[Protan988]

Hey guys, just looking for a little advice here. Like the title says i just taught myself to drive a standard. Anyways I know you should shift around 2500-3000rpm when you drive regular. But say you want to put the pedal to the floor? When should I be shifting in what gears for the best result?

Thanks a lot!

[Tragedy]

take it to red line, then shift if you are testing it out. Dont take it into redline.

[Protan988]

Well there is always a max speed in a single gear. Like first gear is max 30km an hour and it takes 1 second to get it to 20. Wouldn't it make sense to at least go to 5000 rom in first atleast?

[TRIZ]

...What?

If you put the pedal to the floor your throttle body will be in the "wide open" position. With more air in the engine, the more fuel that gets added, and the faster the RPM's climb. Your engine can only handle 6,750 RPM's. So for each gear, no matter how far the pedal is pushed to the floor, as long as your under the 6,750rpm's, you wont get into the red and hit the rev limiter- where the ECU cuts off the fuel to the engine.

If your trying to hit a top speed on a .25 mile track for instance, you would want to shift as high as possible- just slightly before redline.

For every day driving you should shift at 3k for a smooth shift. if you shift sub 3k, you wont have a smooth shift- instead the engine will glug and you'll have no power. After you shift, you need to be at atleast 1,500rpm's, if not the car will be unhappy and make a funny noise which means it needs a lower gear and you shifted too soon.

And never downshift into first gear. The lockout (the reason its tough to shift back into 1st while in motion) is because its dangerous. Shifting from 2'nd @ 20mph into 1st to engine break will be too strenuous on the engine- just kick the clutch in and use the breaks.

Hope that helps.

[Tragedy]

w00t! civic redline!!

[Protan988]

Ok thanks for your help.

[DeX]

You should be doing it based on the sound of the engine.

[unTuned]

i agree. ive also been having this 'debate' with my gf over the past few days when im in the car while shes driving it. she doesnt seem to understand that you go by sound and feel of the pull when you shift a gear. she drives a cavalier though like most girls do, so she says shes not used to it. in our particular cars, id say on regular driving, dont go past 3500-3700 before shifting...that should drop you to about 2200-2300 into your next gear. you should never be below 2000 rpm.

[Keepitmovin]

Those Calgary boys got it right.Paying attention to your rpms is important when your first learning to drive, but start to get the feel of your car so you can keep your eyes on the road rather than trying to hit exact rpms. Soon you'll just start doing it.Do that and you wont even look at your tach anymore.

[Albertross]

I hit the rev limiter the other day. NOT a pleasant jerk on the highway. I thought my car got destroyed.

[gearbox]

you gotta floor it to get vtec

[oddmut]

the manual states for best shifting and mileage you shift basically at 3k rpms, but it actually states what mp/h u shift at not rpm.

when u're good you can do all sorts of shifting with ur car.

- shift with no clutch is one.
- using 1st gear to slow down is easy
- or downshifting to 1st is easy

[ryox82]

I taught myself how to drive an automatic.

[unTuned]

haha nice.
i havent learned that one yet.

[Protan988]

Another question. One of my friends drivers an 01 corolla and his is 5spd. He never keeps drive in 5th unless hes going 80km/h or more. I usually put it in 5th gear even when im cruising at 60. and it idles at about 1,500. Advice?