Will turning overdrive off when driving around town (under 45mph) help with gas? If it does what about turning it off when I drive into a parking lot or something similar, will that little bit of time help a bit? Just trying to squeaze out the best mileage possible from it.

 

The best way to save gas is to drive with a light foot. Don't worry about the OD unless you are towing. I don't know the specifics of what's going to give the best mileage in a parking lot, but my advice is don't worry about it. If anything, you will save about a fraction of a cent.

 

The only thing that I found that saves gas is driving slow and a toneau cover.

 

what do you mean.....turning the taul/haul botton on so it doesnt shift into 5th?????

first of all....on the highway...at 60mph....if you arent towing anything.....you want 5th to lower the rpms...

and secondly....if you are only cruising at 40mph or driving "in a parking lot" like you mentioned at what...10-15mph?? the truck wont even be in 4th gear let alone 5th.

 

The overdrive is what will save you the gas. When it changes gears it drops your rpms.

 

Yeah I knew everything you guys mentioned. I had just heard before that turning OD off while driving under 45mph will save gas....Thats why I aked to see for sure.

 

dont believe everything you hear

 

I think what people were saying is, if the truck is constantly changing between gears and revving higher and dropping back down, one might be able to get better mpg by holding a gear, instead of all the downshifting. I don't think'd it make a difference one way or the other.

 

Oh yeah Justint420 you have heard right. But it's more like 40 mph and below if you turn your O.D. off at these speeds it's a know fact that you will get slightly, like a half to 1mpg better fuel economy!! I heard it long ago and thought it was bull until I tested it myself. Just drive along under 40mph at a steady speed, shut of your O.D. and reset your over head mpg meter. Then do the same test with your O.D. on and you'll be amazed.

 

There's a lot of variability in a test like that, that makes it tough to tell where the extra mileage really is coming from. Not saying that you didn't see some extra, but it could also be from such things as throttle use, traffic, etc. Resetting the overhead computer over a short distance is usually more about how steady you can hold the gas pedal.

The tow/haul mode off actually raises the shift RPM points as well as shutting off OD, so it would seem like it would hurt mileage. But hey, give it a try...you may be on to something.