I just keep it on OD

 

I always drive around in OD, myself. If I'm going too slow for overdrive, the transmission won't shift. Same thing for lockup. If it does happen to be in OD, and I need to accelerate, it down shifts like an automatic is supposed to, and doesn't lug the engine.

 

It's not that the transmission doesn't downshift, and it doesn't lug the engine. What I find happens is that the truck will shift into "OD" at any speed over 60km/h (38mph), but that's around 12-1300RPM in my truck, so if I try to accelerate from that speed the truck hesitates for a moment then downshifts, often dropping all the way to 2nd even when at only half throttle. If I'm driving in "D" my RPM at that speed is 17-1800RPM, and when I put it to half throttle the truck simply accelerates without downshifting.

Also like Diata said previously, I like the compression braking from the engine when I'm city driving, especially coastind down to a red light. It makes it so I only have to touch the brakes to come to a complete stop.

Neither way is wrong or better. You just pick the driving style that suits you best.

 

I did a little driving around town this weekend in both D and OD and noticed a feq

 

I did some driving around town this weekend when I was out picking up parts to do my door pins/bushings and noticed a few issues when driving in OD versus driving in D.

When going 45-50mph down a baisc 4 lane road, I was running at 1500RPM's in OD, and about 2,000RPMs in D.

There wasn't much of a difference in RPM's until I got over 45. I think I will just keep it in OD since the higher RPM's would probably eat up more gas. I only go through 3-4 stoplights on my way to work, 90% of the drive is just cruising at 50.

 

I have never driven in city with OD only on the hiway when Im constantly going over 60mph or on a long trip.

 

i have been just using drive around the city, I am not sure of any benefit of it, but the shifts seem better, and the acceleration is good

 

My trans has 1 2 3 D. i keep it in D in the city except downhill i bump into 3 and it helps keep speed down without braking too much. Im still a little use to my old manual that i coud just get the engine to slow me down without brakes.

 

Anyone know why my RPM's were higher in Drive? Could it be a transmission issue?

I tried it again today, same result, at any speed over 40 MPH I had much higher RPM's.

 

1= only allows 1st gear
2= only up to 2nd
3 or D= only allows up to 3rd
4 or OD= allows use of all gears (1 thru 4)

if you never tow use OD, manual downshifting wears a piece in the trans (i forget which but its a little gear that deals with selecting which gear your in). If you never drive much more than 45 D or 3 will be ok, it can be seen as more responsive but dont drive your auto like a manual. An auto trans uses the time of normal decceleration and idle as a time to cool down. And time stess is put on it like accelerating or engine braking it is heating up. Think about this, would you rather rebuild your trans or change your brakes?