Gears and their best speeds to save on gas... your thoughts??

[silver_vibe55]

Just getting used to my new Vibe that I picked up this week and can't help but wonder if I'm driving around in the best gear for the various speeds I'm at. When I say "best" I'm thinking along the lines of gas mileage... although some might argue that with me! For example: when I'm driving around town at 60 KMH (not sure off the top of my head what that is in MPH) I find that I can either stay in 3rd or gear up to 4th. Both work fine, 3rd runs around 3000rpm (which could be high) and in 4th it's around 1800 (which might be too low). Is the answer I'm looking for as obvoius as I think or is there something else in this equation I'm unaware of.Your thoughts please...

[GrayFox]

The lowest speed you can go in the highest gear while keeping the RPMs high enough to not kill your engine is the most fuel efficient speed I have an Auto so I just try to keep it under 3k

[WaveAction]

i shift around 3k but when i cruise its usually around 2k..sometimes just under

[Mavrik]

60-80km I usually stay in 4th gear. It keeps the RPMs low and still enough power to get moving. I try and keep the RPMs under 3000 while driving. Its a different story while shifting, but driving yes... under 3000. So what ever gear keeps me under 3000 at the speed I'm traveling is the gear I select.

[goodvibe]

Lowest RPM you can use without lugging the motor should be good.

[GMJAP]

Quote, originally posted by goodvibe »Lowest you can use without lugging the motor should be good.That should be "highest".This is typically about 1700rpm or so when cruising. When accelerating, upshift between 2500 and 3000. You shouldn't cruise above 2500 (unless you're in 5th).So when cruising at 60KMH, keep it in 4th.

[silver_vibe55]

Thanks guys. That's really helpful. I'll have that warm, fuzzy feeling now when driving around town tonight knowing that I'm cruising in the "right" gear. Thanks again.

[djb383]

Install a vacuum gauge. Then you will know your best economy in each gear.

[WaveAction]

thats actually a good idea djb, how much do they usually run?moneywise that is

[djb383]

$20-$30 for a new one from a auto parts store or Summit/Jegs. The one in the pic is old school and listed on ebay (not my listing) but will work just as good as a new digital unit. Hope this helps.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

[WaveAction]

awesome..gonna have to check out my local stores and see what they got..then get a 2 or 3 gauge pod for the a-pillar..and get some other gauges

[silver_vibe55]

Well it's been 5 days now since I've been driving my vibe.... I gassed it up last night and was excited to calculate my mileage. With the tips given here and trying to be conscious of my throttle, minus my inexperience on the clutch (lots of over-rev'ing going into first *wince*) my mileage worked out to.... drum roll please.... 7.02L/100km (which means nothing to me so I converted everything) and that worked out to: 33.5 miles/gallon!! NOT BAD!! And that was maybe a 50/50 split of in town and highway driving.