Ever heard of the overdrive feature in the Ford F 150 or any other vehicle? Sounds like something that will enhance the performance of an automobile and make it overperform, right? Well, not to burst your bubble but that’s not what the overdrive function is about. We’ll inform you of all you have to know about the overdrive function.
The overdrive feature in Ford reduces the RPM of the engine, something that brings about the smoother operation and better fuel economy. This feature is best used when cruising on highways and byways.
As you’ll come to learn later in this article, there are situations when it’s good to use the overdrive feature. Using the overdrive feature when the conditions are not right may damage your vehicle. Continue reading this article to learn more about the overdrive feature and when best to use it.
What Is The Overdrive Feature In Ford F150?
The Overdrive feature isn’t unique to the Ford F150. It can be found in many models of automatic and manual transmission vehicles. And while you may think the overdrive feature increases the performance of your vehicle, the reality is that the opposite occurs as this feature actually reduces your vehicle’s performance.
In many vehicles, the overdrive feature can easily be turned on and off at the touch of a button. When you engage the overdrive feature in a vehicle, the engine’s revolutions per minute (RPMs) get reduced. By reducing an engine’s RPM in the overdrive feature, a vehicle can easily maintain higher speeds while consuming less fuel. So, there are benefits to using the overdrive feature correctly as the strain on the engine is significantly reduced and the vehicle can operate smoother and more efficiently.
In overdrive mode, the vehicle is in high gear mode. The reason for putting the vehicle in a high gear mode is to reduce the strain on the engine as earlier mentioned. But it’s not just about that. The engine is prevented from reaching its maximum power and top speed as acceleration is inhibited. Now, you may wonder why anyone may want to inhibit acceleration but there are situations when this comes in handy. We’ll explain such situations later in this article.
If you are familiar with a car’s transmission, you’ll know that an engine produces better output and torque at lower gears. This means rapid acceleration and speeding can be achieved at lower gears. But when you engage the override button and put the engine in high gear mode, all these are sacrificed. For what you may wonder? It’s for a more effortless driving experience and superior fuel economy. You read that right.
The overdrive feature isn’t as common in many modern vehicles as they usually come with fifth and higher gears that can achieve what the overdrive feature is designed to do – and this is efficient and effortless cruising. Many automatic transmission vehicles, especially newer ones, don’t require the driver to manually activate the overdrive feature.
When To Use The Overdrive Feature?
To enjoy the benefits that the overdrive feature promises, you must know when to turn the overdrive feature on. The best time to use the overdrive feature is when you are traveling on highways or expressways. Except there’s an issue, you are likely to travel at higher speeds on highways, reaching or even exceeding 60 mph.
You may not know it but there’s a lot of strain on your engine when you achieve high speeds on highways. Engaging the overdrive feature in this situation works like magic as the extra strain on your vehicle is removed and you can travel smoothly at higher speeds.
If smooth driving isn’t enough for you to use overdrive on highways, perhaps the prospect of better fuel economy will appeal to you. You’ll save money on fuel pumps in addition to enjoying a relaxed and efficient ride. So, whenever you get up to speed after entering a highway or expressway, be sure to use the overdrive feature.
In new cars, the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), which is a control module that controls many electronic processes, can automatically engage the overdrive feature if proper speeds and conditions are met. It’s common to see some drivers leaving the overdrive feature on, but you should only do this if you do a lot of highway driving.
When To Turn The Overdrive Feature Off?
Despite the advantages of the overdrive feature, there are situations when you shouldn’t use it. One such situation is when you are climbing a hill. Another is when you want to accelerate for overtaking other vehicles, navigating off-road, or hauling a trailer or weighted load. All of the above situations require high torque which can’t be achieved in the overdrive mode as the vehicle is operating at low RPMs. As a result, a vehicle in overdrive mode will perform poorly in the aforementioned conditions.
You should also avoid using the overdrive function when you are traveling downhill or in traffic as you need to engage the brake more often in these situations and travel at varying speeds. The same also applies to city driving where you may need to travel below 50 mph.
Overdrive in Automatic vs. Manual
As we mentioned earlier in this article, the overdrive feature can be found on both manual and automatic vehicles. In both types of transmission, the overdrive feature serves as the highest gear. Manual transmission vehicles usually have a button that can be used to switch the overdrive function on or off.
In an automatic transmission vehicle, there’s no need to manually turn the overdrive feature on or off as the ECU will automatically do this if certain conditions are met.
Add-On Overdrive
Did you know it’s possible to add the overdrive feature to cars that don’t have them? This is true for older automatic transmission automobiles that don’t come with the feature. An experienced mechanic can attach an aftermarket add-on overdrive system to the existing transmission. Usually, the component is bolted to the back of the main transmission and has 2 speeds.
With the add-on overdrive system installed, the vehicle can offer the benefits of the overdrive system which includes better fuel economy and smoother engine operation. So, if your vehicle doesn’t come with an overdrive feature and you want one, have a chat with your mechanic about the feasibility of installing an add-on overdrive system and the cost implications.
