towing overdrive off or on

[iamwolverine]

2000 ford focus pulling a 14' cresliner w 7.5 hp Mercury short shaft outboard. When I am driving on side streets max 35mph I have it off. Freeway it doesn't sound good like it is not catching gear and then i turn it on and it kicks into the last gear. Or should I have it off all the time when towing. Wight is under 1000 and that's towing capacity for the car.

 

[JB]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Off!!

 

[rbh]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Small cars pulling any trailer/load should not IMHO pull in OD, first off for safety (your really not in control with all the shifting going on) as well you will tax the motor and tranny.

 

[Ibl0wstuffup]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Od should be off. It will eat the od band faster towing in od. Also it would be a good idea.to install an auxillary trans fluid cooler. Heat is what damages transmissions.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

I tow in OD about 98% of the time, but my 'burb has the 4l80E and its designed to tow in OD. If I'm towing to a mountain lake, she'll be in 3rd most of the time.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Off, ford has had tranny trouble for years in their cars, the cooler doesn't work as well then plugs. Make sure you hve service on it to help with this.

 

[Guest]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

OFF or you'll be replacing the tranny and few other related parts as well sooner then you want to. :facepalm:

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Off without a doubt.
Now what do you have to pull the Focus ???

 

[MercGuy]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

The answer is: if you have to ask, leave it off.

I tow with OD on 99% of the time, but I understand what is going on in the tranny.

As long as the torque converter is locked up there is no problem. If the TC unlocks, or constantly locks and unlocks, heat will build rapidly and your tranny will die an early death.

I have 154,000 miles and counting on my tow vehicle to back me up !!

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

The answer is: if you have to ask, leave it off.

I tow with OD on 99% of the time, but I understand what is going on in the tranny.

As long as the torque converter is locked up there is no problem. If the TC unlocks, or constantly locks and unlocks, heat will build rapidly and your tranny will die an early death.

I have 154,000 miles and counting on my tow vehicle to back me up !!

X2 On. My 07 Expy never hunts. But I'm at the low-end of the 9200# cap.

 

[45Auto]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

What does your owners manual say about it?

 

[iamwolverine]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Please click one of the Quick Reply icons in the posts above to activate Quick Reply.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

I tow in OD about 98% of the time, but my 'burb has the 4l80E and its designed to tow in OD. If I'm towing to a mountain lake, she'll be in 3rd most of the time.

I tow near max loads in 100F+ temps on interstate hiways with my 4l80E and can tell you in 3rd the trans temp stays close to 200F and water 210F.
In OD the the trans temp climbs to 230F and water to 250F.
I tow in 3rd.
Note: not the boat in profile- I tow with my 2008 Silverado1500 LTZ 6.0 aluminum block

 

[Incorrigible]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Checking your owners manual is a great place to start as stated above. If you're in OD (I'm NEVER in OD for towing, but I'm transmission sensitive) If you DO tow in OD, your truck/car will tell you when that's a bad idea. If the transmission is shifting a lot or "searching" for gear constantly, you need to take it out of OD.

Transmission temp gauge is a really handy add-on if you dont' have it.

 

[ricovw]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

When towing, always OFF.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

What does your owners manual say about it?

LOL. Assuming a Focus is smaller than my 2011 Ford Fusion...

Owner's manual for my Fusion is rather plainly stated...something very much like "This vehicle is not designed for towing. Do not tow a trailer with this vehicle."

 

[scipper77]

Re: towing overdrive off or on

Just because I think it's that important to repeat, If you don't know, you definitely want overdrive "OFF".

I only tow 5 miles on level ground to my launch and I will not tow with O/D on.

Furthermore, if you tow regularly you really need to flush and fill the tranny fluid at the recommended intervals as a "minimum".

Heat and friction kills pretty much everything mechanical. Proper lubrication will keep friction and in turn heat to a minimum.

Happy boating.