my car is a beast now:badgrin: , its the best its ever been with o/d off. :shock:

Now you know why we drive manuals... :nutkick:

It's more or less just changing down a gear in a manual early etc but it's not good for the gear box as it's putting stain on the gears

Yes it's puts pressure on the gearbox, but it would be irrelevent compared to the stress put on it during hard acceleration. Besides you rev match on down chages to smoothlly engage the shorter gear (I love coming to a hard 2nd gear corner and using heal n toe into 3rd then 2nd, sounds awsome. :D ). So it IS engine braking.

I know this is a bit of an old topic now, but here goes:
Me, i usually cruise with OD off. Except if im going downhill at 60+kph, or along the flat/highway 70+kph.

How about the Power switch?

I found (before i got my current engine probs) that i get a lot better consumption with it turned on, hence a more reactive gear box.
No longer do you have to flatten the pedal to make it go from 3rd into 2nd on a hill, just a small depress and away we go lol.

Im also naughty. Guilty of driving my auto like its a manual.
Cant wait to get back in a manual, even if it means giving up the magna :(. Must read up on conversions.