How do you shift, oppo?

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
04/07/2015 at 10:34 • Filed to: None

What do you do when simply cruising around town? Do you keep your RPMs relatively high so you can have speed when you need it, or do you go to the highest gear feasible for fuel economy? Even at 30mph I'll head for 5th gear and cruise at 1100rpm in my torqueless wonder. It's got enough power to maintain my speed, and I'm assuming I get better fuel economy at the lower RPM.

Thoughts? Opinions? What do you do?

DISCUSSION (51)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:36

I don't.

Kinja'd!!!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:37

I DON'T

bwahahaha auto trans!!!

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:38

Depends on my mood, since I can get the shiftable autobox to somewhat bend to my will in my new car. Usually I let it take me up to 5th or 6th and just cruise, sometimes I get it to hang in 3rd or 4th and get a little more power going for some zip. Depends on where I'm at though.

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:38

I keep the RPM as low as possible, So around town I use third or fourth (depending on if it's 30 km/h or 50km/h speed limit.

My car's got straight pipes, so anything above 2,5k rpm is not pleasant.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:39

Don't do it, bruh. Gotta keep that oil circulating.

If you're bogging going uphill, you're probably doing it wrong. I try to keep mine at around 3k until the road is perfectly flat or downhill, that's the only time I'll slide into a gear where my revs are below that.

Party-vi > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:39

You aren't going to see a fuel economy improvement if you're dogging the engine at low RPM. You get better fuel economy when the engine doesn't have to work very hard.

bob and john > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:40

on the bike, I tend to shift at around 5-7K. 11K red line.

then again, a 75mph cruise at at like 5.5K, so meh

Tohru > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:41

In town? Keep the revs low.

Of course, my current ride has a 4T65E automagic, so I don't get the option.

Sn210 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:42

at 40mph I can stay around 2500 in 4th, which is quiet and comfortable.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:42

In the BRZ, I usually start in second, skip to fourth, and then go to sixth. I only really use first when I need the acceleration for pulling out into traffic or starts at autocross. In the MR2, I tend to wring it out. It just sounds and feels so amazing once it hits around 5k.

Nibbles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:42

Depends on what I'm driving.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
04/07/2015 at 10:42

Kinja wont let me reply to the article so I will just reply here! I am always in 6th gear in my Miata but that is because I don't hit very much traffic. Anything over 40 on level ground is 6th gear capable anyways so that works the majority of my time driving. I try to keep the revs below 3k unless I am looking for some fun on twisty stuff. I don't care at all of going quickly in straight lines (I bought a Miata so this should be obvious anyways) so I end up in 6th very quickly most of the time. I am new to rowing my own gears still but I have gotten the handle on being fuel efficient.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:43

I keep it around 2000-2500 rpm. I don't think lugging the engine at 1000 rpm is going to net any better fuel economy and if you need to accelerate or slow down you can do so without shifting.

jariten1781 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:44

Depends on the car. I do what makes the car feel comfy, neither bogged down nor screaming.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:44

i'm guessing it varies engine to engine. I was told mine has to work too hard if i go much below 2000 rpm. the lowest I do is 1800 if i'm just maintaining speed. Usually I'm at or above 2k. I'll keep it up to 2500 if i'm navigating idiots and want to be able to go at a moments notice. Turbo really kicks at 3.

My hovercraft is full of eels > Party-vi
04/07/2015 at 10:47

I was going to write something similar. In addition, when you accelerate from low speeds in 5th or 6th, that is a lot worse for the drivetrain (engine, clutch, dual mass flywheel) than using 2nd-3rd-4th.

Although my car is capable of cruising in 6th around 55-60 kph, I usually leave it in 4th, so I can accelerate quickly if necessary (without having to switch down).

nermal > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:47

My GTI is happy when it's on boost, so I usually shift at around 3k or a bit before if motoring around town. When flogging it, keep it in the 3-5k range. Anything more than that and it just kinda runs out of steam.

The truck shifts itself. It usually does a pretty good job of that.

ttyymmnn > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:48

Back in the early '80s, I drove a VW Rabbit 4-speed that had what they called an "E Light", which came on to tell you when to upshift for maximum fuel economy. The light had you in 4th gear by 30 mph, so I largely ignored it. It was clever enough, though, not to come on at all when it sensed you were really dogging it.

Now, in my 5-speed Golf, I just go by the sound if I'm cruising. It's so natural, I don't even think about it. But I probably get up to about 2k-3k rpm before shifting.

macanamera > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:49

when the little pointy thing goes into the red thing

Jonathan Harper > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:50

I shift when it feels right. If I'm driving hard I shift later. All depends on the car.

Mattbob > Party-vi
04/07/2015 at 10:50

I go by how far I have to push the pedal to maintain speed. I just find the lowest gear where I hardly have to push the pedal down, and no higher... If I am going for MPG.

macanamera > Party-vi
04/07/2015 at 10:50

honestly on a modern engine you really will see the best fuel economy keeping the RPMs as low as possible at all times, with very few exceptions

E. Julius > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:53

Unless I'm going for a spirited drive I'm generally pretty lazy and avoid running through all the gears. If I have to pick up a bit of speed, maybe turning onto a busy road from a stop sign, I'll usually hang on in 2nd and wait to slot the car into 4th at ~1500-2000 RPM once I reach traffic speed. If it's rolling acceleration I'll just hold whatever gear I'm cruising in and then upshift once I reach the new speed. Slowing down I usually just brake with the clutch in and then rev match the downshift to whatever gear is appropriate when I hit the speed I'm looking for (still working on that heel toe).

If I'm actually trying to push it I do my best to keep the car in the power band. I'll downshift before accelerating/passing. If I'm starting from a stop I'll avoid skipping 3rd gear so I don't drop the revs back to cruising territory. I'll also attempt to heel toe but that's difficult to learn when you don't get to drive stick too often.

Funktheduck > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:54

Depends on my mood and if I'm on time or running behind schedule. When I'm cruisin around I shift on the 10s except for second. Second around 15 mph, 3rd at 30, 4th at 40, etc. If I'm going for economy it depends on the road. I drive mostly in a really hilly area so I do whatever's best to keep my current economy gauge the highest.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:54

if I am cruising I keep the RPMs low but in the torque band. Otherwise I keep it around 3k :)

Jayhawk Jake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:57

Highest gear possible. Which ends up being 2-3k RPM usually

Malforus > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:57

I keep it around 2200-2600 so I am cruising just a bit south of the torque peak.

On the way home I have a pretty interesting merge that I use as an excuse for an italian tune-up.

yamahog > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 10:57

I'm still in the break-in period so I'm keeping it under 4000RPM and varying the cruising speed/gear. It has a 1 to 4 skip shift option, but omfg it starts sounding sofa king beautiful around 3000 so might as well go through them all, and I can do 35 in 5th if I really wanted to.... Still getting better mileage than the jeep so it's all good :)

Party-vi > macanamera
04/07/2015 at 10:58

5th (or 6th) gear while doing 30mph though? I would think that is going to cause all sorts of drivability issues.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:00

Depends on what I'm doing.

Normal drive to work: Listen to the motor for a decent, mid-range RPM (probably in the 2-2500k range) then shift. Been averaging 21 mpg with the ghetto-tuned side drafts.

Asshole Driving - I WISH I WAS SKID RACIN' WITH DEM OTHER RICE BURNER CARS, YEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAWWWWWWW!!!

I also really need to get the Tach adapter installed so I can see my RPMs.

Sethersm > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:03

In my vehicle, 35mph in 3rd is a bit revy, but I leave it there. If I put it in 4th, I'd probably get better mileage, but I'd also inadvertently increase my speed. 35 in 3rd has enough engine noise to let me keep the rpm pretty constant, thus the speed constant. Shift to 4th and it is too quiet so I can't hear my speed change.

PowderHound > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:06

I rarely ever will go below 1500 Rpms. My car basically doesn't work below that. Mostly stay around 2-3500 and higher for a little bit. Remember kids; stay in spool

macanamera > Party-vi
04/07/2015 at 11:08

Like I said, it def depends on the engine/drivetrain, but as an almost universal rule, the lower your RPMs in a modern fuel injected car with variable valve lift/timing, the lowest RPMs will result in the highest MPGs.

My car (I realize my car isn't normal) does 900 rpm at 40 mph lol

JKER > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:09

I usually shift around 7k, 15k when I'm accelerating hard.

JGrabowMSt > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:09

Unfortunately I'm without Manuel currently, but when I did have a Manuel, I shifted when it felt right. Could have been as low as 1200rpm come out of the gate slow and steady to as much as a redline.

I would favor economy though, 30mpg is nice, and even better when you move to a pair of cars that both average 20mpg on good days, and far less when you get into them.

BKosher84 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:11

I move my automatic from P to D. lol.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > PowderHound
04/07/2015 at 11:16

Hah, "stay in spool" made me laugh. I can't wait until my civic has snail power

CaptDale - is secretly British > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:20

Around town... usually 1-3-5 cause torque = low RPM power and decent MPG.

Getting on the freeway 1-2————-3————POWER!!!————-4——-5-6

Opposite Locksmith > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:34

I drive a WRX that has received quite a bit of "love"

So I've thrown efficiency out the window, 12 city 18 highway (21 if I'm going 60~ mph

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:40

I'm a grannie Vin Diesel, I live life one speed limit at a time. I generally get up to the speed limit pretty quick, then cruise in 6th. I'll sometimes stay in my power zone if I know I will be accelerating soon, but I mostly cruise.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > PowderHound
04/07/2015 at 11:41

I have that blipshift shirt haha

PowderHound > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
04/07/2015 at 11:47

as do I!

VAConundrum > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 11:47

I don't ever lug my engine— so 2K is the floor for me in any gear but first or second. I typically shift by 3200 RPM in the city, and do a good 'ol italian tuneup when I'm getting onto the freeway since engines are at their most efficient at maximum torque output ;)

Local Miata Bro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 12:13

In town redline in first, floor it in second until I hit the speed limit, then cruise at under 3k. On the highway redline all the way through 3rd then 5th gear which at 80mph is around 3900rpm

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 12:32

When I'm driving a manual, it's my Dad's truck, so I usually keep it in the torque curve down low.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 17:08

When cruising, I have it in 5th gear, provided my speed is sufficient to have the revs at around 1500rpm or higher.

If I need speed, I'll downshift. Why waste fuel?

Having said that, lower rpm does not always mean better fuel economy. All engines have optimal rev ranges where they are most efficient under load. For example, on a Scania diesel truck, they have a colour coded tachometer:

Kinja'd!!!

Basically the green section is for max fuel economy, blue is best for engine braking and red is what you rev up to when you want max power.

On a Honda Civic I had, having the RPMs in the 2500 - 3000 rpm range seemed to be ideal.

On a Saab 9-3 I had, 2000-2500rpm seemed ideal.

On my current Ford Focus with a Mazda-designed engine, it seems likes to be in the 2500-3000rpm range.. though that's more by feel. I haven't done much testing since I haven't had it for that long.

The Compromiser > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/07/2015 at 20:42

Left toe. Lever goes up, lever goes down.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/08/2015 at 02:41

I try to stay at the peak of my torque curve so that I can use the least amount of throttle and get the best MPGs Possible (for a truck anyway), but because I'm at the peak of my torque curve I have the power at my immediate disposal should I choose to punch the throttle.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/08/2015 at 03:02

My dad likes to stick it in 6th and just put his foot down, because supercharger. What is this shifting thing you speak of?

 V8 Rustler > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/08/2015 at 03:21

I always try to be in top gear.

In my V6 Mustang I try to stay around 1,500 rpm in fifth because that is the least RPM where the engine doesn't bog and vibrate. This one has decent acceleration in 1,500 rpm, so no need to downshift.

In my V8 Mustang I try to start around 1,000 rpm in sixth gear because that is the least RPM where the engine doesn't bog and vibrate. Not that good acceleration, need to downshift to fifth.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
04/08/2015 at 05:16

i keep it in 3rd or 4th.