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MACE
Dodge Dakota
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6/26/2001
11:35:17

Subject: Multi-Speed Auto and O/D
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In reference to the 2001 4.7 with the multi-speed auto...what is the common practice on when to turn O/D off...towing is one, right?

My commute starts with highway driving and ends with 10 miles (at least) of local roads, stop lights, and traffic...once off the highway, I should turn O/D off to avoid too much up and down shifting, or not?

Also, at any speed I can hit the switch to turn it off or on?

And finally, the hell with gas milage, but I should only see a small drop in MPG for those miles if I choose to turn O/D off? (max speed will be maybe 50 at best)

Thanks in advance!



Dan Gruber
Gen III
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6/26/2001
12:20:04

RE: Multi-Speed Auto and O/D
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It's entirely up to you and your preference as to whether you turn it off in normal driving. I've heard arguments both for and against turning off OD. Probably the biggest thing you'll notice is that the converter will lock up in 3rd, and you probably won't notice any difference in gas mileage. I experimented with doing that on mine for about a week and noticed no change in mileage. By turning off OD you'll probably avoid a fair amount of slippage allowed by an unlocked converter in 4th (assuming you wouldn't hit the minimum lock-up speed if you left the OD on), and to some people that's enough to justify locking out OD.

On hitting the switch at any speed: Personally, I wouldn't lock out OD once I'm already in OD, i.e. cruising down the highway at 60 and hitting the lockout button. In that situation if I wanted to lock out OD I'd hit the gas to force a downshift into 3rd and then hit the on-off button.

Bottom line: for normal driving, do what you want. It's your truck, and you should drive it in a way that you are comfortable with. Chances are that if you don't like what the truck is doing, it probably isn't thrilled with it either.

Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.55 LSD

David
Dodge Dakota


6/26/2001
15:01:35

RE: Multi-Speed Auto and O/D
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In the short two weeks I have had my 3.9L Dakota, I find it responds more vigurously at certain RPM when it is not shifting up into OD on its own. With this V6, I figure I need all the power I can get and switching OD off gives me that slight increase in power and response. I've noticed that this truck really drags below 2000RPM.

Personally, I hate the way this auto tranny shifts--it shifts too soon and stays in the higher gears when it needs to drop down for more power...(or, at least, that's what I would do when I had a stick)...





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