Overdrive on or off when pulling weight?

[Fitz-0518]

Hmmm, what's the difference in OD Off and Tow?? But when I push mine again it just turns the OD back on. Unless you have to push it twice real fast or something...

Sounds like your 02 only has OD on or off function. Off when towing see Paul's post6.

 

[dexter]

We didn't have overdrive transmissions! Do yourself a favor... If you're towing, turn the OD off... When I first got my Bronco with the E4OD transmission, I called BS that I needed to turn the OD off when pulling my boat trailer... Right up until the overdrive clutch unglued on the interstate. VERY expensive repair...

My '98 RAM had the OD on/off on the end of the trans shift, I always turned it off and never had a problem with the OD clutch. My '12 RAM has the tow mode button, I light it up whenever I hook up to a trailer...

I tow now and I towed with a Dakota 3.9L.

I generally town with the OD on and don't use TH

In the past, with the 3.9L I found locking the OD out was helpful .....
When starting to move from a stop
Getting up to speed when entering a highway.
Strong head winds

If you truck is going into and out of OD then turn it off.

 

[Black W900]

Glad I'm not paying for the repair bill that's coming.

 

[dexter]

Glad I'm not paying for the repair bill that's coming.

repair of what?

 

[Bigpoppa99]

Yea, what repair?

 

[PaulTGarrett]

Ford, Dodge, RAM, GM... It doesn't matter... My Bronco cost me over $2800 plus round trip airfare to get home and then back to pick up the repaired truck.

If you lose the overdrive clutch, it -will- be expensive... Because it might not just take out the OD, little particles of clutch and metal have a bad habit of traveling through the hydraulics in your transmission, eating everything else they come in contact with... To each their own, but protecting your transmission with the simple push of a button... Seems like a no brainer to me!

And for those who worry so much about their fuel mileage... Hooking up a trailer, OD on or not, you are going to lose mileage... Period... And the fact that you're driving a TRUCK in the first place... If you're worried so much about fuel mileage... Trade your truck in for a Prius...

 

[NCRaineman]

Honestly... depends on how much weight you are pulling. A little trailer with some gardening equipment, I wouldn't worry about it. A camper, I'd turn the OD off unless you are in Kansas or somewhere with equivalently flat ground. Every hill you come to you're going to be in and out of OD.

 

[Bigpoppa99]

What is the affects of a transmission running hot? Like what can it mess up? I guess I'm just worried where I pulled my camper that one time and my trans temp light came on. I didn't drive far at all when the light came on, I pulled over and put it in "OD Off" for the remainder of the trip, which was approx 35-40 miles. Now during that ride my trans temp light never went off even after turning the OD Off. Now after we got to the campground and on my trip home the light was not on but this time I turned the OD Off from the start. This was about 2 months ago and has been fine since, I guess I'm just concerned if that one time getting it hot could have done anything. I mean my trans was just rebuilt about 8 months ago, but we got a beach camping trip coming up in a couple weeks (4 hr drive) and I guess I'm just paranoid.

 

[dexter]

What is the affects of a transmission running hot? Like what can it mess up? I guess I'm just worried where I pulled my camper that one time and my trans temp light came on. I didn't drive far at all when the light came on, I pulled over and put it in "OD Off" for the remainder of the trip, which was approx 35-40 miles. Now during that ride my trans temp light never went off even after turning the OD Off. Now after we got to the campground and on my trip home the light was not on but this time I turned the OD Off from the start. This was about 2 months ago and has been fine since, I guess I'm just concerned if that one time getting it hot could have done anything. I mean my trans was just rebuilt about 8 months ago, but we got a beach camping trip coming up in a couple weeks (4 hr drive) and I guess I'm just paranoid.

Check trans fluid level; even if it was rebuilt recently.

You might also look at putting fresh engine coolant in, if it has been awhile.

And, how about the water pump? Mine went out at about 230K on my Dakota. If you hear a little rattle it could be the water pump.

Check your serpentine belt. Check your mtc schedule and put one on if it is old. Old ones can glaze and slip. The tensioners do wear out also.

Watch your engine temp gauge. As soon as it gets into the red or looks like it turn on the heater and fan full and pull over. The people in the truck might think you are crazy but that might save your head gasket.



http://transmissionrepairguy.com/transmission-overheating/
The ideal fluid temperature is under 175 degrees, but as fluid ages it starts to break down and lose its capacity to cool down the transmission. This is when transmission overheating occurs. At 220 degrees, varnish forms. At 240 degrees, seals start to harden. At 260 degrees, you’ll often experience transmission slipping as plates slip. At 295 degrees, seals and clutches start to burn and fluid forms carbon, at which point transmission failure might happen soon. But with every 20 degree drop in fluid temperature, your transmission’s lifespan can approximately double! That’s a pretty significant difference, a decrease from 220 degrees to 195 degrees can allow your transmission to last another 50,000 miles!

 

[Fitz-0518]

What is the affects of a transmission running hot? Like what can it mess up? I guess I'm just worried where I pulled my camper that one time and my trans temp light came on. I didn't drive far at all when the light came on, I pulled over and put it in "OD Off" for the remainder of the trip, which was approx 35-40 miles. Now during that ride my trans temp light never went off even after turning the OD Off. Now after we got to the campground and on my trip home the light was not on but this time I turned the OD Off from the start. This was about 2 months ago and has been fine since, I guess I'm just concerned if that one time getting it hot could have done anything. I mean my trans was just rebuilt about 8 months ago, but we got a beach camping trip coming up in a couple weeks (4 hr drive) and I guess I'm just paranoid.

I understand your concern and caution. But,,if it were me and I wanted some comfort for that trip . I would change the fluid and both filters. If Dodge calls for a trans additive for your trans, do it. As far as OD, consider what others have shared. It it good advise. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Bigpoppa99]

As for engine coolant it's full and very fresh, I drained it and refilled it with 50/50 during this past winter. Water pump is only about 2 yrs old because my whole motor was rebuilt then and my old water pump was leaking. Belts appear to be in good shape. I will check my trans fluid level on my way home from work. Put it in Neutral to check it right?

Well hopefully I didn't get it that hot that one trip to hurt any seals. I know just before I got my trans rebuilt my trans front seal went out on our way to a camping trip in our pop-up camper, left us stranded 2 hrs from home fluid was pouring from the front of trans.

Is there a aftermarket Trans temp gauge I can install to physically monitor the temps or is there such a thing?

 

[Fitz-0518]

Yes. You can get a good trans temp gauge on line or from your local parts store. I use VDO. But you will need to locate the right place to locate the sensor. I do not know on your transmission where that is. You may want to talk to your trans guy who rebuilt your trans 8 months ago.

 

[dexter]

As for engine coolant it's full and very fresh, I drained it and refilled it with 50/50 during this past winter. Water pump is only about 2 yrs old because my whole motor was rebuilt then and my old water pump was leaking. Belts appear to be in good shape. I will check my trans fluid level on my way home from work. Put it in Neutral to check it right?

Well hopefully I didn't get it that hot that one trip to hurt any seals. I know just before I got my trans rebuilt my trans front seal went out on our way to a camping trip in our pop-up camper, left us stranded 2 hrs from home fluid was pouring from the front of trans.

Is there a aftermarket Trans temp gauge I can install to physically monitor the temps or is there such a thing?

Do you have a transmission cooler?

 

[dearchristopher]

im willing to bet you could get a bluetooth obd2 sensor, and download torque if you have an android device and monitor your trans temps that way. I used to have a 2001 dodge ram van 2500, would monitor trans temps constantly. it was our band's van, we toured all over the US in it, towing a 5x10 everywhere loaded to the brim.

you DON'T want to tow without pressing that OD Off button. I know there is a little bit of conjecture in this thread, but i can tell ya it's not great if you constantly allow the trans to enter overdrive and come out all the time. that generates a TON of heat, and too much heat is the enemy of any transmission. remember this: engines like to be hot, transmissions like to be cool.

i bought a 1995 b2500 ram van before we had our 2001, and immediately had to rebuild the transmission due to the TC taking a dump.

paid $2500 for the van, $1900 for the trans rebuild. Transmission ended up dying on us in Springfield MO because some of the other guys didn't like to pay attention to OD/trans temps. We left it in Springfield.

If you have to question whether you should be in OD or not, it's best to just leave it off every time. Check the fluid in the trans, and change it if it smells burnt. The fluid broke down too much if so, and won't be properly lubricating the valve body like it should.

here's a pic of the 01, the church special haha

 

[Bigpoppa99]

Do you have a transmission cooler?

Yes. A larger one than factory. I had the guy put me a bigger one in when he rebuilt my motor. I can get a pic tomorrow but it's not a huge one, but it's bigger than stock I'm pretty sure

Also, while on the subject of heat, I notice when pulling my camper my truck runs a bit hotter than normal. Is this normal? It never goes past the mid mark, it just gets slightly closer to it than normal

 

[dearchristopher]

Yes. A larger one than factory. I had the guy put me a bigger one in when he rebuilt my motor. I can get a pic tomorrow but it's not a huge one, but it's bigger than stock I'm pretty sure

Also, while on the subject of heat, I notice when pulling my camper my truck runs a bit hotter than normal. Is this normal? It never goes past the mid mark, it just gets slightly closer to it than normal

did you bypass the radiator when you had the bigger trans cooler installed?

 

[dexter]

Yes. A larger one than factory. I had the guy put me a bigger one in when he rebuilt my motor. I can get a pic tomorrow but it's not a huge one, but it's bigger than stock I'm pretty sure

Also, while on the subject of heat, I notice when pulling my camper my truck runs a bit hotter than normal. Is this normal? It never goes past the mid mark, it just gets slightly closer to it than normal

You're doing all the right things.

Maybe because it is working harder?

 

[Bigpoppa99]

did you bypass the radiator when you had the bigger trans cooler installed?

What do you mean bypass the radiator? It's sitting in front of it like the stock was

 

[dearchristopher]

What do you mean bypass the radiator? It's sitting in front of it like the stock was

there's usually a heat exchange in the radiator dedicated to the trans fluid. you can route the trans fluid to a cooler, and bypass the radiator altogether so it is only running through the cooler you install. you should be able to trace the hard lines and figure out the routing

 

[Bigpoppa99]

It's seperate