I would like your input as I continue to get conflicting viewpoint from other forums, members etc.

#1. I was told to never cruise in 1st. Get out of 1st quickly, unless I"m in a drag race.
#2.Never let the car spend too much time below 2500rpm


Here it goes..

I don't understand the never cruise in 1st and the get out of 1st quickly ? Some say its needed for going round and round in an multi-tiered parking system (going up and around from main floor to 6th floor) and most of the thought was to "wind out it in 1st gear..." ? So that goes against the "never cruise in 1st theory ?"

But if I take your advice and "get out of 1st quickly" Then I would be in 2nd whereby the rev's drop to 2000 to 25000 at certain points (mainly turning the tight parking lot corners)

So now I'm a little confused..

So if there are any others who'd like to help with their input, it would be greatly appreciated.

thanks
sj2000

 

I think these two issues has to do with "lugging" the engine. It's never good to lug an engine BUT .......... This condition is accomplished with the combination of several factors. The main one is whereby the "weight" of the car is starting to become too much for the available torque of the engine. "Weight" can be a combination of the car's actual poundage, which state of acceleration is being applied, the incline of the road surface, the gear the tranny is in at that time, rpm, increase road surface friction, headwind, etc. "Lugging" can happen in any gear. In first gear, this is usually at very low rpm and very low speeds, in which case, you should be doing more clutch work (to bring the engine speed up to a point where there is more available torque).
There is nothing wrong with spending a lot of time in 1st gear if that's where the car needs to be and you're not lugging the engine.
There is also nothing wrong with being under 2500 rpm in any gear as long as you're not lugging the engine. You can easily cruise in 6th gear with the engine at or below 2500 rpm IF you don't lug the engine. That is to say, if you are just doing "steady state" coasting on a flat/level road or "down" incline, if you are not trying to accelerate to a higher speed in too abrupt a fashion, if you are not driving in mud or sand, if you don't have a terrific headwind, if you don't have Anna Nicole Smith in the passenger seat , the car should be able to do fine since it is not likely to be "lugging". All of those "nots" I just mentioned contribute to increasing the "weight" of the car that the engine must motivate.