What is overdrive?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 207
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What is overdrive? I know that the A4 is equipped with overdrive, but what is it? It often goes overlooked and really isn't talked about. I feel like I am going back to being a complete newb. What is the difference between Drive and Overdrive? How does it help you? Whats it four?
well 1st and 2nd gears are a reduction..meaning that the input shaft of the transmission is turning faster than the output shaft...3rd gear is direct drive..meaning that input shaft speed, and output shaft speed are the same...Overdrive means that the output shaft is turning faster than the input shaft...meaning that you can cruise at the same speed as direct drive..but turn lower RPM's..you will get better gas mileage, lower emissions..less wear on your motor/accessories...
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 17
From: So.Cal.
4L60E:
3rd = 1:1
4th = 0.696:1 (overdrive)
4L80E:
3rd = 1:1
4th = 0.75:1 (overdrive)
D = shifts 1->2->3
OD = shifts 1->2->3->4
Sector labels can go like any of these:
P R N OD D 2 1
P R N OD 3 2 1
P R N D 3 2 1
(1 is sometimes labelled LO)
Four is 4th gear
3rd = 1:1
4th = 0.696:1 (overdrive)
4L80E:
3rd = 1:1
4th = 0.75:1 (overdrive)
D = shifts 1->2->3
OD = shifts 1->2->3->4
Sector labels can go like any of these:
P R N OD D 2 1
P R N OD 3 2 1
P R N D 3 2 1
(1 is sometimes labelled LO)
Four is 4th gear
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Travis99LS1
well 1st and 2nd gears are a reduction..meaning that the input shaft of the transmission is turning faster than the output shaft...3rd gear is direct drive..meaning that input shaft speed, and output shaft speed are the same...Overdrive means that the output shaft is turning faster than the input shaft...meaning that you can cruise at the same speed as direct drive..but turn lower RPM's..you will get better gas mileage, lower emissions..less wear on your motor/accessories...
Originally Posted by LSWaaa?
So basicly keep into in OD all the time?
Originally Posted by ZexGX
Yes, especially if its a DD. Not that there's an OD "button" in stock A4 '93+ F-bodies anyways (if it's in D, then OD will be used when appropriate)...
Trending Topics
wheres waldo...damn im seein alot of these threads..
whats an intake???
what is headers???
what does a4 or m6 meen???
now...what is overdrive????
my god no way people are this dumb no way.....
whats an intake???
what is headers???
what does a4 or m6 meen???
now...what is overdrive????
my god no way people are this dumb no way.....
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I get them every day, But then I dont mind and everyone has to start somewhere. But things are alot different than when I was KID I grew up working on cars, So many now days an afford to just buy the car and pay someone to hop it up they dont need to know much they come on here ask the questions then tell someone what they want I never had the money for that luxury lol.
Originally Posted by 5_02ls1
wheres waldo...damn im seein alot of these threads..
whats an intake???
what is headers???
what does a4 or m6 meen???
now...what is overdrive????
my god no way people are this dumb no way.....
whats an intake???
what is headers???
what does a4 or m6 meen???
now...what is overdrive????
my god no way people are this dumb no way.....
__________________
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by N4cer
I say don't leave it in OD all the time. At the track or other racing, leave it in 3 (D). I believe the 3rd has more support and is less likely to break.
Originally Posted by 5_02ls1
wheres waldo...damn im seein alot of these threads..
whats an intake???
what is headers???
what does a4 or m6 meen???
now...what is overdrive????
my god no way people are this dumb no way.....
whats an intake???
what is headers???
what does a4 or m6 meen???
now...what is overdrive????
my god no way people are this dumb no way.....
Im with you man.... I thought this was a joke!!
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
Overdrive is when you put a 20 inch lift kit and 35" mud tires on your car, then take it to the streets. You'll be driving over everyone and everything.
Overdrive in our cars is 4th gear. As it was noted before, it's when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft. That's why the TH350, TH400 and the Powerglide transmissions are not overdrive transmissions. They end at a 1:1 ratio, or drive only.
Overdrive in our cars is 4th gear. As it was noted before, it's when the output shaft spins faster than the input shaft. That's why the TH350, TH400 and the Powerglide transmissions are not overdrive transmissions. They end at a 1:1 ratio, or drive only.
Originally Posted by ChocoTaco369
Overdrive is when you put a 20 inch lift kit and 35" mud tires on your car, then take it to the streets. You'll be driving over everyone and everthing
What if I have a 19" lift kit, and 34" tires... Do I still have overdrive????
Whats a lift kit???
Originally Posted by aaron_c
But if you leave it in OD racing, it won't be used during the race, because it's only used when cruising- correct? If so, then you may as well leave it in OD always (which is what I do), because just because OD isn't off doesn't mean that you are in OD- you can be in 1, 2, or 3 and will be the same whether in OD or not (right??)
Originally Posted by N4cer
Yeah, but no. It'll shift into overdrive when you hit the speed/rpm in the shift tables that tell it to shift. It's not so much for "cruising". It's just another gear. But a weaker one. That's why we all gear an OD car as if we're going to use only 1-3 on the track.
guys seriously it's a relatively hard concept to grasp if you dont understand mechanics. there are very few people who actually understand what "overdrive" means. most people think it's just a little button in the car that has something to do with the engine, when in fact it has nothing at all to do with it.
to the OP: overdrive is simply a term for the highway gearing the car uses for cruising and gas mileage. 4th gear in the automatic cars is the overdrive gear, 5th and 6th in the manual cars are both overdrive gears, with 6th being the higher of the two. this means that your engine will not work as hard to get you down the road going at the same speed.
to the OP: overdrive is simply a term for the highway gearing the car uses for cruising and gas mileage. 4th gear in the automatic cars is the overdrive gear, 5th and 6th in the manual cars are both overdrive gears, with 6th being the higher of the two. this means that your engine will not work as hard to get you down the road going at the same speed.
Teching In
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by arcticwhiteTA
Yes, it's weaker, but if you never see the need for 4th gear (speedwise) during your run, there's no harm in leaving it in OD since you'll never need to shift into it. If you do need 4th, then you have to have it in OD otherwise you'll bang rev the rest of the run. That's the impression I'm under.