gear changing speed/revs

[jamesy]

when does everyone change up the gears
i have a 6speed manual and i always change up every 10mph, except i put it into 6th at 60 instead of 50

especially when cold i always make sure i keep the revs down until engine is fully warmed for about 15-20mins
what speed should 6th be engaged in? i dont like to over rev the engine and dont like to labour it either

 

[Danny_FR]

Untill the engine has fully warmed up, I never let the engine rev past 2500rpm or have the throttle open more than about 50%. It's worth bearing in mind that even though the water temp is at normal operating temp, the engine oil probably won't be. I usually give it another 10mins or so before I hammer the throttle.

As for when to change gear when warm, it totally depends on the roads and conditions but if you're driving for economy, ideally you want to have the engine at peak torque rpm. Not sure what that is on your engine.

 

[jamesy]

torque peaks at 229ibs/ft @ 1900rpm but i always assumed that the more you go through the revs the more fuel consumption,
i'll give it a few more weeks untill i got a better feel for the car, i'd never let the revs go over 1500 until oil is warm

 

[dmjw01]

i'd never let the revs go over 1500 until oil is warm

Please tell us that's a typo and you meant to say "2500"?

If you're restricting your revs to 1500 then you're really lugging the engine badly - and that ain't good for it.

My personal opinion is that people tend to overdo this "keeping the revs down while cold" thing. The advice is often quoted on TDIclub, for example - but many of those guys live in Canada or colder parts of the USA. We don't live in a particularly cold climate in the UK, so the oil flows pretty well even in the depths of our winter.

Of course you should avoid high revs when cold, but I don't fret too much about it if my revs briefly go up to 3000 or so as I go through the gears - especially once the temperature gauge has moved off the bottom stop.

 

[Danny_FR]

i'd never let the revs go over 1500 until oil is warm

As dmjw01 said, making the engine labour at low revs can be just as bad as revving high.

 

[woodyTDI]

2500 is peak revs is it not?

 

[dmjw01]

2500 is peak revs is it not?

Not by a long way! Modern diesels can all rev well beyond 4000 rpm quite happily. Peak power usually comes about 4000-ish, and peak torque about 1900-ish.

 

[djjonnibgood]

At wat rpm do people tend to change when driving faster or setting off at the traffic lights?

I cant seem to find a good point to change to second, although setting off in second seems to do the trick

 

[jamesy]

setting off in 1st the book says only drive a few metres
i find up to 10mph is fine

 

[Timotheee]

I rarely take mine to 4K as its just making noise by then, I find 2-3K is good enough to zip along nicely.

 

[Sisson]

when launching hard i:

1st - change at 3kish, feed clutch out slowly to stop the wheels spinning
2nd - change at just under 4k
3rd, 4th, 5th - change at just after 4k

Car will rev to 4.5k+ but peak power is at 4k.

Thats what got me a 14.8sec 1/4 mile

 

[ChrisUK]

1500 ??

Thats too low mate


When warming up or taking it easy, I change between 2-2.5k revs

When hammering it, between 3-4.5k is good !

 

[daveyonthemove]

I have found after logging peak torque on mine that it hits peak at 1975 rpm and keeps peak as far as 3339rpm before gradually reducing. If your doing 3,500 rpm in 6th then you are going fairly quick.
As for running it when cold, i try to make a gear change at about 2,300rpm untill the temp gauge is firmly in the middle (90 degrees) as the engine should be warmed up by then or the water wouldn't be so hot.

 

[lil3520]

whats the minimum revs for 5th gear ?

i was told not lower than 2,000 revs is this correct ?

 

[daveyonthemove]

whats the minimum revs for 5th gear ?

i was told not lower than 2,000 revs is this correct ?

I think if you taking yout ime you should be ok at around 1800 to 2000 rpm, but much lower and the engine will labour. f you can drive at the same desired speed in 4th and keep the torque at peak then you will be doing the car more good and keep your economy higher.

 

[lil3520]

I think if you taking yout ime you should be ok at around 1800 to 2000 rpm, but much lower and the engine will labour. f you can drive at the same desired speed in 4th and keep the torque at peak then you will be doing the car more good and keep your economy higher.

thanks for reply, just checking as my old car NISSAN PRIMERA, WAS OK AT 2,000 REVS. engine didn't labour.

 

[jamesy]

so when driving along nicely on a 30mph road what gear is everyone in?
those of you that talk about going up to 4k rpm that is pointless, so if i drive at 30mph in 4th doing 1300rpm you say i will get better mpg driving in 3rd at 30?
i don't like to drive the car hard all the time hearing it scream upto 4000rpm, 2000rpm is fine and gives enough pull to overtake easily

 

[daveyonthemove]

so when driving along nicely on a 30mph road what gear is everyone in?
those of you that talk about going up to 4k rpm that is pointless, so if i drive at 30mph in 4th doing 1300rpm you say i will get better mpg driving in 3rd at 30?
i don't like to drive the car hard all the time hearing it scream upto 4000rpm, 2000rpm is fine and gives enough pull to overtake easily

I doubt your car will be doing 1300rpm in 4th at 30 and going as high as 4000rpm in 3rd. it would probably go to about 2000rpm meaning it is sat at peak torque and working less.

 

[jamesy]

I doubt your car will be doing 1300rpm in 4th at 30 and going as high as 4000rpm in 3rd. it would probably go to about 2000rpm meaning it is sat at peak torque and working less.

no seriously it is just sitting above the 1000 rpm mark in 4th at 30mph
in 3rd its about 1500/1600
at 70mph in 6th its only doing 1900rpm

 

[daveyonthemove]

no seriously it is just sitting above the 1000 rpm mark in 4th at 30mph
in 3rd its about 1500/1600
at 70mph in 6th its only doing 1900rpm

Sorry, from your first post i got the impression it went up to 4,000 rpm at 30 in 3rd.
You are better off doing 30 in 3rd mate if the revs are that low in 4th or you will do it some damage in the long term.