Read somewhere on the forum (can't remeber where now) that it's better to have the overdrive OFF on an automatic around town, as it saves petrol by reducing gear changes. Is this true? I kinda thought the opposite..

 

Something i saw on the net (e-tyres.co.uk):

 

"-- Use overdrive gears. Overdrive gears improve the fuel economy of your car during highway driving. Your car's engine speed decreases when you use overdrive. This reduces both fuel consumption and engine wear. Most automatic transmission cars will have an overdrive button right on the gearshift. Look for a "D" and/or "O/D". You will see a light on the dash indicating weather it's on or off. Check your owner's manual to be sure. If your car has a tachometer, you should be able to tell by watching your engine's rpm speed on the highway. Buy switching the overdrive on, your rpm's should drop significantly."

 

Opinions please?

 

sonix.

My overdrive is on permenantely, unless i want to accelerate quickly! And i get 400 miles to a tank!

And i get 400 miles to a tank!

 

Have you had a diesel conversion ???? :shock:

400 miles??? I was thinking of putting a 1.6l diesel in mine cos I think it must have a petrol leak with the amount I go through!!!

 

Or have you got Miss Daisy in the back???

My overdrive is on permenantely, unless i want to accelerate quickly! ..............

 

Exactly.

 

Leave it on unless you want to avoid going into top gear. If the 'box is constantly changing gear under normal driving it won't affect fuel economy as shifting up to a higher gear will always be more efficient.

 

If you have a manual, you don't drive everywhere in 2nd or 3rd do you? You change into 4th or 5th for most normal cruising unless you really want to boot it. Let the 'box do it's own thing - if working properly it knows better than you!

 

Richard :cool:

My overdrive is on permenantely, unless i want to accelerate quickly! And i get 400 miles to a tank!

 

sorry m8 some of your posts baffle me lol

cos in febuary you said your car was kph and limited, and then your clocks went tits up

then you had all the major probs' with your car, so i reckon it must be 400km

or your pushing it around a lot without the engine on :tongue:

Slightly off topic but related to fingers' post: yep you *can* get 400 miles from a tank of fuel... just drive reasonably gently. I've managed this in my car (manual TT), however you're only ever going to get that on a long motorway drive -- in normal use I've no idea what my fuel economy is, but I can tell you it's awful: must be less than 15 mpg.