[D] or D
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 674
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From: Pleasant Hill,CA,USA
[D] or D
When driving around town is it ok to leave the car in D? My cousin said that I should be driving in[D] around town.I always thought that the overdrive was for freeway driving and D was for normal. Which is right?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,525
Likes: 1
From: Sarasota, FL
Re: [D] or D (tsquare)
Remember your transmission is "automatic" and is very good at pickung gears. If you drive around in D you will get much sportier accleration etc, because the car doesn't have to downshift and your RPMs are higher. If you drive around in [D] you might get a bit better mileage, but the car won't feel as sporty when you punch the gas due to the above. You won't hurt the car either way.
Bob
Bob
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,032
Likes: 0
Re: [D] or D (BobMachus)
I usually leave mine in [D] till I hit about 45-48 mph then shift into [D], I love cruising around in 2nd most of the time while in town.
tsquare,
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tsquare,
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Re: [D] or D (Danger Dave)
Ditto.. Leave it in D around town (or 2nd if you like a lot of power 
), and only put it into [D] when you get on the highway, or over 45-50mph. I like my engine being higher than 1300rpm when it's moving the car...
), and only put it into [D] when you get on the highway, or over 45-50mph. I like my engine being higher than 1300rpm when it's moving the car...
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
Re: [D] or D (Glock'94)
When you shift into overdrive you are turning gears in the tranny and causing more wear, drive is straight through if I am correct. Anyway low RPM operation of your engine will cause carbon buildup and the oil doesn't get properly splashed around to clean it very well. :chevy
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: walled lake MI
Re: [D] or D (tsquare)
just as everyone says...normal D for stop-go city driving, overdrive for highway.
the basic difference between the two mechanically is that in "overdrive," under certain driving conditions (not just vehicle speed/load) the tranny locks your torque converter, which is mainly to increase efficiency and therefore mileage. your t/c locks under steady driving conditions, such as cruising along on the highway.
in city driving if you leave overdrive on, and the tranny tries to downshift while the t/c is locked, it will not shift as quick. the t/c needs to unlock before any shifts are started. this adds a little to your shift time. it also adds unnecessary wear on your torque converter clutch which does the locking.
with that said, "overdrive" is a misnomer in most cases these days.
the basic difference between the two mechanically is that in "overdrive," under certain driving conditions (not just vehicle speed/load) the tranny locks your torque converter, which is mainly to increase efficiency and therefore mileage. your t/c locks under steady driving conditions, such as cruising along on the highway.
in city driving if you leave overdrive on, and the tranny tries to downshift while the t/c is locked, it will not shift as quick. the t/c needs to unlock before any shifts are started. this adds a little to your shift time. it also adds unnecessary wear on your torque converter clutch which does the locking.
with that said, "overdrive" is a misnomer in most cases these days.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,238
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From: walled lake MI
Re: [D] or D (jeffie86/96)
Actually I believe the overdrive gear in a 700R4 is a ratio of .7 meaning the input shaft only turns .7 times for one revolution of the output shaft . ;)
hmm...i wonder if this tranny does not:
(1) shift into the overdrive gear
(2) does not engage the torque converter clutch
- when in non-overdrive....or both???
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