[Z06] n00b question regarding mph/gearing...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,538
Likes: 9
From: Pasadena, CA
n00b question regarding mph/gearing...
Just picked up my 02 QS z06 last night, I'm trying to figure out the gears. I do not put the car into 6th gear unless I'm going at least 80mph, anything slower than that, I feel like I'm lugging the car. I guess what I'm getting at is, I don't like to have the needle below 2K rpm's in any gear at any time(of course it's gonna happen sometimes). Am I way off base?
Last edited by 03 Z-oh-6; Mar 30, 2006 at 05:00 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
The LS6 motor will pull smoothly at 1000 rpm in any gear and presents no harm in doing so. It has a very broad torque curve.
It's fine to go to 6th anytime conditions permit, just keep the rpm above 1000.
Ranger
It's fine to go to 6th anytime conditions permit, just keep the rpm above 1000.
Ranger
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,538
Likes: 9
From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by Sigforty
I have a few mods done to my car like a cam and I still lug it around at 1k rpms in 6th. I normally go into 6th at 45 mph or above.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
From: Nesconset (LI) NY
Originally Posted by Bret01Z06
I normally shift to 6th about 45-50.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 22
From: Cary NC
Originally Posted by ronman99vette
You are not hurting anything but your fuel economy. I shift into 6th on the highway over 55 or so.
R
R
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,068
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Sigforty
I have a few mods done to my car like a cam and I still lug it around at 1k rpms in 6th. I normally go into 6th at 45 mph or above.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 1
From: naples fl.
if i'm at 45-50 for any length of time its in 6th. don't worry, its a torque monster. you won't hurt it above 1000 like they all said. look how gm did that 1st to 4th shift if you haven't disabled it yet. you know it has gobs of torque to pull that off. they wouldn't have done that if it would hurt the engine
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,538
Likes: 9
From: Pasadena, CA
Originally Posted by fxdl
if i'm at 45-50 for any length of time its in 6th. don't worry, its a torque monster. you won't hurt it above 1000 like they all said. look how gm did that 1st to 4th shift if you haven't disabled it yet. you know it has gobs of torque to pull that off. they wouldn't have done that if it would hurt the engine
Last edited by 03 Z-oh-6; Mar 31, 2006 at 06:56 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
St. Jude Donor '06-'09
45 - 60 IN 6TH!!!?????
What am I missing, I rarely see 4th in that range, heres a normal acceleration for me. These will vary and stretch based on how big of a hurry Im in.
0 - 25 1st
25 - 35 2nd
35 - 65 3rd
65 - 100 4th
100 - 140 5th
140+ 6th
Sure for long crusin I use 6th and cruise control at about 70+. 45 in sixth is silly.
Move over Grandma yer in my lane!!!
What am I missing, I rarely see 4th in that range, heres a normal acceleration for me. These will vary and stretch based on how big of a hurry Im in.
0 - 25 1st
25 - 35 2nd
35 - 65 3rd
65 - 100 4th
100 - 140 5th
140+ 6th
Sure for long crusin I use 6th and cruise control at about 70+. 45 in sixth is silly.
Move over Grandma yer in my lane!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,082
Likes: 0
From: Richardson Texas
Originally Posted by e-hodges
45 - 60 IN 6TH!!!?????
What am I missing, I rarely see 4th in that range, heres a normal acceleration for me. These will vary and stretch based on how big of a hurry Im in.
0 - 25 1st
25 - 35 2nd
35 - 65 3rd
65 - 100 4th
100 - 140 5th
140+ 6th
Sure for long crusin I use 6th and cruise control at about 70+. 45 in sixth is silly.
Move over Grandma yer in my lane!!!
What am I missing, I rarely see 4th in that range, heres a normal acceleration for me. These will vary and stretch based on how big of a hurry Im in.
0 - 25 1st
25 - 35 2nd
35 - 65 3rd
65 - 100 4th
100 - 140 5th
140+ 6th
Sure for long crusin I use 6th and cruise control at about 70+. 45 in sixth is silly.
Move over Grandma yer in my lane!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Originally Posted by Ranger
The LS6 motor will pull smoothly at 1000 rpm in any gear and presents no harm in doing so. It has a very broad torque curve.
It's fine to go to 6th anytime conditions permit, just keep the rpm above 1000.
Ranger
It's fine to go to 6th anytime conditions permit, just keep the rpm above 1000.
Ranger
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,003
Likes: 89
From: Indy IN
Just watch the instant mileage readout and you will be a believer in short shifting to 6th....
I do it about like everybody else, after about 45 mph if I'm going to be cruising for a bit and you can watch the mileage jump right up there...
You are saving wear and tear on the engine and tranny, and the car is perfectly happy with it...
I do it about like everybody else, after about 45 mph if I'm going to be cruising for a bit and you can watch the mileage jump right up there...
You are saving wear and tear on the engine and tranny, and the car is perfectly happy with it...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,068
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by e-hodges
45 - 60 IN 6TH!!!?????
What am I missing, I rarely see 4th in that range, heres a normal acceleration for me. These will vary and stretch based on how big of a hurry Im in.
0 - 25 1st
25 - 35 2nd
35 - 65 3rd
65 - 100 4th
100 - 140 5th
140+ 6th
Sure for long crusin I use 6th and cruise control at about 70+. 45 in sixth is silly.
Move over Grandma yer in my lane!!!
What am I missing, I rarely see 4th in that range, heres a normal acceleration for me. These will vary and stretch based on how big of a hurry Im in.
0 - 25 1st
25 - 35 2nd
35 - 65 3rd
65 - 100 4th
100 - 140 5th
140+ 6th
Sure for long crusin I use 6th and cruise control at about 70+. 45 in sixth is silly.
Move over Grandma yer in my lane!!!
What kinda avg MPG are you seeing? 10? 
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
St. Jude Donor '06-'09
Originally Posted by NeverT00Fast
That looks like shift points for a car with a huge cam! What kinda avg MPG are you seeing? 10?
What kinda avg MPG are you seeing? 10? I dont really watch my fuel usage cause dont really care, if i did i'd have a hybrid.
BUT..... I do average about 15 and thats with a mix of 80 city 20 hwy. I use a bottle of NOZ off road every other tank and and 93 octane.
My Display is amost always on oil temp but I will play around with the instant mileage when I think of it, to me the instant milage is kinda phoney, all that really counts is average (if you your worried about milage that is)
I would be watching my fuel consumption if I noticed anything weird like heavy consumption or if I was traveling and didnt know how far the next gas station was. (I always carry a gallon in the trunk when I'm traveling BTW, an old trick my dad taught me)
So, bottom line, 6th at 45, just plain silly, get a hybrid
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,068
Likes: 0
I've been watching my MPG recently since I did my heads and a big cam. When the car was first tuned, I was getting really crappy MPG even if I throw it in 6th. Now I got the car retuned again, and the MPG is alot better cruising at 2k rpm. At almost $3 a gallon, it's starting to hurt the wallet.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 404
Likes: 0
From: Camp Pendleton CA
Originally Posted by e-hodges
Well, Never too fast (now thats funny considering the discussion)
I dont really watch my fuel usage cause dont really care, if i did i'd have a hybrid.
BUT..... I do average about 15 and thats with a mix of 80 city 20 hwy. I use a bottle of NOZ off road every other tank and and 93 octane.
My Display is amost always on oil temp but I will play around with the instant mileage when I think of it, to me the instant milage is kinda phoney, all that really counts is average (if you your worried about milage that is)
I would be watching my fuel consumption if I noticed anything weird like heavy consumption or if I was traveling and didnt know how far the next gas station was. (I always carry a gallon in the trunk when I'm traveling BTW, an old trick my dad taught me)
So, bottom line, 6th at 45, just plain silly, get a hybrid
I dont really watch my fuel usage cause dont really care, if i did i'd have a hybrid.
BUT..... I do average about 15 and thats with a mix of 80 city 20 hwy. I use a bottle of NOZ off road every other tank and and 93 octane.
My Display is amost always on oil temp but I will play around with the instant mileage when I think of it, to me the instant milage is kinda phoney, all that really counts is average (if you your worried about milage that is)
I would be watching my fuel consumption if I noticed anything weird like heavy consumption or if I was traveling and didnt know how far the next gas station was. (I always carry a gallon in the trunk when I'm traveling BTW, an old trick my dad taught me)
So, bottom line, 6th at 45, just plain silly, get a hybrid