I got my first manual about a month ago, and am loving it. I was wondering about something, however, and so maybe you guys can answer my question.

The lower the rpm, the less wear is being put on the engine, right? So isn't it prudent to keep the engine at the lowest rpm possible/practical? However, in order to do this, frequent shifting is a must, which means that you are putting more wear on the transmission and clutch.

Now, is the wear on the tranny/clutch offset by the fact that you are putting less stress on the engine? Or vice-versa? Or is it such a small difference that it doesn't really matter, and I should spend my time concentrating on more important things?

 

Engine stress is not just a variable of RPM, it also varies by engine load. Frequent shifting will not significantly change your clutch life unless you are speed shifting and/or riding the hell out of it. And I've never seen a Honda tranny just let go, they always have been driven hard or subjected to wheel hopping and burnouts.

 

With a Honda engine, it's best to keep it at redline as much as possible. It will not break.

I have been doing this with my b16 for over a year, such that I unnecessarily downshift during highway driving, just for the hell of it.

Have fun with your car. As long as you keep it withing its design limits, it will not break any time soon.

 

If you want to minimize the load on the engine, keep the RPM in the range such that a minimal amount of throttle application is necessary. Don't drag launch your car. Don't go uphill at low RPM. Don't try to accelerate quickly at low RPM. Don't try to pass anyone until you've downshifted one, two, or even three gears.

All these things mean that you'll have to shift a whole lot, which everyone who owns a B18C or B16A knows. The tranny and clutch will be fine as long as you're doing all the shifting smoothly. Don't ram the shifter from gear to gear. Hold the **** with your fingertips and not your whole hand so you're sure that you're being gentle with it. Double-clutch if you're downshifting more than one gear quickly.

Hondas are easy to drive as economy cars, but more demanding to drive as performance cars.

 

Thanks a lot guys. These are the kind of answers I wanted.

I love H-T!

 

examples,

in a gsr: don't drive in 5th gear at 40mph u'll be at like 1500rpms which is like straining on the tranny and motor

usually i keep all revs above 3-4k soo i can easily access midrange and topend
u'll know your in the wrong gear when u stop on it and it doesn't respond