The ideal shift points from the handbook for the s2k are:
2nd: 15 mph
3rd: 25 mph
4th: 40 mph
5th: 47 mph
6th: 52 mph

So the question is, if you want to drive at 38 mph would you rather be in 3rd gear or in 4th? Thanks in advance.

 

The lower the rpm, the less gas you're using. .... 4th.

 

This is a grey area as 38 mph is kinda borderline in between 3rd and 4th gears. 40-42 mph, I would use 4th to cruise. 35-38 mph, I would use 3rd gear as 4th gear at 38 mph results in a very low rpm.

 

You can do it in fifth if you are not needing go up hill or pass.

 

man, i shift so differently...

2nd-10mph
3rd-18mph
4th-28mph
5th-35mph
6th-40+....

will that do anything to the car... or....is it ok?

 

1st gear reved to 2,075 rpm = 10 mph, shift into 2nd gear, revs drop to 1,360 rpm.

2nd gear reved to 2,440 rpm = 18 mph, shift into 3rd gear, revs drop to 1,760 rpm.

3rd gear reved to 2,750 rpm = 28 mph, shift into 4th gear, revs drop to 2,155 rpm.

4th gear reved to 2,695 rpm = 35 mph, shift into 5th gear, revs drop to 2,255 rpm.

5th gear reved to 2,575 rpm = 40 mph, shift into 6th gear, revs drop to 2,150 rpm.

These kinds of engine speeds would work on a bigger engine (more torque) such as the 2.4 liter CRV engine (great engine ) I would never shift at these engine speeds in the S2K. I might let the revs drop this low if I was going downhill and I wanted to go slow (already reached max speed for the environment) or shift from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd on a steep downhill and I am going as fast as I need to for a particular environment, but I usually never go that low. If you do this on a S2K, especially prior to MY04, (more torque) your gonna chug and bog the engine as well as make your engine ping.

Is this bad for your engine? You tell me. Whether or not this is bad, these kinds of shifts at these engine speeds are just not my style. I am not saying that I everywhere I go, I just don't bog my engine like that.

 

stay between 2-3k rpm for any speed, you will not be excessively reving the engine or the engine won't be bogging.

 

It's a lil different scenario in 5th and 6th gears.

 

2000RPM is really the lowest I like to be in any gear...I shift at around 3500-4000RPM for crusing...

 

lets rephrase it...select a gear that will keep the rpm between 2-3k rpm while driving in the city. obviously we're not talking about 6th gear.