Lowest rpm to run car in any gear
02-03-2013, 08:33 PM
#1
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Lowest rpm to run car in any gear
hi I was curious whats the lowest rpm you can run the gear through the gears for better mpg.. I shift out of first past 2000 since the 1st to forth shift thing... and after that I shift around 2000 for every gear, and run the car in gear around 1500 rpm, I'm curious since i read you can run it in gear above 900 rpm safely? is this true? so I could just keep the car in 5th or 4th gear at around 1200 rpm, without lugging the engine? thanks
02-03-2013, 08:40 PM
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You don't want to so low that you have no power when you step on it. You should be able to drive it naturally and still get decent milage. My combined city/highway milage is around 22.
Enjoy it, it's a sportscar!! Drive it like one.
Enjoy it, it's a sportscar!! Drive it like one.
02-03-2013, 08:45 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Don't let obsessing over the best MPG get in the way of driving it the way the General intended!! Also, if you wish you can get rid of the 1-4 skip shift...
02-03-2013, 08:51 PM
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so anything above about 1100 rpms should do? hahaha I do enjoy driving it fast just that its my DD so I try to take it easy since I drive it to work regularly.
02-03-2013, 08:52 PM
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Do a search on CAGS eliminator. There is a device which can be added easily to make it go away forever.
batm0bile, that's a great DD! You should be okay with 1100 when crusing.
batm0bile, that's a great DD! You should be okay with 1100 when crusing.
Last edited by RMB97LS1; 02-03-2013 at 08:54 PM.
02-04-2013, 09:07 AM
#8
Racer
When just driving point A-to-B, I shift at 1500 except for 5->6 going uphill, where i'll run up to about 1700 to keep from lugging 6th. When driving like I mean to get somewhere, 2-3k. Autocross? Wait for the limiter...
BTW, i almost never hit the skip-shift window.
BTW, i almost never hit the skip-shift window.
02-04-2013, 02:27 PM
#9
Tech Contributor
I can cruise at 45mph, in 6th, at 1150 rpm.
It pulls up hills like that too.
Gotta love the LS torque !
Toque
It pulls up hills like that too.
Gotta love the LS torque !
Toque
02-04-2013, 02:55 PM
#10
Burning Brakes
02-04-2013, 04:10 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
My Owners manual says, "If your engine speed drops below 900 rpm, or if the
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance."
I usually keep it above 1,000 rpms.
engine is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance."
I usually keep it above 1,000 rpms.
02-04-2013, 06:51 PM
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Why would anyone buy a Corvette and tempt fate by starving off the top end lubrication by trying to save a very few dollars on gas and have the engine in potential lug mode? What most people do not know is that lugging the engine is written into the OLM algorithm sequence. This will cut the oil life time in half because the OLM recognizes the potential danger of lugging the engine and starving off the top end... it is a stupid thing to do... I on the other hand, run around in a gear that keeps me in the 2000/ 2500 rpm range, allowing me to hop on the torque curve instantaneously... You should have bought a Kia Soul if you are worried about mpg. It just goes to show that anyone with a pulse can buy a Corvette, no matter how little they know about automotive technology.
Bill aka ET
Bill aka ET
Last edited by Evil-Twin; 02-04-2013 at 06:53 PM.
02-04-2013, 08:15 PM
#16
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Its much better to run @ 3000 rpm than it is to run at 1000 rpm
02-04-2013, 08:48 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
Why would anyone buy a Corvette and tempt fate by starving off the top end lubrication by trying to save a very few dollars on gas and have the engine in potential lug mode? What most people do not know is that lugging the engine is written into the OLM algorithm sequence. This will cut the oil life time in half because the OLM recognizes the potential danger of lugging the engine and starving off the top end... it is a stupid thing to do... I on the other hand, run around in a gear that keeps me in the 2000/ 2500 rpm range, allowing me to hop on the torque curve instantaneously... You should have bought a Kia Soul if you are worried about mpg. It just goes to show that anyone with a pulse can buy a Corvette, no matter how little they know about automotive technology.
Bill aka ET
Bill aka ET
I would have thought that if there was good oil pressure (about 30 psi or so) that there would not be problems like this.
Can you give some more details and references?
No I don't want a Kia Soul, but I do want Corvette performance and good gas mileage too. Why can't we have both?
02-04-2013, 09:03 PM
#18
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^ there won't be any problems with normal driving. On the highway, at 65mph, in 6th gear, I cruise at around 1100 on the tach...I don't make that happen, it's the normal operating rpm.
I would have to cruise in 5th to get to 2 grand or higher. Why would I want to do that??
I would have to cruise in 5th to get to 2 grand or higher. Why would I want to do that??
02-04-2013, 09:51 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
i cruise around between 1000-1500 all day with no issues 
but i'll add that any time i'm that low and give any more than maintenance throttle, i'll downshift. then again, i've got a blower pulling on the crank & 60# injectors (which ain't as accurate at low RPMs). bone stock, i'd cruise 45mph in 6th all the time.
but i'll add that any time i'm that low and give any more than maintenance throttle, i'll downshift. then again, i've got a blower pulling on the crank & 60# injectors (which ain't as accurate at low RPMs). bone stock, i'd cruise 45mph in 6th all the time.
