when to shift? (VE 6L Manual)

[NuffNuff]

Hey guys, I've had my VE for a couple of days now. Got in and out of the city no problems. Fuel consumption is on 15L and sometimes drops to 14.5, would it show more usage during the run in peroid and get better? Also i imagine it doesnt help that im a pretty shit manual driver to begin with little experience, i am really glad i went with a manual though its such a nice learning experience.

taking off at the lights is cool, but what RPM should i be doing when doing 60 and 80km? i find its fine to even be driving at 80kph in 6th gear or is that pushing it? i guess what im after is at what rpm is it labouring the engine?

any help is appreciated, whens a meet? :driving:

[johno5.7]

check the manual for the car - it'll describe what speeds recommended for each gear change. Don't let the car labour in top gear

[Crusty]

check the manual for the car - it'll describe what speeds recommended for each gear change. Don't let the car labour in top gear

This man speaks the truth, there are a few threads on excessive wear pointing the finger at engine labouring.

[GODSMACK]

* Edit - my response didnt make sense....

[GJ227]

I tend to find you will learn the car by driving it more, you will hear when the changes are due, oppossed to watching the Taco, i came from my VY SS Auto to the Manual Clubby and first few days took some getting used to, after that you will be driving it like second nature.

Enjoy it and drive it with your own style

Gj227

[Curtis-R]

I tend to find you will learn the car by driving it more, you will hear when the changes are due, oppossed to watching the Taco, i came from my VY SS Auto to the Manual Clubby and first few days took some getting used to, after that you will be driving it like second nature.

Enjoy it and drive it with your own style

Gj227

What he said ;)

I sometimes shift from second to fourth etc..

Also your economy will get better as the engine wears in.. If you are planning future mods and tune, you will probably get better economy again.. It's all about smooth driving I spose. I really only use 6th gear when cruising on open roads.

Cheers

[timmyq]

The 6 litre engine is very forgiving, I find it difficult in my myo6 vz to make it labour!!! That said, if you want max fuel economy I spose you can potter around at very low revs in high gears-won't hurt the car but a bit boooring. In 60 zones I keep her in 3rd so I have plenty of toe available if a granny in front p*sses me off! Like the others say, drive it, enjoy it, find your own driving style. You can't hurt it!
Tim :)

[SteveK]

I remember asking a similar question a loooooong time ago.

What gear are you in? (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=59313)

[Marco]

My general approach has been to use 5th in 60 zones and 6th in 80 zones or higher. I was slipping it into 6th in 60 zones for a little while there but decided that probably wasn't going to do my engine any good long term (not that the car seemed to complain).

[Mungrel]

I sometimes shift from second to fourth etc..


I've heard this is bad for synchros?


With regards to your original question, i usually make a point of changing gears at anywhere between 2,000 & 2,500rpm.

When driving i'll decide what gear i'm judgin on traffic etc.

[NuffNuff]

thanks for the help guys, i suppose im in a bit of a high gear then if i feel there isnt much pull when accelerating, i'll just go a lower one so that there is always some grunt .. but like Marco said the 6L doesnt complain

ah yeah, i've found myself going from 2nd to 4th a bit, that is bad for the syncros?

[Danv8]

I've heard this is bad for synchros?


With regards to your original question, i usually make a point of changing gears at anywhere between 2,000 & 2,500rpm.

When driving i'll decide what gear i'm judgin on traffic etc.

No its not bad for the synchro's since a lot of Vettes and comaro's and a like fitted with the 6 speed gearbox they had an economy thing which makes you shift from 2nd to 4th on ligh acceleration. What kills the syncro's is when people downshift too early at higher rpm's.

[finevy]

i generally change when the red needle on the left of the dash reaches 6000 - though thats probably why i average 25 litres per 100 kms !!!

[Scommo]

06 VZ manual SV6 yooot

Assuming your meaning you want maximum economy.

6th for 90+
5th for 60-90 zones.
4th for 50-60 zones.
3rd for 30-50 zones.
1st and 2nd for 0-30

I pretty much try to keep the below 2500RPM.

IMO

And I roll ( nuetral) down long, not very steep hills to save fuel.

It all ads up:rofl:

[AFAR]

Careful when trying to maximise economy.
Alot of people do more harm than good and they dont even realise it when driving a m6.

[Titanium]

I tended to keep the revs around the 1650 for 4th, 5th and 6th.

IMO driving under 100 kmh in 6th is a struggle.

Slightly different now I have the 3.73 diff where 80 kmh is good for 6th.

[iloveholden]

i generally change when the red needle on the left of the dash reaches 6000 - though thats probably why i average 25 litres per 100 kms !!!

not bad for an 80 year old :rofl:

[Wonky]

i generally change when the red needle on the left of the dash reaches 6000 - though thats probably why i average 25 litres per 100 kms !!!

..... and that's in the Camira you have listed as one of your rides too!! :lol:

[finevy]

..... and that's in the Camira you have listed as one of your rides too!! :lol:

hey that camira does 0-100 @ 9.8 sec & 1/4 mile @ 20.2 sec @78 mph ! not to bad for an old fella !

[jamesd]

And I roll ( nuetral) down long, not very steep hills to save fuel.

You'll actually save more fuel if you leave it in gear. With modern engines, in neutral, the engine has to use a little bit of fuel to stop the car from stalling, but if you leave it coasting in gear, it'll use nothing. I couldn't explain exactly how that works.. so don't quote me on that one! :lol:

[jrckelley]

thats exactly correct, it is best to leave it in gear - you will use less fuel (compage avg ltrs going down a long hill) you also dont accelerate as much so you may save yourself a fine - although that is a sucky reason).
I think these days a bit of fuel always gets droped in the engine even when coasting (.2l/100) or something - in the old days i think it was a total fuel stop when coasting - maybe this had a bad effect

[BLACKVZUTE]

hey that camira does 0-100 @ 9.8 sec & 1/4 mile @ 20.2 sec @78 mph ! not to bad for an old fella !

thats pretty good for a jb ! any mods ?

[NuffNuff]

how long can you ride the clutch for in slow traffic? i find myself on it a bit getting in and out of a parking spot, is it ok at 1,500rpm-2,000rpm for 20 seconds or so? its difficult getting up this steep driveway here, tends to smell like clutch after getting out .. maybe thats because its new?

[Souljah]

how long can you ride the clutch for in slow traffic? i find myself on it a bit getting in and out of a parking spot, is it ok at 1,500rpm-2,000rpm for 20 seconds or so? its difficult getting up this steep driveway here, tends to smell like clutch after getting out .. maybe thats because its new?

:eek::eek::confused::confused:
20 seconds? It ain't gonna be new for long. Infact it won't be in there very long if you keep that up!!

[NuffNuff]

Whats the best method if getting up a hill in reverse without riding the clutch, I find it easier to control the vehicle speed so I'm not belting out the driveway even at idle

[SPUD71]

I've found my VESS doesnt like reversing uphill much, with the clutch fully out. Maybe you could reverse into your driveway, downhill, and drive out forward when you're leaving? I tried reversing an empty 6x4 trailer up a steep driveway, stunk by the time I'd finished. She didn't like it one bit.

[NuffNuff]

tricky maneuvering down there but i guess reverse is the go then, well rolling backwards anyway

[HitmansV8]

I have an 03 sv8 manual an i usually change before 2000rpm an try 2 keep it below that an try keep it above 1200rpm... is what im doing a good thing? im trying 2 find a way 2 save o fuel consumption but i average between 14.9 an 16..? does anyone know what would be better???

[Mungrel]

a tune would probably fix the fuel economy.
when driving try and ensure revs are above 1500rpm in my opinion.
Applying too much load on the engine etc will increase fuel consumption too

[SLugg]

when to shift a 6L , are you serious mate if you have to ask why are driving one..

shift whenever you firkin feel like it , or not as the case may be

or go buy an auto and the decisions made for you

you could always ask mommy
im sure she will tell you.

just drive it and enjoy it

[michaels1v8]

I have an 03 sv8 manual an i usually change before 2000rpm an try 2 keep it below that an try keep it above 1200rpm... is what im doing a good thing? im trying 2 find a way 2 save o fuel consumption but i average between 14.9 an 16..? does anyone know what would be better???

Umm are you serious. 16s are my dream.

I suppose you got that nice cruise to your house though. Its like 3kms from town to mine:jester:

I average 19s except for if I ever cruise out to yours or Peters. It dropped to 17s that weekend I went out Friday and Saturday.

I averaged 22s last week though:rofl: must of been Friday night antics we got up to and the air con running all week

[Souljah]

a tune would probably fix the fuel economy.
when driving try and ensure revs are above 1500rpm in my opinion.
Applying too much load on the engine etc will increase fuel consumption too

I tried this on my last tank off fuel. I kept the revs around the 1700-1900rpm mark and only using 6th above 100kph and if the road was flat enough. It achieved 14.1L/100km (actual) with an average speed of 38kph purely around town with one or two trips north of 5000rpm to blow the cob webs out.

Think of it this way. If your in top gear and your giving it say (rough example) 30% throttle to keep it moving you will be using more fuel than if you shifted back a gear, causing the revs to raise slightly but only having to use 20% throttle to keep the same speed.

[ogre]

I tried this on my last tank off fuel. I kept the revs around the 1700-1900rpm mark and only using 6th above 100kph and if the road was flat enough. It achieved 14.1L/100km (actual) with an average speed of 38kph purely around town with one or two trips north of 5000rpm to blow the cob webs out.

Think of it this way. If your in top gear and your giving it say (rough example) 30% throttle to keep it moving you will be using more fuel than if you shifted back a gear, causing the revs to raise slightly but only having to use 20% throttle to keep the same speed.

Actually, with EFI enginges, hypermilers have found RPM chews the juice more than throttle opening.
Their research has shown that for economy, granny acceleration that eventually reaches cruise speed is not as efficient as heavier acceleration. So the go is to squeeze on up to 50% throttle, but up-change by 2500rpm. Once cruise speed is achieved, its ok to go straight to the cruise gear (highest gear that'll sit above labouring rpm).

Other economy tricks are:

Improving "Accleleration Sense" - not wasting fuel on red light approaches, slowing earlier to run on the green - basically opposite to what a P-plater does!
Switching off for level crossings and longer delays (not recommended at front row of traffic lights)
Choose routes of longer cruising even if the Km are a little more, than a stop-start route of minimum Km.
Don't miss oil changes, and go for the lowest viscosity (runniest) oil you can use
Save the aircon for the hottest days or defrosting windows
Don't have windows fully down at higher speeds
walk or cycle to the local shop (trips where the engine doen't get to warm up)
Higher tyre pressures eg 40psi for stock tyres (low profiles can go less)
BTW, down-changes can skip too - today's driving technique is brake to the speed you want, then make revs and get the gear for that speed. Brake relines are far cheaper than clutch replacement jobs!

[BLAZEY]

dont labour the engine thats when your engine will start useing more fuel. cos then computer starts throwing more fuel in her then you put your foot down more and i just sucks it in. in my thunder i change gears between 2 to 2,800 rpm dont use overdrive under 80.

i get about 430 per tank around town which i think is prety good.

[sir.richard]

i generally change when the red needle on the left of the dash reaches 6000 - though thats probably why i average 25 litres per 100 kms !!!


FINALLY a man who not only drives like I do, but has the same fuel consumption.

How about rear tyres? 10k for me, with no burnouts.

[Tyre biter]

Also your economy will get better as the engine wears in...

Hi Curtis,

I wish mine did. My fuel economy is getting worse as the engine wears in - go figure???

Cheers

[NuffNuff]

Hi Curtis,

I wish mine did. My fuel economy is getting worse as the engine wears in - go figure???

Cheers

mine is getting better, i must be doing something wrong! :( :smilesandbanana:

as sir.richard said, how long are peoples tyres lasting without burnouts (or maybe even with some burnouts)

[Wonky]

mine is getting better, i must be doing something wrong! :( :smilesandbanana:

as sir.richard said, how long are peoples tyres lasting without burnouts (or maybe even with some burnouts)
I had my Bridgestone 20s checked the other day as am most likely going to sell my current rims and get new ones and was most pleasantly surprised. I bought the tyres from JKGMH when he put the Paranormals on instead of his HSVi 20s and went to 255 wide. At that time they had done 2,500km and I've done 11,500km, so they have done a total of 14,000km.

The guy at the tyre place said they start at 9mm deep and they are currently all at least 6.5mm!! The guys who know me will know why I drive like a granny most of the time :D but I'm rapt at that - they still have heaps of kms left in them!! (Great for whoever buys them!) :woohoo:

[Mungrel]

Other economy tricks are:

Choose routes of longer cruising even if the Km are a little more, than a stop-start route of minimum Km.



Thats a good one IMO.
If i drive to work, its a 27km drive (give or take 1km)
The shortest distance takes me through 53 sets of traffic lights! (yes i counted every single one of them!) Thats a lot of gear changes and takes offs :lol: