using 3rd gear...
 

If I want a little more power can I drive in 3rd? is 3rd like drive and drive is like od? I am a bit confused cause i drove a camaro before. thanks. also if it is ok to drive in third when is the right time to shift to D at WOT.(or should I)

i say SURE....it's not like it isn't designed to run in a particular gear.

i would say it's fine to run in D anytime you plan to keep it under 60.

you'll just drop your gas milage and since you'll be spinning more revs, the obvious small increase in engine and accessory wear. but then again if you are looking at or are worried about the small increase in wear, you'ld be happy to know that it would probably put that much less stress on the trans shifting that last time.

it's kindda splitting hairs really...i'd say go for it.

I usually keep it in 3rd till 45mph. Less stress on the tranny shifting back and forth.

Read the link and decide.

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...h+no+load+RPMs

PJ

You are best off just letting the tranny do the work and keep it in OD Camaro or D on Pontiacs unless you know you are going to be in slow traffic going in and out of OD in that case you can keep it in 3rd untill traffic picks up. And from what I have read it's hard on the tranny shifting from 3rd to 4th(OD) I think 3rd holds a little past 130mph so that is plenty fast:cool: Just a little FYI

Do you know whether you've got 2.73's or 3.23's?:confused: Check for GU2 (2.73's) or GU5 (3.23's) on the driver's door sticker.

REGARDLESS, there is NO problem cruising around and leaving the shifter in Drive / 3rd, whatever. I do it all the time. I find especially, because of having 2.73's, where 3rd gear is good until ~165 mph (proven;)), I see know need to keep the car in OD / 4th unless I'm on a continuous highway cruise, where traffic is flowing well. Anytime traffic sucks, or I'm not going to be doing more than 60 - 70 mph consistently, I leave my car in 3rd, and it's no worse RPM wise than having 3.73's and driving in 4th:thumb:. I hate being on a road where your speed might be varying a lot, and the transmission is constantly in and out of 4th, and the torque converter is in and out of lock-up:rolleyes:. It's annoying, so I drive in 3rd a lot.