95' 4runnner 3.0 3Vze auto tranny

question 1. I pull a 15' aluminum bass boat quite often and I do some city driving and 45 to 65 MPH on some country roads to get to the lake. Should I turn the overdrive off or on when i pull the boat? It seems like it is shifting in and out of 4th gear continuously when im in the country roads on 60 mph cruise control.

Question 2. My current gas mileage is 13 mph average. If I were to get a Downey cat back system and and Downey air intake what kind of MPG could I expect? WOuld I get more power to pull the boat up those steep hills?

THanks for all the help. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

1. only when the tranny is "hunting" for that gear... have you installed a tranny cooler?

2. about 13.00001

try using slightly smaller tires, instead...

No I havent installed a tranny cooler but i would like to because last time I went to the beach I drove straight into the sand from a four hour highway drive and the tranny temp light came on. That was the first time ive seen the light but it wasnt even hot outside and now that I have been pulling the trailer alot when it gets hot soon im sure i will see it again. How do you install one and where do you put it? Are there any write ups on the net? Thanks

i have one but yet to install it.

it's actually simple "wiring" it into the system. the COOLANT radiator has a small cooler tranny already at the bottom. you just add the aux cooler by unhooking the fluid line and adding it in series.

there are a acouple write-ups.

hard part is actually mounting it since there isnt a true spot. i have seen a couple ways.

Yeah i just took a look at possible mounting areas and kinda worried. Dont look like a lot of room. I started a new post on possible mounting areas for a tranny cooler.

HAHAHA yea put smaller tires on it so the odometer is off and you get better mileage. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

actually, the smaller tires are to get "more" power than more for mileage.

I have my truck undergeared at the moment and it ain't helping my mileage. Sometimes when I'm really nice to it I can get 17mpg. For a moment, happiness, then I remember to take off that 6% for gearing and it's back to routine indifference. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lowering the gearing will make life easier on the motor and tranny if you keep the speeds down. Since you drive in the sand, smaller tires probably aren't the best solution for you, lower gearing is. The thing about the mileage is it just takes more energy to move all of that. Energy comes from the gas you burn so there you go. Make sure all the tires, trailer included are up to pressure and that's about it. Not sure of how tall your boat sticks up beyond the truck, probably not much if at all, but anything to help aerodynamics is also a plus.

Frank