when to use o/d, 3,2,L on a 5.5 ? (or in general)

[photikfusion]

sorry if this is such a dumb topic...but

when should o/d be used? on the highway in smooth traffic? should i be leaving it on when im city driving i.e, stop signs every block.

also i know that when going up steep hills we should be using 3,2,L. but lets say that there is a constant flow of traffic about 35 mph. would using anything besides D be useful/helpful towards fuel economy? thanks.

[Toysrme]

It should always be on... Barring any extremely rare circomstance, like stuck in mud and the like.

[NRM]

The only time you should manually choose gears in an automatic is when you car is gear-hunting (hills, switching back and forth) or if you're towing something. You shouldn't need it at any other time. If you're going a constant 35MPH, let your car handle the gear changes, it'll know what's best for your fuel economy. Generally, the higher the gear when you're going a constant, the better fuel economy you will get.

[photikfusion]

ok thanks for all the quick replys!

[ASG14]

Only 2 times I use it (in my Gen 3.5) is o/d when going up a big hill or L/2 when driving in VARY BAD winter conditions so it engine brakes rather then using the wheels to brake.

[en1gma]

It really depends on your personal preferences. I tend to drive with overdrive off around town because at 1300RPM it sometimes seems to struggle. I'd rather have the car running a couple hudred RPMs more and have more instant throttle response. But as the other guys have mentioned, you're gonna use more gas.

Only ever goes in 2nd down a mountain pass or if I wanna accelerate from 70Kmh - 110Kmh fast

[LunarMist]

I drive a 2002 Camry LE and have wondered the same and I thank the thread starter for asking this question. My grandmother has a '98 Camry LE and her O/D stays on constantly and the button on the gear-shift is "pushed in". But on my 2002 Camry when I pused the O/D button it came back out but a light on my dashboard illuminated saying O/D. So I assumed it was on. But when I turned my car off and turned it on again the O/D light on my dashboard went out and I had to push the O/D button again. Is this common on Gen 5's or is there something wrong? And just to be clear...O/D should generally be ON at all times?

[asheik9201987]

i gotta get something straight is the od on, on the 98 camry when the light turns on or when it is off. when the light is on it says od off but it has a quicker throttle

[Carzzz]

that's for sure if u turn on the o/d at over 50mph

[photikfusion]

hey lunarmist.. its standard in Gen 5. when you push the o/d button in, then o/d will be off. after you turn off the engine and restart the car, the o/d will be on despite the fact that you didnot push the o/d button back to on. basically, the o/d is on whenever you start the car. check your manual for futher info.

[LunarMist]

Thanks for the info. I didn't get a manual with my car so I was clueless.

[Peacemaker]

Oh yeah... any body here can clearify which consume less gas? With OD on or OD off? Or on which circumstance? I normall use OD on highway, but in city i turn it off... since I believe in city I have to stop a lot and by turning OD on, it might consume more gas... What about your experience?

[Peacemaker]

Originally Posted by asheik9201987

i gotta get something straight is the od on, on the 98 camry when the light turns on or when it is off. when the light is on it says od off but it has a quicker throttle

I thing your question is when is OD on or off. Well, when the light on means OD is off. Well, at least it is so in my gen3 camry.

[asheik9201987]

wat about the gen 4 anyone know?

[LunarMist]

I was incorrect about the O/D feature on my 2002 Camry. When I got in my car this morning I pushed the O/D button and contrary to what I stated earlier the "O/D Off" light illuminates on my dashboard. So O/D is automatically ON in my car as another person stated earlier. Good to know.