Is it bad to keep it in low rpm

General discussion about cars. Looking to buy a new car? Have a great driving story? Post it here!
Nasir
Junior Standardshifter
Posts: 89
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:30 pm

Is it bad to keep it in low rpm

Post by Nasir »

When I was going for a test drive a while ago the dealer was telling that it's best to keep it from 2-3 rpm which is what I usually do,but sometimes when I wanna save gas i get in about 1-2 rpm,Is that bad for the car???
Cruel Night
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 734
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 11:12 pm
Cars: Subaru Forester
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Post by Cruel Night »

no, by all means stay between 1-2, i do all the time... you do conserve gas, just don't lug your engine and you'll be good 8)
2005 Saturn Ion 3
~Resident Drag Queen~
kachun
Junior Standardshifter
Posts: 24
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2005 6:39 pm

Post by kachun »

if you want to save gas, use the highest possible gear with the lowest possible rpm without lugging the engine. you can feel if the engine is lugging through the vibration on gas pedal
Johnf514
Moderator
Posts: 8574
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:59 pm
Cars: '07 Mazda3, '06 Ninja 636
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Post by Johnf514 »

For the best fuel efficiency, you want to keep your engine at about 1500 - 2500 RPMs. The lower, the better, but usually an engine will actually produce too little power below 1500 RPMs, thereby reducing your fuel efficiency as the engine must work harder to keep the car in motion.

I always shifted at 2000-2200 RPMs and cruised at 1500-1800 RPMs. With a 1999 Camaro (V6), I consistently got 28 MPG. Not bad. :)
2007 Mazda3
Mods: 15% tint, Eibach ProKit
2006 Ninja 636
Mods: NOS & sidecar
starshifter
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 183
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:37 pm
Location: Maryland

Post by starshifter »

Johnf514 wrote:
I always shifted at 2000-2200 RPMs and cruised at 1500-1800 RPMs. With a 1999 Camaro (V6), I consistently got 28 MPG. Not bad. :)
Pretty good but you must not have been very fast. When I do 2K RPM shifts in my FRC, Toyota Prius'es flash their headlights to tell me to get out of their way...
Image
LS1Leader
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2145
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:17 pm

Post by LS1Leader »

You gotta shift every second at 2K rpms to keep up with Prii. :)
Johnf514
Moderator
Posts: 8574
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:59 pm
Cars: '07 Mazda3, '06 Ninja 636
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Post by Johnf514 »

starshifter wrote: Pretty good but you must not have been very fast. When I do 2K RPM shifts in my FRC, Toyota Prius'es flash their headlights to tell me to get out of their way...
Of course it isn't fast; I got brights all the time. I still do, as I make the Taurus shift at or below 2000 RPMs every time. Eh, what are ya gonna do? I figure it's worth the good MPG. I mean, I'm getting 28-30 city/hwy MPG consistently on an automatic 4-speed transmission in a Taurus driving this way. Try it for a tank, you'll be amazed!

And unless there is an actual reason to go fast, they don't really have a reason to justify their anger. You will get up to cruising speed eventually, just a little bit slower and a lot more efficiently. Most of the time, they can get around you on a two-lane road (however, don't do this in the fast lane), and if they can't get around you, by the time they are really mad, you're at a red light or up to speed anyway.

What is a Toyota Prius really gonna do? F**k'em.
2007 Mazda3
Mods: 15% tint, Eibach ProKit
2006 Ninja 636
Mods: NOS & sidecar
Trev
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 310
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:03 am
Cars: VW Jetta 00'
Location: Camarillo, CA

Post by Trev »

Ok, stupid question coming:

When I do shift at lower gears down to 1500-2000 I hear next to nothing from the engine, is this because the lack of power. Also how do you know if you are too low? Is is that bumping like sound that you will hear?
RookieStickshifter
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 257
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2005 3:01 am
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Post by RookieStickshifter »

Johnf514 wrote:What is a Toyota Prius really gonna do? F**k'em.
D*** straight~! Frickin' best quote I've heard in a while lol~~ :lol:
[1994 Honda Integra ZX] Is Proud To Be 0.74% Of Standardshift.com!
scionkid
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2539
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 1:47 am
Cars: 04 xB
Location: Anaheim, CA
Contact:

Post by scionkid »

starshifter wrote:
Pretty good but you must not have been very fast. When I do 2K RPM shifts in my FRC, Toyota Prius'es flash their headlights to tell me to get out of their way...
WTF? I ain't gettin 50 miles to the gallon, said the Prius driver. All they do is bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch at Toyota for their disappointing milage. Stupid American drivers. Maybe they should ask why a Corvette is going slower than they are then ask why they aren't getting 50 miles to the gallon.
Last edited by scionkid on Mon Nov 21, 2005 4:46 am, edited 1 time in total.
LS1Leader
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2145
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:17 pm

Post by LS1Leader »

I seriously lost you, dude. I don't know who you're bitching at. LOL.
Sypher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7337
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2005 9:52 am
Cars: 05 Mazda 3 GT
Location: Hiding behind the dancing Peter Griffin
Contact:

Post by Sypher »

lol people who drives prius tend to step on the the gas pedel with a heavier foot than regular combustion engines. Reason? The electric motor supplys instantaneous torque. So Prius's usually get off the line faster, hense they are more fun when driven that way... however that habit doesnt show them the 50mpg expected efficiency
Johnf514
Moderator
Posts: 8574
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:59 pm
Cars: '07 Mazda3, '06 Ninja 636
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Post by Johnf514 »

Trev wrote:When I do shift at lower gears down to 1500-2000 I hear next to nothing from the engine, is this because the lack of power. Also how do you know if you are too low? Is is that bumping like sound that you will hear?
If you have a tach, keep the RPMs above 1000 in a V8, 1500 in a V6, and 2000 in a I4. If not, listen and feel the car through your feet and seat. If it feels as if it is struggling, downshift. Also, learn the proper gearing and MPH you should be in. For example, you should not be in 5th gear at 30 MPH. However, you shouldn't be in 1st at 30 MPH either, unless you are towing, going uphill, or beating the guy in the next lane. :wink:

And there are no stupid questions. Just stupid people who don't ask questions and make mistakes. You aren't one of them. :D
2007 Mazda3
Mods: 15% tint, Eibach ProKit
2006 Ninja 636
Mods: NOS & sidecar
Cruel Night
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 734
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2003 11:12 pm
Cars: Subaru Forester
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Post by Cruel Night »

oy... i tend to be in 5th at 60km/h.... and usually i am around 1500rpm's -- but as john said, it is all about the feel of the engine -- obviously you won't be acclerating in the lower gear when driving... i would downshift then continue... however, with that said, i'd argue that you'd be able to get away with 1500rpm in 4 cyl and still maintain good gas milage... this is the only reason why i get above the posted gas milage... mind you when my sis drives my car it gos down big time... because she has no finesse with the clutch pedal and thus the performance suffers.
2005 Saturn Ion 3
~Resident Drag Queen~
Johnf514
Moderator
Posts: 8574
Joined: Thu Feb 24, 2005 3:59 pm
Cars: '07 Mazda3, '06 Ninja 636
Location: Orlando, FL
Contact:

Post by Johnf514 »

Cruel Night wrote:however, with that said, i'd argue that you'd be able to get away with 1500rpm in 4 cyl and still maintain good gas milage...
I actually meant to mention that keeping the RPMs on any car above 1500 is usually a surefire way to keep the engine from bogging down. Thanks for pointing that old, Ol' Yeller. :wink:
2007 Mazda3
Mods: 15% tint, Eibach ProKit
2006 Ninja 636
Mods: NOS & sidecar
Post Reply