Say you are trying to get your best mix of fuel economy and not drive like a granny.

When do you shift? and what speed do you drop the car into that tall *** 6th gear that we have

I shift at about 3500 or 4k and drop it in 6th above 50.

Also what rpms do you cruise at most the time?

I ask because I never had a car that redlines at 8k I know with like the s2000 its bad to keep it under 2 at any time, especially ap1.

 

I shift between 3-4k,
and I slip into 6th when I hit 35mph-40mph
crusing speed is done in 6th gear for me.

 

So it doesn't put too much stress on the engine to be crusing in 6th gear at under 2k? I know you have to be under 2k crusing in 6th at 35-40.

 

idk, I'd say you're doing about the same as me, shifting at 3500-4k...

when I'm not in a hurry

But at 50, I might just keep it in 5th for a lil more pick-up depending on traffic conditions

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1962086

at least you asked a better question than this guy

 

I shift around 4000 and drop it to sixth gear over 50-55 mph.

 

On a normal drive I shift between 3 to 3.5K. I will drop to 6th at between 55 and 60mph. I don't know if it's the supercharger or just 6th gear, but the car is a little lurchy in 6th, under 60 mph.

I don't think the fuel tuning for the supercharge is set-up well for 6th gear. When I accelerate in 6th under 65mph, if feels like the senors get confused and the ECU can't decided to give it gas or not.

 

8200? when ever it hit rev limit?

 

shifting 3-4k, and run on the highest gear you can. (and by higher I don't mean ratio I mean 1-6th gear).
There's no strain on the engine running on 6th gear. On the contrary, there's more strain on the engine running it for longer periods of time on lower gears (like 1st, 2nd and 3rd).

keeping a steady foot, instead of doing fast acceleration moves also helps a LOT.
when you just step on the gas you're killing your MPG. Come up to speed slowly and keep constant speed whenever possible.

 

Depend on what the current condition calls for, this happens to be something I actively pay attention to when I am driving. I keep the rev at or under 2500 for the most part, may take it up to or pass 3500 up hill. I down shift if I need to and am willing to take it to the red if the moment calls for it (On ramp, quick lane changes, etc...) 95% of cruising is done in 6th gear (35 - 45)mph. Acceleration from 35 mph in sixth gear is moderate enough to over take most grandmas and law abiding citizen drivers...

I treat my Si like a contained beast, I only unleash her when it's necessary and I DON'T hesitate to unleash her, believe me.... Otherwise, she gets pimped during everyday commute. Sun - Thurs = Pimped; Fri - Sat = Unleash :-)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IT GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1962086

at least you asked a better question than this guy</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hey now. i have a horrible time trying to find the right word. 90% of the threads i create even confuse the hell outta me.....sorry


I do like the way he worded it. Way better then mine g/j on the same question.


i shift between 3 & 4k and put it in 6th when im goin 50mph, unless freeway traffic sucks, then i leave it in 5th till about 60 mph

 

Ha i dont think it matters to much since you all get amazing gas milage anyways...

 

i just found out it says the recomended shifting points for the 5spd and 6 in the owners manuel

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ley &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So it doesn't put too much stress on the engine to be crusing in 6th gear at under 2k? I know you have to be under 2k crusing in 6th at 35-40.</TD></TR></TABLE>

doesnt that lug the engine? your at such a low speed for 6th gear. on my integra 5th gear under 40mph will barely any power

 

red line all the time

 

I used to have a '97 HX Coupe with the VTEC-E. The whole idea of that car with its tall gearing and VTEC crossover at 2500 rpms was to maximize fuel economy. It actually had a shift light which would pop up at 2100 or so depending on throttle pressure, but it told you to use the highest gear number possible without making the engine chug, and if you were on flat ground it wouldn't chug inderneath 1200 - 1500. (It wouldn't go quickly at those rpms either tho!)

Anyway, I just got an Si sedan 2 weeks ago, and have about 700 miles on it, so I haven't been romping on it too hard yet. I think that as long you keep it from chugging you can cruise in the highest possible gear. If I'm fartin along at 45 I might be in 6th. Obviously if you want to dart in and out of lanes you will want to stay in a lower gear so you have better throttle response and acceleration, but for fuel economy just keep it slow and sexy.

 

I shift when the blinking red light tells me to.

 

I never go more than 5th at 45mph but usally 4th.

 

Your owner's manual lists the shift points for the Si for "normal acceleration":

1-&gt;2 @ 17 mph : 3700 rpm -&gt; 2400 rpm
2-&gt;3 @ 29 mph : 4100 rpm -&gt; 3000 rpm
3-&gt;4 @ 37 mph : 3800 rpm -&gt; 2900 rpm
4-&gt;5 @ 43 mph : 3300 rpm -&gt; 2700 rpm
5-&gt;6 @ 49 mph : 3000 rpm -&gt; 2100 rpm

I'll ignore highway for a second, since you'll be pulling at least 2K to 3K rpm on the highway anyway.


To *ACCELERATE* in town (or hold speed on higher grade hills) you'll want to keep it above 2K rpm.

But to *CRUISE* around town (on level ground, or down lower grade hills) your K20 will happily run at 1K rpm and above. There's not much torque down there, but there's more than enough to cruise round town. Try it, you'll be surprised at good gas mileage you'll get.

Simple example - you are on a level road 45 mph speed limit, 6th gear, 2000 rpm.
You enter a 25 mph school zone. Decelerate to 25 mph.
25 mph in 6th is perfectly fine, that's 1100 rpm.
As you near the end of the zone, shift into 3rd (you could do 2nd, waste of time imo) to accelerate back up to 45 mph.
Back up to cruising 45 mph on a level road? 6th gear again, 2000 rpm.

The cost of cruising in a high gear around town? The slight delay while you down shift to get the revs into the meaty part of the torque curve. But that slight delay only comes into play with a surprise emergency. If you are aware of your surroundings there shouldn't be many surprises.

The cost of cruising in low gears around town? More $ and CO2 etc....


If you cruise like you drive an automatic, you'll save enough gas to make up for the times you don't accelerate like a granny.


Final comment. Accelerating like a granny can burn more gas.

This is a real world example, with realistic (though swagged) numbers. I see this a few times a week.

There's a highway on ramp near my house that enters the highway that has a nearly 3/4 mile long steep upward grade. Granny takes a minute to go from 30 to 60 mph just as she crests the hill, burning 12 liters per hour the whole climb. You accelerate for 10 seconds to 60 mph, burning 32 liters per hour, then hold speed on the hill at 60 mph burning 8 liters per hour, and after cresting the hill are burning only 1 liter per hour.

Granny burned 200 cc of gas to crest the hill. You burned 172 cc of gas to crest the hill, 175 cc total, and are 2/10s of a mile further down the hill.

-mr. bill


Modified by mrbill at 10:33 AM 5/7/2007

 

I use to shift between 3500 and 4000 but since the price of gas went up I have been shifting around 3000 with much improved results.I have also been mixing mid grade and preimum with good results.92 oct is about 3.35 a gallon in Indiana.I am sure it allot more else where.13 gallons dosen't seem to go far.

 

damn the only time im ever below 2500 rpms is when im in third to turn. usually at like 18 miles an hr, but its only real quick. I always thought even doing that was bad cause my buddy said it was considered lugging. but its way smoother to me than downshifting into 2nd.

Anyone else use third to turn for ex: on a right hand turn?

 

sometimes 3rd for left turns, but im used to second gear. its a force of habbit. 18 mph is around 2000rpm and its not lugging. if your car lugs you can clearly hear it.

 

I shift around 3-3.5k, and throw it in 6th around 40mph when cruising.

 

"Lugging" is where more throttle/fuel will not increase revs.

This can happen *anywhere* in the power band given a heavy enough car and a steep enough grade.

But you've got this *wonderful* transmission that in a second you can shift into the power band.


Now I'm understanding better why people are getting 20 mpg in their Si. Low rev phobia.

-mr. bill