Car & Bike What RPM to Shift gears?

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Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles

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I wanted to know if there is any such thing as 'optimal rpm range' within which one should drive for optimal balanced driving (Balance between fuel economy and performance)? At what RPM on the tachometer should one ideally change gears while driving in the city? Let me know if I'm wrong -

I accelerate to around ~2500 rpm, usually try to keep the rpm between 2000-3000 and usually when the rpm crosses the 2500 mark I upshift. (I have a diesel Ford Fusion)

My car usually stalls if after an upshift the rpm is below 1000 but this doesn't happen in the other petrol car I have. (i.e Fiat Siena; it can run on very low rpms at higher gears but the Fusion simply halts)

My usual routine while changing gears -

0-15kmph - 1st gear

15-35kmph - 2nd gear

35-60kmph - 3rd gear

60-85kmph - 4th gear

85+kmph - 5th gear

Is there a certain RPM range one should follow so that the least fuel is consumed?
 
i haven't driven Figo so can't say about it.

However i do drive a Tata Indigo & here how i shift gears.

0-15kmph - 1st gear

15-30kmph - 2nd gear

30-50kmph - 3rd gear

50-65kmph - 4th gear

65-85kmph - 5th gear

RPM is about 2.2k at when i change gears

i don't really drive much past 85kmph on my indigo & i get about 20kmpl.

but i do cruise on my Scorpio at about 90kmph since it's more powerful than Indigo.

i think your driving style is already good. :)
 
Not sure about the diesel variants. For my petrol ritz i am happy to shift around 1800rpm. Fr the Cielo I had the shift used to be around the 2K mark.
 
Not before Redline!

i usually dont shift before 3-4k...

i know im screwing the car..but im always in a hurry..

On a serious note..

The shifting you use seems to be good..
 
Mephistopheles said:
Some people told me that my driving style is quite aggressive so thought let me ask around, thanks btw

4k! :O
And I was worried that I'll screw my car
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That might be a petrol one.
 
kauzy said:
well.. i never look at the RPM while shifting gears.. engine sound tells me to do it.. :)
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That is the right way to do it..

when my dad was teaching me how to drive..he used to say this only..

But i have problems using this...the louder the sound gets..the more i want to hear it..
 
kauzy said:
well.. i never look at the RPM while shifting gears.. engine sound tells me to do it.. :)
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me too follow the same.

i try to keep it calm while cruising.

but then i realized that i am loading the engine unnecessarily in low rpm.

it is really depends upon vehicle you drive.

i have found that diesel variants are happier at low rpm compared to petrol one's..

i shift below 2k rpm on 1.6MPI polo... economy was best under those conditions..1.6-1.8k rpm

i started shifting at 2.2-2.4k rpm for past 200km ride and mileage suffered by 3kmpl.

but shifting at low rpm means i have to drive very calmly, defeats the whole purpose of getting a powerful vehicle for me :ashamed:

tbhp threads recommended 30-40 -3rd gear for 1.6MPI polo ( for better FE)

3rd gear - 30 and onwards

4th gear - 40 and onwards..

this is smooth as long as on flat surface but not fun exactly.

i shift to 3rd at 35 and 4th at 50 now..feels fun to drive.
 
well.. i never look at the RPM while shifting gears.. engine sound tells me to do it..
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Well yeah many a times one doesn't have the time to check the tachometer, but sound cant be described in writing so using rpm instead for a more accurate description.

i have found that diesel variants are happier at low rpm compared to petrol one's..
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From my experience its the opposite, my diesel car would just halt if I try to run it on 3rd gear @<900 rpm while my petrol car manages to keep up
 
That is the right way to do it..

when my dad was teaching me how to drive..he used to say this only..

But i have problems using this...the louder the sound gets..the more i want to hear it..
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So true!!! Yeah don't shift before the red line....and who says we are screwing the car by that way? Its well within it range of performance, in a stock car.
 
kauzy said:
well.. i never look at the RPM while shifting gears.. engine sound tells me to do it.. :)
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Exactly the way it should be done.. Try not to look at the tacho while shifting gears.. I usually shift gears accord to the demand of the situation.. For overtaking i usually sift up a little later allowing the engine to build up more power & for relaxed cruising on open stretches a little earlier since there is no real need to accelerate quickly in the next gear....

I usually drive around the city in my M800 in which i'll be mostly shifting gears quickly & getting to the top gear at around 40-45Kmph.. The engine always feel responsive & the M800 don't like shifting gears at all, and is happy to go on at the lowest possible gear at any speed.. But while driving my SX4, i usually shift at around 2600-2800rpm mark and gets to the top gear by around 60Kmph+.. Unlike the M800, the SX4 engine begs to be driven hard & most of times i can't resist the temptation to drive in a sporty manner..
 
kauzy said:
well.. i never look at the RPM while shifting gears.. engine sound tells me to do it.. :)
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Amen... I do this on my bike and my car. I don't need to hear the engine sound on the bike. I just know when to shift :)
 
djmykey said:
Amen... I do this on my bike and my car. I don't need to hear the engine sound on the bike. I just know when to shift :)
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True that mykey. I am never bothered to look art the RPM.
 
SO what you are saying is that you do not have any idea regarding what speed on the speedometer you use the different gears?

Does the sound of the engine varies wrt speed sometimes or usually at a certain fixed speeds the engine makes a certain sound and you upshift?
 
Metalspree said:
Listen to the car and drive u will change with out your knowledge .
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yup.. true that.. though its a different thing all together that metal cannot drive.. :P
 
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