New to overdrive...please help

[Michelle5480]

This is the first time I've had a car that automatically turns on the overdrive. I usually drive stick shift and the cars Ive had dont have overdrive. Is it harmful to the car to drive it in overdrive all the time. Sometimes I forget and drive it like that. I tried to find any info in the manual but it doesnt help much. Any answers are greatly appreciated.

[IN MY]

Keeping it "on" so that it lights up on the dash will give you better gas mileage. You might want to turn it off in bad weather, going down steep hills and when braking hard. You will notice the "shift" when you turn it on or off. The trans. will shift to that gear while you drive as you drive. You don't need to turn it off when passing or speeding. You should keep it on all the time.

[Michelle5480]

What do you mean when you say turning it "on", isnt it already on when you start the E?

When it lights up on the dash it says its off.

Uh oh now Im confused........ :?

[Anonymous]

Michelle you are right when i E is turned on it is automatically in overdrive. when you hit the button and it lights up OVERDRIVE OFF that means it is off :?

[BoomerGer]

And......overdrive ON means better gas mileage. sLIGHTLY LESS POWER, BUT YOU WON'T CARE ABOUT THAT!

Ger

[Michelle5480]

Yeah I noticed that with the overdrive on it seems to run at lower RPM's. Which to me means less gas is being wasted.

I was told by a friend that if I keep driving with the overdrive on in low gears that it will mess up my trans. I asked him if it will mess up my trans why would Honda make it so that it turns on when you start the car instead of having it off when you start it. He says that its probably a conspiracy so that the trans will mess up and all E owners will have to purchase new ones. Hmmmmm.....................................

Thats why I decided to ask what others think. :wink:

[N_Jay]

Yeah I noticed that with the overdrive on it seems to run at lower RPM's. Which to me means less gas is being wasted.

I was told by a friend that if I keep driving with the overdrive on in low gears that it will mess up my trans. I asked him if it will mess up my trans why would Honda make it so that it turns on when you start the car instead of having it off when you start it. He says that its probably a conspiracy so that the trans will mess up and all E owners will have to purchase new ones. Hmmmmm.....................................

Thats why I decided to ask what others think. :wink:

My suggesting is not to aks that friend for financail advice either.

Some people just don't UNDERSTAND everything they KNOW!

Leave it in NORMAL, (Overdrive on, "OVERDRIVE OFF" light off) unless you specifically need it to not use top gear.

The OD is not "ON" as much as it is "available" for the trans to select when needed.

[Michelle5480]

Thanks, that really helps. It was so hard to remember to turn it off when I start it and turn it back on after I go 40 mph. Then turn it off and on and off and on.

[BoomerGer]

Thanks, that really helps. It was so hard to remember to turn it off when I start it and turn it back on after I go 40 mph. Then turn it off and on and off and on.

Do we have a blonde here?

Ger

[paulj]

How does the friend's advise compare with what the manual says?

There was a time, some thirty years ago or more, when overdrive was an addon to the transmission, and there was a fear that overusing it would wear it out. But those days are long gone, and anyone who repeats such ideas is passing on old-husband's tales.

paulj

[Michelle5480]

Well, Im not a blonde just too busy to remember stuff sometimes. When the kids are in the back arguing who's hand is on who's side of the seat and Im trying to get everywhere on time, its frustrating to have to be clicking and clicking during an already frustrating drive. I really need to get a DVD player in my E.........ahhhh the silence it would bring.

Anyway, no Im not dumb just lazy and forgetful.

[paulj]

With the way the Honda (and most other brands) overdrive button works you don't have to remember to do anything during normal driving. The default setting is the right one most of the time. It is only in special cases, such as long gentle downhills or when towing a trailer, that you have reason to depress the button (which turns overdrive OFF).

paulj

[rwven]

One great thing about the Honda auto trans is that it has "grade logic" computer control. That's why the E doesn't shift in and out of OD on long upgrades. I have really come to appreciate Honda's engineering after owning this vehicle for these few months (since Dec. 03).

[cburton]

Hey Michelle5480,
Under normal driving conditions, just leave it in "OD" (light will NOT be on). Under nasty conditions, you may want to disengage the "OD" (light Will be on).
Now, if you are towing something, especially near the 1500 lb. limit of the Element, you may want to disengage the "OD" going up/down hills. At least, this is what I've been told by transmission repairmen. They also mention that using the cruise control while towing is hard on the transmission, especially where hills are concerned.
PS. GO CUBBIES! I'm going to see them play Wednesday against the Dodgers and Sunday against the Padres. :P

[Michelle5480]

Thanks Cburton. All this info really helps.

I thought the Cubbies game yesterday was halarious when they kept postponing cause of the rain. Rolling the tarp and unrolling the tarp. Funny and long game. 12 innings I think wasnt it?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, poor guys. I especially liked the time when they had the heavy, rain soaked tarp rolled out, the were about to unfold it, and it stops raining!
It was a long game. 13 innings and rain delays!