gear selection

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Gsub

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Posts
30
Reaction score
14
Location
Belgium
First Name
Gert
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
Suburban C10
Engine Size
350
guys,

my suburban has a TH 700 with a overdrive trannny , when i drive here in town ( 25-45 MPH) in wich gear should i drive , "D" or "3" ??

thx
Gert
 

gpmorgan

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2013
Posts
562
Reaction score
105
Location
Tupelo Ms.
First Name
greg
Truck Year
1992
Truck Model
1500
Engine Size
632
As long as you aren't pulling a trailer just leave it in D. It will only shift into OD if it needs to.
 

83kid

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2014
Posts
321
Reaction score
1
Location
Massachusettes
First Name
John
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
k10
Engine Size
350
Whats your tire size? Stock or oversized?
For me, i have 33's, and i always put it in 3rd.
Theres been a couple times i put it in D and didnt notice, and the engine would bog down at about 40-45 when it shifted into overdrive, when it shouldnt shift until like 60.
Even on the highway, i just leave it in 3rd. Fastest ive been is 80-85 and i really should be in overdrive, but it was only for a couple seconds and the engine was at like 3600 rpm so nothing too crazy IMO.
But, what everyone tells me to do is when i get going about 60-65 let off the gas, and shift it up 1 gear into D, and ive done it and it keeps the engine at a nice low RPM, but i hate doing it because ive hit neutral before instead and had to get back down to D while on the higway, little sketchy for me.

If you have stock tires, just go D.
And, try both. Go 0-60 or so in D, see if at some point it bogs down on your or sounds wierd, if it does that go with 3rd.
 

MadOgre

Full Access Member
Joined
May 4, 2014
Posts
4,090
Reaction score
51
Location
NA
First Name
NA
Truck Year
NA
Truck Model
NA
Engine Size
NA
lol I haven't used OD all year long just 3rd. Your better off leaving it in 3rd if you don't need it. 45 mph isn't really OD territory.

If you put it in OD it will shift to 4th even at 30-35 mph when off throttle and will down shift back to 3rd when you apply throttle, that's why I just leave it in 3rd to eliminate all the unnecessary shifting.
 

Gsub

Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Posts
30
Reaction score
14
Location
Belgium
First Name
Gert
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
Suburban C10
Engine Size
350
i have 33" tires in the back, and 31" front...
 

Boone83K10

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Posts
841
Reaction score
42
Location
Boone, NC
First Name
Benjamin
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
You really should have the same size tires on all four corners...

with that being said, use 3 for those speeds.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,173
Posts
950,869
Members
36,289
Latest member
HT2abbottrl
Top