For the stick shifters out there, at how many RPMs do you shift?

[TJN23]

My dad has always told me to shift at roughly 3000 RPMs and generally not to go over (unless you're cruising on the highway), but I've also heard that as long as you don't redline you'll be fine...

anyone heard anything otherwise?

 

[radioouman]

Always at the redline. Most efficient!

 

[SeaSerpent]

Around 3000 is perfect.

 

[datalink7]

Real men shift at the redline

 

[joe678]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Real men shift at the redline

yea boyeee... im a redline guy myself...

 

[TJN23]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Always at the redline. Most efficient!

lol,

i take it shifting at 3000 and the redline affects your gas mileage?

 

[Fausto]

It really depends on the car and how you're driving. I generally shift my Altima at around 3,000 rpm or so unless I need to merge or something in which case I'll let it rev out a bit so I've got HP on tap if I need it. Nothing worse than trying to merge or pass in too high a gear and getting stuck or nearly causing an accident. Redline shouldn't hurt your car (rev limiter is there for a reason) as long as it's warmed up and valvetrain is adjusted properly......your gas mileage will suck if you shift higher in the rev range all the time tho.

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: datalink7
Real men shift at the redline

Real Men shift after the redline


(remember?)

 

[CraigRT]

when just city cruising... anywhere between 2-3000.... normally just about 2500 or lower.

 

[conjur]

About 3,000 - 3,500 in normal driving.

When I'm feeling rambunctious...redline!

 

[notfred]

At the racetrack? When stuck in traffic on the freeway? When driving casually through a neighborhood?

if you just want a generic number, then between 1500 and 6000 RPM is pretty normal.

Also, the number 3000 is completely arbitrary. 3000 is a lot higher in a car that redlines at 4500 than an S2000 that redlines at 8000.

 

[AntaresVI]

Real men don't use the clutch with a manual.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: LeRocks
Real men don't use the clutch with a manual.

You're stupid.

 

[b0mbrman]

9,000

I win

 

[TJN23]

Originally posted by: notfred
At the racetrack? When stuck in traffic on the freeway? When driving casually through a neighborhood?

if you just want a generic number, then between 1500 and 6000 RPM is pretty normal.

Also, the number 3000 is completely arbitrary. 3000 is a lot higher in a car that redlines at 4500 than an S2000 that redlines at 8000.

very true, i guess i'm talking about my 1990 subaru legacy....i shift it at 3000RPMs all the time, and rarely over 3750'ish

its VERY handy to have a stick, for the very reason Fausto1 stated, cuz u have the extra HP on tap if ya need it...of course on my old subaru its a little harder to come by

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Depends on how fast I want to go, the grade, the gear, and the load. There isn't a magic RPM.

Example:
For the max get up and go, 1-2 and 2-3 upshifts happen at 5500 (30 and 55MPH) while the 3-4 happens at 5000 (80MPH), the 4-5 happens at 4500 when I nail the speed limiter (dropping me to 3500RPM@115).

If I'm just cruising slow on flat ground, and in traffic, I'll shift at 2000 and keep the engine at a nice 1500-2000RPM.

Often, I'll wind 2nd upto 4000 and skip first and third (and sometimes 4th) when driving normal.

Redline is 6000.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: LeRocks
Real men don't use the clutch with a manual.

You're stupid.

 

[b0mbrman]

Aren't pissing contests fun?

Anyhow, for normal city driving, I actually shift around 3,000 rpms. For more spirited cruises I shift around 5,000 rpms. And at least once a week, I shift at 9,000 rpms

 

[slikmunks]

i usually shift at 3300 for city driving, right before my secondary injectors come on... if i'm trying to pass or just go for the hell of it, i'll take it up to 8700 or so for kicks

redline: 8700

 

[TJN23]

stick shift rocks, those who dont have it need to convert

 

[bozack]

I don't really pay too much attention to the Tach when I am driving unless I am going to race....I play it by ear and feel, if I were to guess I would say I shift at either 3,500 -4,500 RPM but then again my engine is designed to rev higher than others and has more power the higher you go...

I used to know a guy who would wind it out every time because he was following advice such as yourself, you could tell just by listening to the car and sitting in it while driving that it wanted to shift sooner but he didn't really know how to drive.

yes higher RPMs do effect gas milage, but then again so does underpowering the car...either way you are wasting unnecessary gas.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: TJN23

Originally posted by: radioouman
Always at the redline. Most efficient!

lol,

i take it shifting at 3000 and the redline affects your gas mileage?

among other things. If you make it a habit to shift at the redline, it won't be long before the car is in the shop, unless you are driving a mazda rx-7!

 

[Jzero]

I drive a Civic. If I shifted at 3000 I'd be going 20MPH in 5th gear

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: rudder

among other things. If you make it a habit to shift at the redline, it won't be long before the car is in the shop, unless you are driving a mazda rx-7!

Are those things exceptionally bulletproof?

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: LeRocks
Real men don't use the clutch with a manual.

You're stupid.

Not if he knows what he's doing. Once you learn you can actually shift a car without ever using the clutch and cause no damage. My mom's best friend can do it; evidently he can hear it in the engine. (and no, he's not a moron. He builds components for NASA and many major race cars. Before that he used to build cars from scratch just for fun. He knows more about cars than I ever thought anyone could learn).