When to shift?

r1dered214

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So I searched and only found some stuff in the Type R forum. When do you guys shift? I’ve being diving a 6 speed attached to a Cummins with a 3200rpm redline pretty much my entire driving life and fell like 3500 is wound up. I know I’m short shifting, but my question is when should I be shifting. Not looking for 40+mpg nor a 1/4 mile record. Just nice smooth pickup into the next gear. Or am I much to used to having massive TQ on tap and cars don’t work that way?
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BogdanM

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In all MT cars I had, if after the gear change you are at ~2000 rpm you are fine for normal driving. That translates into shifting into the next gear somewhere between 2500 and 3000, depending on the gear itself. This is the baseline, basically and from this you up the revs depending on situation (going uphill would require going a bit more into the revs until changing gear, same for overpassing someone). It then depends on how fast / strong you want to go.
On a day to day basis I shift around 2800 rpm. There is no point in accelerating harder just to push the brake pedal 300 meters away.
Also, try not to floor it below 2500.
 
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Luckyarmpit

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I usually shift around 3500 -4000 when driving around town. Still gets good gas mileage. I know what you mean about your other vehicle... my other vehicle is a 2003 Jeep Wrangler X with the 4.0L I6. Its redline is around 5000 RPM and my shift point for that engine is around 3000. Feels like I'm pushing that poor old 4.0L at that RPM while the 1.5L feels like it's barely putting forth any effort.
 

BoostedSiCoupe

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for me around 3 to 4 k for normal driving, and 6k for spirited driving.
 


Monocacy

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For previous non-turbo cars I typically kept the RPMs between 2,000 and 3,000.

For the Si I usually keep RPMs between 2,500 and 3,500. The engine seems much more responsive above 2,500 RPM and I still average around 38 mpg, mostly in highway driving with heavy traffic.
 

JNRS

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I shift around 3K-3.5K :drive:when cruising around in the city. I feel like I am hurting the engine when I do this though because of the way it sounds. Its a shame that the engine has no top end.
 

jakabony

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2500-3000 for normal driving on every one of the manual cars I have had for the past 20 years. Lugging the engine and shifting at a high RPM will reduce MPG's ultimately. Most people don't care. There really isn't a perfect answer. Mostly personal preference.
 

fiend busa

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2500 - 3500 normal driving

4000+ spirited

1st gear I usually ring it out to 3000, unless im making a quick left turn and im losing traction, i'll short shift it into 2nd.
 

Vader_Si

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2500-3000 just going from point A to point B
6,000+ BWAHHHH spirited

I keep it below 3,000 to keep the MPG high, but this all depends on your driving style.
 


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r1dered214

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Thanks guys. Being that I shift the pickup at ~2200 unless I’m towing it’s been a change especially going back and forth between the two.
 

Vrruumm

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I usually shift 2000-2250 in 1st gear and 2250-2750 in 2-5th gears. Usually shift into 6th when cruising at 50mph+. Got into a bad habit of shifting too early sometimes because of my previous car being so loud above 3000RPMs.
 

10GenPearlSi

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I try to drive around town at about 2500 rpm. That means a range of 2300 to 2700 approximately. I will shift when it gets around 3000 to stay in that range. Below 2300, or so, the car is not very responsive and above 2700 It hurts the milage a bit more. About 2500 it is responsive enough for me unless I am feeling sporty.
 

RobXsi

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My brand new 18 Civic Si with 2,000 miles. The shifts are very rough, and "notchy" if that's a word. Lol

No matter what RPM.
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