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Which gear should I use to go uphill

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Old 05-20-2015, 12:26 AM
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amphora001
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Default Which gear should I use to go uphill

I live on a hill. The road to my house has a 25mph limit, and when I drive up to my house, I'm usually traveling at 30mph on 3rd gear. When I get to my driveway, I can smell the car burning, presumably the clutch. Should I be going slower? maybe use 2nd gear instead? What's the best way to go uphill at this speed so I'm not hurting the car?

In my other car, the Hyundai Genesis coupe v6, I would start out on 3rd gear at 30mph, then half way up I would loose momentum and get to 2nd gear, but then I'd be traveling at 15mph and the car doesn't smell. But my other car has only 300hp. I figure the Vette has so much torque that it wouldn't be a problem and I wouldn't have to go 15mph anymore...

Last edited by amphora001; 08-16-2023 at 02:27 PM.
Old 05-20-2015, 12:41 AM
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CDH76
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1st
Old 05-20-2015, 01:02 AM
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Vegas1500
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Use whichever gear gives you the proper RPM. I agree with above, 1st is probably best.
Old 05-20-2015, 01:47 AM
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amphora001
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Originally Posted by Vegas1500
Use whichever gear gives you the proper RPM. I agree with above, 1st is probably best.
Sorry noob question, what's the "proper" RPM?
Old 05-20-2015, 03:05 AM
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and12e
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That burning smell won't be the clutch simply because you are going up hill. Unless ur slipping the clutch otherwise, going up hill, even if not in the ideal gear will not burn the clutch.

Like said above use first. Max 2nd.
Old 05-20-2015, 07:14 AM
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C7Joy
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Your clutch should not be "burning" unless you are riding the peddle on the way up the hill. Simply use a gear low enough to keep the engine from laboring. Hard to believe 3rd would be a problem.
Old 05-20-2015, 08:34 AM
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rcooper
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At 25 mph second gear should have enough rpm's to get you up that hill without a problem. The car has ample torque to do this.
Old 05-20-2015, 08:39 AM
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kenownr
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With the available torque the C7 has in manual or auto tranny; unless you live on top of Pikes Peak I'm pretty sure you should be able to go up and down the hill without too many problems. Smelling something burnt unless as said several times above, that you may be slipping the clutch is a problem.
Old 05-20-2015, 08:53 AM
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Old 05-20-2015, 09:49 AM
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W88fixer
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Originally Posted by rcooper
At 25 mph second gear should have enough rpm's to get you up that hill without a problem. The car has ample torque to do this.
I have an A6 but I agree. Think 1st is overkill, pretty high rpms at 30 in 1st. Don
Old 05-20-2015, 09:53 AM
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TennisFreak
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Sounds like someone should have gotten an A8.

You clutch should not be "burning" unless you are riding it. If your foot is off the pedal and the clutch smells like it is burning then something is wrong, take it to dealer for service.

If the engine is not lugging badly or stalling then the gear you are in should be fine.
I'd say 2nd should be fine at that speed, no need to drop to 1st.

Hell I can start my car from a dead stop in 3rd gear with no issues, this engine has tons of torque.
Old 05-20-2015, 10:55 AM
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Bill B 1
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I live over the top of a very steep hill which has a slow 90deg turn/intersection at the very bottom. I run this hill in 3rd @ around 30 mph or less all the time. A burning smell is not a good thing, you should have it checked out.
Old 05-20-2015, 11:03 AM
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DAFFYDRUNK
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Unless you're driving straight up a cliff the car will be fine in 3rd. If it smells, there is either a problem with the car or the as already mentioned you need to get your foot off the clutch. If the car is new it may just smell. The first week I had it my car smelled a little like burning chemicals when driven into my garage while fully warmed up.

Last edited by DAFFYDRUNK; 05-20-2015 at 11:07 AM.
Old 05-20-2015, 11:18 AM
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JerryU
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Originally Posted by amphora001
I live on a hill. The road to my house has a 25mph limit, and when I drive up to my house, I'm usually traveling at 30mph on 3rd gear. When I get to my driveway, I can smell the car burning, presumably the clutch. Should I be going slower? maybe use 2nd gear instead? What's the best way to go uphill at this speed so I'm not hurting the car?

In my other car, the Hyundai Genesis coupe v6, I would start out on 3rd gear at 30mph, then half way up I would loose momentum and get to 2nd gear, but then I'd be traveling at 15mph and the car doesn't smell. But my other car has only 300hp. I figure the Vette has so much torque that it wouldn't be a problem and I wouldn't have to go 15mph anymore...
30 mph is ~1800 rpm with my Z51 gearing. You should be able to climb a steep hill, the engine has lots of torque! The clutch should not slip under those conditions or frankly any other! Assume you don't have your foot even near the clutch or brake peddle! 2nd gear is at 2700 rpm at 30 mph and should be able to pull a 30 degree hill. If it is steeper than that I'd buy a Jeep and add an inclinometer!




If hill is steeper than 30 degrees may need an inclinometer!
Old 05-20-2015, 11:24 AM
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jerryv
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Of course, we don't know how steep the hill is ... but if you're getting a 'burning' smell, you're doing something wrong and may have already damaged the clutch.

In general, under a load like that, keeping the RPMs around 1800 or so should provide plenty of torque .. pick a gear that gets you there.

But get your clutch checked out .. and never touch the clutch unless you're changing gears .. keep your foot off at all other times.
Old 05-20-2015, 11:39 AM
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wgood
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Originally Posted by amphora001
I live on a hill. The road to my house has a 25mph limit, and when I drive up to my house, I'm usually traveling at 30mph on 3rd gear. When I get to my driveway, I can smell the car burning, presumably the clutch. Should I be going slower? maybe use 2nd gear instead? What's the best way to go uphill at this speed so I'm not hurting the car?

In my other car, the Hyundai Genesis coupe v6, I would start out on 3rd gear at 30mph, then half way up I would loose momentum and get to 2nd gear, but then I'd be traveling at 15mph and the car doesn't smell. But my other car has only 300hp. I figure the Vette has so much torque that it wouldn't be a problem and I wouldn't have to go 15mph anymore...
I use 1500 rpm as a measuring stick no matter which gear I'm in or speed !!! 1500 being Ideal and lower ( 1000) you're lugging and 2000 you are over reeving the gear !!!! Wayne
Old 05-20-2015, 01:44 PM
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player0ne
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Originally Posted by wgood
I use 1500 rpm as a measuring stick no matter which gear I'm in or speed !!! 1500 being Ideal and lower ( 1000) you're lugging and 2000 you are over reeving the gear !!!! Wayne
Damn right. The vette was never meant to rev above 2000 RPM.

Personally, I use 7th gear for everything.

Last edited by player0ne; 05-20-2015 at 01:47 PM.

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Old 05-20-2015, 01:56 PM
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robertson2900
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Default Should've got an automatic

Originally Posted by amphora001
I live on a hill. The road to my house has a 25mph limit, and when I drive up to my house, I'm usually traveling at 30mph on 3rd gear. When I get to my driveway, I can smell the car burning, presumably the clutch. Should I be going slower? maybe use 2nd gear instead? What's the best way to go uphill at this speed so I'm not hurting the car?

In my other car, the Hyundai Genesis coupe v6, I would start out on 3rd gear at 30mph, then half way up I would loose momentum and get to 2nd gear, but then I'd be traveling at 15mph and the car doesn't smell. But my other car has only 300hp. I figure the Vette has so much torque that it wouldn't be a problem and I wouldn't have to go 15mph anymore...
Sorry, but if you have to ask the question you should have ordered an automatic.
Old 05-20-2015, 02:03 PM
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Indy-hp
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Originally Posted by amphora001
Sorry noob question, what's the "proper" RPM?
At least 1500 to avoid lugging the engine, but pulling uphill I'd be around 2000 or so.

Last edited by Indy-hp; 05-20-2015 at 02:06 PM.
Old 05-20-2015, 05:11 PM
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Walt White Coupe
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Originally Posted by robertson2900
Sorry, but if you have to ask the question you should have ordered an automatic.
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