Drive or Overdrive?

[lkempf]

I would like to know what gear people would recommend I haul my boat in. I have a 1998 GMC Sonoma with a 4.3 V6 with an automatic transmisson and 3.42 gears. The setup i will be hauling weighs about 2800 lbs.

 

[ecs]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

Drive. Use od only when your goin over 55

 

[quackaddict1]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

Run overdrive if the transmission isn't always hunting for gears. That load isnt that heavy, you should be fine in OD.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

Wouldn't hurt to add an aftermarket tranny cooler if you're going to haul any distance with an automatic.

 

[fire831]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

Run overdrive if the transmission isn't always hunting for gears. That load isnt that heavy, you should be fine in OD.

Exactly what I do. As long as it's not shifting in and out of OD then leave it in OD.

 

[rthomas]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

with 3.42 gears id stay away from od when towing unless its on really flat ground at 55+mph. once in a while i pull the boat in my sig (3200lbs) with my 98 tahoe w/3.73's and it doesnt care much for od when towing, i think i get a little better mileage by keeping the trans in 3rd most of the time. if you run any real hills a good tranny cooler is money very well spent

 

[Captain Paul]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

What does your owners manual say? I might consider drive only with 3:42's but I always read the manual first

 

[mrmushroomman]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

If you have 3rd gear as option on your pannel then haul in 3rd. I have 4.3 v6 and have been told by numerous people to always tow in 3rd gear with my vehicle and have never had a problem. You don't want tranny to have to hit the higher gears when hauling if it doesn't need to. I can take 3rd up to 80mph if i really want to but i stay around 60mph.

 

[lkempf]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

I will plan on hauling in 3rd then, but what about at interstate speed around 70 mph. Should I leave it in 3rd?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

I always tow in "3" but that is just my preference.

 

[redfury]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

The idea behind not towing in OD is that it puts less strain on the motor and keeps the transmission from overheating. Engines generally give you peak performance right before you hear them shift under a load, so driving at 2500rpm is easier for an engine to do than trying to lug a load at 1650rpm. Heat is the enemy for transmissions, hunting gears creates heat. 'Nuff said.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

I think that cruise control is another issue to discuss. I have a 4.0L v6 in my Ford Ranger and pull a 16.5' fishing boat with 35hp motor. I don't know the weight but it's not like I'm pulling a cuddy or something.

I just put the automatic transmission in drive a go. The highways in Minnesota have 70mph speed limits heading up north. When I'm in a flat area I'll set the cruise control for 65 or 70mph and the truck does just fine. Once I start hitting the parts with bigger hills I take it off cruise control. The truck will certainly downshift to a higher gear while towing up a hill. Plus I get worse mileage when it's hammering the throttle. If I keep my foot level on the accelerator while going up the hill, I maybe lose 5mph but the truck never searches for another gear.

In summary, if you plan to drive in a moderate to hilly area using cruise control then don't use overdrive (or drive in 3rd gear). If you are in a more flat area or are not using cruise control, feel free to go in overdrive.

 

[dorelse]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

I, for the most part, tow with OD on if I'm on the highway. My truck (98 Dodge Ram 1500), rarely will shift out of OD at highway speeds.

I have the Mag-Hytec Aluminum high capacity trans pan, and a tranny temp gauge installed. (Plus the factory tow pkg.)

I towed in 88 Deg humid heat last weekend, doing 75mph on the freeway from Mpls to Des Moines, and my tranny fluid never got over 165 degrees.

The extra 2 qts it holds, plus the higher heat transfer rate of the aluminum pan really has dropped 20-40 degrees off my fluid temps. Its been well worth the cost.

My drive though is very flat, so it rarely shifted out of OD. We were fully loaded from our week up north, so there was quite a bit of weight back there.

If I had more weight though, I would be listening for lots of shifting, slowing down, and taking it out of OD most likely.

 

[Firemedic09]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

drive is always a safe bet if your not sure. OD if for going over 55. depends on your driving habits also. you know your vehicle better than anyone, how does it pull. the load isnt that heavy but does it have a hard time pulling it? if so then drive is the gear of choice until like the others said over 55 then go into OD

 

[642mx]

Re: Drive or Overdrive?

Gas is cheaper than a tranny. Don't use OD.