Someone said to me today that "it is not necessarily less-strenuous /more fuel efficient on honda engines (or other well-made 4-cylinders) to always maintain speeds at a lower rpm, in the higher gears". "Although your RPM will vary depending on speed and gear, it is actually easier on the motor to keep your shift-point and 'cruising rpm' generally higher (whatever gear that might find you in depending on your speed)." Myself, I sometimes shift a little early rather than late (which can occasionally cause the engine to "bog"). I use 5th gear a lot as well. I am not well educated on engines, but I know my z6 motor is very smooth at higher rpm's.

comments????

-mike

 

if the motor is bogging, you're not making efficient power. your fuel consumption has more to do with how much throttle input you have (how far down the pedal is) than what rpm you are at. when you bog, you have to give it more gas to get the car to accelerate than you would if you didn't bog.

 

I tend to do the same. Daily driving i shift way too early simply because my throttle is very sensitive and the ITR S80 tranny.
I never go over 2k rpm. And when i had the VAFC i monitored my throttle al the time - very rarely went over 10%. Still had crappy fuel consumption though!

 

you should never be bogging your engine. it would be safer for your motor to use the higher rpm's (resonable level). this is exactly why you shift down when going up-hill