Winter driving tips for AOD... January 04, 2006, 08:29:29 AM Hi guys!Winter is worse than I've expected here, so there is some snow around. I was driving a manual Focus last winter so it wasn't a big deal, but this year I'm using a T-bird.I was wondering if there are any winter driving tips for AOD tranny not to harm it during winter. I have a strange driveway (L shaped) and my T-bird sometimes spins tires there (going reverese). I'm warming up the engine, but I'm not sure if it's healthy for the tranny when it's cold?I was also wondering which is better for winter O/D or D?Thanks! Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #1 – January 04, 2006, 10:34:24 AM drive it the same you would normally. Just give yourself a larger following/stopping distance. If there is any wetness, (black ice/any snow) drive like you are gonna slide really bad any time you turn. other then that, that is pretty much it.I stay in D under about 40, OD any time over 40 Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #2 – January 04, 2006, 10:35:46 AM I would generally drive in D in the snow. My driveway is all uphill so to get out, I would usually put the car in 1st and not go into D until I made it on the road.D is also better for climbing hills and such on the road so the tranny doesn't constantly shift into O/D. When it shifts into OD, I often lose my momentum which is not good for a snowcovered hill.Now if the roads have been salted and there is not any snow on them, I'd say you're fine with O/D.As far as what is harmful to the tranny, I really don't know. I never thought about it. Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #3 – January 04, 2006, 10:52:01 AM In general...wintertime is the AOD's best friend. Heat is the #1 killer of all transmissions, but especially the AOD. Don't worry about warming up the car...the latent heat from the engine will warm the transmission up slightly and keep the fluid pliable. Overdrive should kick in at about 45mph; if you cannot maintain that speed for at least 5 minutes, keep the car in D at all times, and all is good. Also...I would recommend some weight for the trunk and good snow tires. These cars can actually perform very well in the snow and ice if properly prepped. Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #4 – January 04, 2006, 04:01:15 PM Oh yeah...if you are stuck without studded tires, drop your air pressure down to about 18-20 psi, but ONLY if you are driving on snow and ice. Driving on dry streets could cause the tire treads to overheat, causing a separation(see below note...) Follow the previous post about extra weight( I toss three sets of 289 heads, and one bare 302 block into my Ford Aerostar for snow duty), fox bodies are horrible on snow. NOTE:The true cause of the Firestone/Explorer tire debacle; Ford wanted a cushy explorer for women to buy, so they lowered the recommended air pressure down to 26 psi...since no women(and alot of men) I know of actually monitor tire pressure, the tires would drop below 26 psi, causing the tire tread to go square ( \__/ that is what a tire does that is underpressure and overloaded...the high-speed transition at the V point causes extreme heat) at the contact patch point. The tire cap/tread overheats, the bond between the cap and the body comes unglued...and the tire cap/tread goes flying.No T-bird/cougar will be carrying that must weight (almost all of the Exploder accidents involved heavy loads), so there won't be a tire overheating problem, unless you are driving at high speeds on a dry highway. Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #5 – January 04, 2006, 08:55:52 PM Studded tires? Are they still legal some places? Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #6 – January 05, 2006, 12:03:10 AM legal here.... Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #7 – January 05, 2006, 12:38:19 AM Quote from: softtouchStudded tires? Are they still legal some places? October to march I believe.... i've gone all year before, eventually the studs disappear Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #8 – January 05, 2006, 07:22:57 PM Thanks for all the winter driving tips & tricks. Good to hear winter driving doesn't harm the tranny! I think that I should get a sand bag and put it in the trunk! :)I was always wondering why AOD doesn't have a separate "2" to select! C4 transmission has it and it's pretty good to prevent from spinning tires.As for the studded tires, I was considering getting them for rear, but they are useful mostly on ice, aren't they? I've never had studded tires! Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #9 – January 05, 2006, 07:28:31 PM Quote from: EricCoolCatsIn general...wintertime is the AOD's best friend. Heat is the #1 killer of all transmissions, but especially the AOD.Why heat is so harmful, and what's causing transmission overheating?What's causing an O/D failure? I've noticed a few cars for sale with AOD where O/D wasn't working properly. Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #10 – January 05, 2006, 10:23:43 PM Quote from: ShevrettiAs for the studded tires, I was considering getting them for rear, but they are useful mostly on ice, aren't they? I've never had studded tires!Actually does more of a skating thing on black ice but on hard packed snow that has a bit of ice on top it digs in pretty well. Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #11 – January 06, 2006, 12:38:15 AM QuoteWhy heat is so harmful, and what's causing transmission overheating?What's causing an O/D failure? I've noticed a few cars for sale with AOD where O/D wasn't working properly.Heat causes the torque converter to swell, known as ballooning, which creates more friction and consequently more heat. Add to that the internal pump, and the fluid which transports heat throughout the valve body. The only cooler that came standard on most of our cars is the tank on the side of the radiator, and it's barely adequate to do the job in the first place. So...cooler weather is good for the transmission because the heat buildup and cool-off isn't as severe as it is during warmer weather.AOD's fail not only because of heat, but because the overdrive band is notoriously weak from the factory. That's a pretty severe 1-2 punch that claims a lot of transmissions. Since D-OD is sequential gearing, once OD goes, D is usually the next to go. And reverse uses first gear too. The AOD is one very strange transmission. Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #12 – January 06, 2006, 01:15:13 AM so what your saying Eric is....when in doubt.....HAMMER DOWN!....lol:tg: kidding...i actually preferr driving a rwd vehicle in the witer. you can at least steer with the back of the car if you get in a little trouble. in a frwd car usually your screwed way before you would be with a rwd car. these cars are actually quite capable with a little weight and some good snows. specially if you have a good traction lock. the whole one wheel thing gets a little old after awhile. Quote Selected
Winter driving tips for AOD... Reply #13 – January 09, 2006, 10:03:39 AM yup gotta say I whole heartedly agree. a pair of snows on the back with the regulars in the trunk for weight and I would say that my rwd cougar handled an awful lot better than the awd subaru I have now. Quote Selected
but on hard packed snow that has a bit of ice on top it digs in pretty well.
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