1995 Mercury Sable GS -- Overdrive Transmission
 

Hello,

My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive Transmission.

We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard people
say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only use
it on the freeway and on long trips.

I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.

I am curious if anyone has an opinion on whether it is ok to use the
overdrive in town driving.


Also anyone know will we get better gas milage using overdrive on long
trips wheere we are on the interstate for hours at a time.

As an aside note.... any opinions if Fuel additives like HEAT and the
like as well as using premium grade unleaded fuel help much...?

We are going on an approx 800 mile trip in a few days. I want to
maximize Fuel effenciency.


Thank you

> We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard people
> say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only use
> it on the freeway and on long trips.

I have always used overdrive around town, In my '88 rustang, my real wagon
('89 Caprice), '92 GMC and 93 JeeP, I have never had a problem, but then
again I haven't read the owners manuals either. What does your manual say??

> Also anyone know will we get better gas milage using overdrive on long
> trips wheere we are on the interstate for hours at a time.

YES!!! that is mainly why its there..

> As an aside note.... any opinions if Fuel additives like HEAT and the
> like as well as using premium grade unleaded fuel help much...?

If you have money to throw away send to me. If your MANUAL (did you read it
yet?) doesn't say to run premium gas then your engine will not benefit from
it.

Snow...

"No Spam" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Hello,
>
> My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive Transmission.
>
> We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard people
> say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only use
> it on the freeway and on long trips.

Doesn't make much sense, the car will only go into 4th (overdrive) if it's
going fast enough. Unless the car hunts between 3rd and 4th, leave it in
overdrive.


> I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.
>
> I am curious if anyone has an opinion on whether it is ok to use the
> overdrive in town driving.

Overdrive should be the gear selected for normal opperation. I've been using
it for years without problem. Only downshift into drive if you're towing a
trailer, need some engine braking, or the car is hunting between 3rd and
4th.


> Also anyone know will we get better gas milage using overdrive on long
> trips wheere we are on the interstate for hours at a time.

If you're not using overdrive on the highway you might as well throw your
money away. In overdrive the engine will spin slower and won't use as much
gas.

> As an aside note.... any opinions if Fuel additives like HEAT and the
> like as well as using premium grade unleaded fuel help much...?

Don't use the snake oil. Premium gas will be a waste of money. Even if it
did somehow improve mileage (in an engine designed for regular it won't) it
costs more, offsetting any benifet.

> We are going on an approx 800 mile trip in a few days. I want to
> maximize Fuel effenciency.

Ensure your tires are properly inflated.

On Mon, 07 Mar 2005 15:12:11 -0800, No Spam wrote:

> Hello,
>
> My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive Transmission.
>
> We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard people
> say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only use
> it on the freeway and on long trips.

Nonsense. Just leave the overdrive switched on and the transmission will
automatically put the car into overdrive when it makes sense.

> I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.

Overdrive typically engages at about 50mph, so around town the overdrive
switch may be 'on' but the overdrive usually isn't.

> I am curious if anyone has an opinion on whether it is ok to use the
> overdrive in town driving.

It is ok to have it switched on all the time, with the exception of
trailering, where the transmission may shift in and out of overdrive too
often.

Also disengaging overdrive on long and gentle downgrades may provide just
enough engine braking to keep speed constant.

> Also anyone know will we get better gas milage using overdrive on long
> trips wheere we are on the interstate for hours at a time.

Yes, you will get better mileage.

> As an aside note.... any opinions if Fuel additives like HEAT and the
> like as well as using premium grade unleaded fuel help much...?

Snake oil. Use the grade of fuel listed in your manual or the next better
grade if your grade is unavailable.

> We are going on an approx 800 mile trip in a few days. I want to
> maximize Fuel effenciency.

Overdrive: On.

Fuel: Grade as prescribed in manual.

Speed: Reasonable and Prudent.

Chris

"No Spam" > wrote in message
. com>

> My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive
Transmission.
>
> We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard people
> say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only
use
> it on the freeway and on long trips.
>
> I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.

It's perfectly fine to use Overdrive all the time, except sometimes
when going down long hills, and the people who advised against it have
obsolete information or owned one of the first Ford 4-speed automatic
overdrive transmissions, which would sometimes make the engine stall in
panic stops if in overdrive. If you don't use overdrive in highway
traffic, not only will your fuel economy be noticeably worse, but your
transmission torque converter may run hotter since its lock up clutch
remains disengaged (but some cars lock up this clutch even in lower
gears)

Avoid additives except possibly an occasional bottle of Dry Gas (to
remove water from the gas tank) or Techron (removes carbon from fuel
injectors, pistons, heads, and intake valves). Don't overdo them.

wrote:
> "No Spam" > wrote in message
> . com>
>
> > My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive
> Transmission.
> >
> > We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard
people
> > say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only
> use
> > it on the freeway and on long trips.
> >
> > I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.
>
> It's perfectly fine to use Overdrive all the time, except sometimes
> when going down long hills, and the people who advised against it
have
> obsolete information or owned one of the first Ford 4-speed automatic
> overdrive transmissions, which would sometimes make the engine stall
in
> panic stops if in overdrive. If you don't use overdrive in highway
> traffic, not only will your fuel economy be noticeably worse, but
your
> transmission torque converter may run hotter since its lock up clutch
> remains disengaged (but some cars lock up this clutch even in lower
> gears)
>
> Avoid additives except possibly an occasional bottle of Dry Gas (to
> remove water from the gas tank) or Techron (removes carbon from fuel
> injectors, pistons, heads, and intake valves). Don't overdo them.

Same opinion as all others and as layed out in your manual. One
exception. HEAT is not snake oil. It is one of many brands of 'dry
gas' to remove water from the gas tank. You should use one
occasionally, especially in winter. I usually throw one in at the
beginning of winter and another in spring.

Harry K

Bill 2 wrote:
> "No Spam" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive
>> Transmission.
>>
>> We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard people
>> say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only
>> use it on the freeway and on long trips.
>
> Doesn't make much sense, the car will only go into 4th (overdrive) if
> it's going fast enough. Unless the car hunts between 3rd and 4th,
> leave it in overdrive.
>
>
>> I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.
>>
>> I am curious if anyone has an opinion on whether it is ok to use the
>> overdrive in town driving.
>
> Overdrive should be the gear selected for normal opperation. I've
> been using it for years without problem. Only downshift into drive if
> you're towing a trailer, need some engine braking, or the car is
> hunting between 3rd and 4th.
>
>
>> Also anyone know will we get better gas milage using overdrive on
>> long trips wheere we are on the interstate for hours at a time.
>
> If you're not using overdrive on the highway you might as well throw
> your money away. In overdrive the engine will spin slower and won't
> use as much gas.
>
>> As an aside note.... any opinions if Fuel additives like HEAT and the
>> like as well as using premium grade unleaded fuel help much...?
>
> Don't use the snake oil. Premium gas will be a waste of money. Even
> if it did somehow improve mileage (in an engine designed for regular
> it won't) it costs more, offsetting any benifet.
>
>> We are going on an approx 800 mile trip in a few days. I want to
>> maximize Fuel effenciency.
>
> Ensure your tires are properly inflated.

Not ONE mention of CAIs or iridium wires/plugs. What's this world coming to?

"Harry K" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> wrote:
>> "No Spam" > wrote in message
>> . com>
>>
>> > My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive
>> Transmission.
>> >
>> > We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard
> people
>> > say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to only
>> use
>> > it on the freeway and on long trips.
>> >
>> > I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.
>>
>> It's perfectly fine to use Overdrive all the time, except sometimes
>> when going down long hills, and the people who advised against it
> have
>> obsolete information or owned one of the first Ford 4-speed automatic
>> overdrive transmissions, which would sometimes make the engine stall
> in
>> panic stops if in overdrive. If you don't use overdrive in highway
>> traffic, not only will your fuel economy be noticeably worse, but
> your
>> transmission torque converter may run hotter since its lock up clutch
>> remains disengaged (but some cars lock up this clutch even in lower
>> gears)
>>
>> Avoid additives except possibly an occasional bottle of Dry Gas (to
>> remove water from the gas tank) or Techron (removes carbon from fuel
>> injectors, pistons, heads, and intake valves). Don't overdo them.
>
> Same opinion as all others and as layed out in your manual. One
> exception. HEAT is not snake oil. It is one of many brands of 'dry
> gas' to remove water from the gas tank. You should use one
> occasionally, especially in winter. I usually throw one in at the
> beginning of winter and another in spring.

But does it improve fuel economy?

Bill 2 wrote:
> "Harry K" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >
> > wrote:
> >> "No Spam" > wrote in message
> >> . com>
> >>
> >> > My girlfriend has a 1995 Mercury Sable GS with Overdrive
> >> Transmission.
> >> >
> >> > We don't use overdrive around town because we have both heard
> > people
> >> > say using it for town (stop and go) driving stresses it and to
only
> >> use
> >> > it on the freeway and on long trips.
> >> >
> >> > I have also heard it is ok to use Overdrive around town.
> >>
> >> It's perfectly fine to use Overdrive all the time, except
sometimes
> >> when going down long hills, and the people who advised against it
> > have
> >> obsolete information or owned one of the first Ford 4-speed
automatic
> >> overdrive transmissions, which would sometimes make the engine
stall
> > in
> >> panic stops if in overdrive. If you don't use overdrive in
highway
> >> traffic, not only will your fuel economy be noticeably worse, but
> > your
> >> transmission torque converter may run hotter since its lock up
clutch
> >> remains disengaged (but some cars lock up this clutch even in
lower
> >> gears)
> >>
> >> Avoid additives except possibly an occasional bottle of Dry Gas
(to
> >> remove water from the gas tank) or Techron (removes carbon from
fuel
> >> injectors, pistons, heads, and intake valves). Don't overdo them.
> >
> > Same opinion as all others and as layed out in your manual. One
> > exception. HEAT is not snake oil. It is one of many brands of
'dry
> > gas' to remove water from the gas tank. You should use one
> > occasionally, especially in winter. I usually throw one in at the
> > beginning of winter and another in spring.
>
> But does it improve fuel economy?

Since it's sole purpose is to remove water from the gas tank, why would
economy even enter into it? Since it is alcohol and alcohol burns I
suppose it might have a miniscule effect on improving economy for a few
miles. But then at the cost of it, any increase in mileage gets offset
by the added cost. Short answer - No.

Harry K