Conservative shifting?
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,342
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From: Raleigh
Are we talking accelerating or cruising? Those are very different, and I believe the manual gives suggested speeds for both.
For normal, gradual accelerating, I upshift at about 3k. You don't need more for gentle acceleration, the gears are short, and it doesn't bog the engine. When settling into a steady cruise on flat ground, I keep the rpms at about 2k. I usually get about 23-24mpg city and 29-31mpg highway.
Of course, more spirited acceleration involves much higher rpm.
This is simply not true. The reason cars have higher/longer gears for freeway cruising is because it minimizes pumping losses when the throttle is open more. Higher revs and less throttle generally uses more gas than lower revs and more throttle to maintain a given speed. Otherwise the most efficient way to cruise at 40mph would be 9k rpm in 1st... does that sound accurate? Just think of the Viper - it has an extremely long 6th gear (something like 1400rpm at 60mph) because it has the torque to pull it and that maximizes gas mileage from the huge 8L+ V10.
For normal, gradual accelerating, I upshift at about 3k. You don't need more for gentle acceleration, the gears are short, and it doesn't bog the engine. When settling into a steady cruise on flat ground, I keep the rpms at about 2k. I usually get about 23-24mpg city and 29-31mpg highway.
Of course, more spirited acceleration involves much higher rpm.
Originally Posted by RedCelica' timestamp='1394121924' post='23049379
Gas isn't consumed based off rpm, it's consumed via throttle input. You'll actually use more gas at lower rpm cruising because you'll have to give it more throttle to accelerate at 2500 rpms than say 4500. I shift at 5k
Give this thread a read: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/for...e/72440/page1/
It's about where the car is going to make the torque most usable for the condition you're in (say going uphill). I learned this recently by monitoring the digital mpg in my tsx. I can run her at 5k rpms and barely any throttle and get 40+ mpg, but at 2,500rpm and 20% throttle it drops to 15mpg. Simple as that when looking at the end result. Im not saying cruise at redline for best mpg, but I am saying take all your factors (above) into consideration.
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Ellensburg
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Indianapolis, IN
B. I just didn't need the acceleration any quicker/faster, and I noticed I would be cruising at 2000 sometimes when I didn't need acceleration and was just maintaining a slow speed, I might drop it down to 5th at that poing also, depends on traffic.
C. I really can't wait to take the snows off and hit some Vtec; I rarely do it with the snows on.
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Joined: Mar 2011
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[/quote]
are you actually back firing? like pop pop noise? or is it a gurgle ? backfiring usually hints at some underlying problems.
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 657
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From: Ellensburg
Originally Posted by jimboslice' timestamp='1394127782' post='23049611
[quote name='iamxpL' timestamp='1394125118' post='23049501']
[quote name='jimboslice' timestamp='1394124095' post='23049456']
5k for me. 6.5k if i wanna make the car backfire lol.
[quote name='jimboslice' timestamp='1394124095' post='23049456']
5k for me. 6.5k if i wanna make the car backfire lol.
[/quote]
are you actually back firing? like pop pop noise? or is it a gurgle ? backfiring usually hints at some underlying problems.
[/quote]
No it's just a mild pop and gurgle. Other cars that I've had with cat deletes have made similar noises as well.
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While we're talking about lower RPMs, does anyone else notice an excessive amount of trans noise in the lower RPM range in 1st and 2nd? For instance, at parking lot speeds? I'm relatively fresh to this car, and still trying to acquaint myself to the noises it's supposed to be making and the ones it's not.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: socal
When i said i shift at 2.5k i didnt mean i go hard on the throttle and shift early. That's stupid. I just meant I drive ASS SLOW. Like itll take me 10 seconds to get to 45mph, that saves gas. Not trying to work the machine up hard and not letting it breathe. But like I said, it doesnt last very long until I give it up ha! Esp on the S with such bad low end torque.
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,875
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From: Santa Clartia, Ca
While we're talking about lower RPMs, does anyone else notice an excessive amount of trans noise in the lower RPM range in 1st and 2nd? For instance, at parking lot speeds? I'm relatively fresh to this car, and still trying to acquaint myself to the noises it's supposed to be making and the ones it's not.