Question about changing gears

I usually top up at 3rd in city driving, as going into 4th or 5th isn't possible due to the traffic condition so end up having to down shift to get the car moving and the car makes struggling noises when it tries to accelerate from low speed. I like to rev the engine too, as it's a VTEC unit they like being revved and I usually average 3.5k when shifting, always get caught out in 1st too as it revs so high quickly. I also noticed a fair improvement in fuel economy when sticking under 2k rpm.
 
Generally, while accelerating, change up before or around peak torque and cruise in the highest gear that allows you to progress with fairly light throttle.

Wide open throttle is fine for some cars but not others. Some cars overfuel at wide opem throttle, leading to some fuel not being burned.
 
Last edited:
Matt82 said:
But there are lots of times you need to get upto x speed and keeping the throttle open further for longer in a higher gear isn't the best for economy.

Basically there are no hard and fast rules.

Hypermilers will know more, their info on pulse and glide sounds logical
Click to expand...

Yes there are. Changing at the lowest engine rpm possible is the rule. What is possible depends on many factors
 
As soon as you can change up without labouring the engine in that gear then change up, use the accelerator as lightly as traffic allows and do not use the brakes unless absolutely necessary.

74mpg here :D
 
I pretty much go to 5th gear as soon as I hit 30, anything below that depends on how quickly I need to accelerate. If I go above 30 I go to 6th gear.

Between 30-40 I find that 5th and 6th gear work fine, so long as I'm not going up a steep hill and simply trying to maintain 30-40. Under these conditions I don't need to use too much throttle either, just occasionally feathering the acceleator. The engine stays below 2000rpm and doesn't seem to struggle, just makes a slightly lower pitched hum when I apply the accelerator. I definitely don't try to accelerate hard under these conditions and will always downshift when I need to accelerate quickly.

My main concern is using the 5th/6th gears whilst crusing in 30/40mph zones and whether it is healthy for the engine in the long term (despite converntional wisdom). Of course the car seems far more responsive if I cruise at the same speeds at 3rd/4th gear, but the higher rpm just seems like a waste, when I don't need extra acceleration power and then there's also the usual "higer rpm equals higher engine wear and less fuel economy, bla, bla, bla" arguements.

Anyway, I'm going to drive up to 3000rpm this week and see how it goes, though not sure how I will measure fuel economy in any remotely reliable and accurate way.
 
titaniumx3 said:
I pretty much go to 5th gear as soon as I hit 30, anything below that depends on how quickly I need to accelerate. If I go above 30 I go to 6th gear
Click to expand...



Your gear ratios very different to my 320d. At 30mph Im only at about 1200rpm in 4th gear and have to shift down to 3rd if I drop down to 25 in traffic otherwise the engine Labours. 6th gear just over 30mph is fantasy in my car! :eek:
 
Just before I hit the rev limiter so i get a nice blip a flame out the back and get optimum performance, mpg pffft
 
Dad's Audi 2.0 TDI Multitronic likes to go around everywhere at 1,200 RPM though it raises it the moment it gets near a hill to around 1,800. Don't see it go past 2,000 unless he's in a rush.

Though my Dad's driving is very.. relaxed.. lately.
 
Matt82 said:
But there are lots of times you need to get upto x speed and keeping the throttle open further for longer in a higher gear isn't the best for economy.

Basically there are no hard and fast rules.

Hypermilers will know more, their info on pulse and glide sounds logical
Click to expand...

"Pulse and glide" is based on using a reasonable amount of throttle at lowish RPM in bursts to accelerate the car. i.e. it uses the engine in the most efficient operating area.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom