4th gear driving
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Re: 4th gear driving (dvj)
Absolutely! Looking at an extreme case like racing where engines are good for one, maybe two races before needing a rebuild gives you an idea of how higher speeds reduce the life of dynamic parts.
Another good example is a human who must walk 5 miles a day. What would happen if you RAN those 5 miles every day? Do you think that your joints would last until you were 70?
Driving in 4th on the highway should be the exception, not the rule!
Another good example is a human who must walk 5 miles a day. What would happen if you RAN those 5 miles every day? Do you think that your joints would last until you were 70?
Driving in 4th on the highway should be the exception, not the rule!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 9
From: Rockaway, NJ
Re: 4th gear driving (Dave68)
Absolutely! Looking at an extreme case like racing where engines are good for one, maybe two races before needing a rebuild gives you an idea of how higher speeds reduce the life of dynamic parts.
Another good example is a human who must walk 5 miles a day. What would happen if you RAN those 5 miles every day? Do you think that your joints would last until you were 70?
Driving in 4th on the highway should be the exception, not the rule!
Another good example is a human who must walk 5 miles a day. What would happen if you RAN those 5 miles every day? Do you think that your joints would last until you were 70?
Driving in 4th on the highway should be the exception, not the rule!
Instructor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: Saratoga, California
Re: 4th gear driving (Dave68)
Absolutely! Looking at an extreme case like racing where engines are good for one, maybe two races before needing a rebuild gives you an idea of how higher speeds reduce the life of dynamic parts.
Race motors, like my 302 T/A motor, spends all it's life at 5000-7500 RPM
no matter how fast or slow I'm "racing".
It gets torn down every 40 hours.....
4th gear on the highway is not nearly as tough. ...but why would you?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Re: 4th gear driving (shockwave)
Absolutely! Looking at an extreme case like racing where engines are good for one, maybe two races before needing a rebuild gives you an idea of how higher speeds reduce the life of dynamic parts.
Another good example is a human who must walk 5 miles a day. What would happen if you RAN those 5 miles every day? Do you think that your joints would last until you were 70?
Driving in 4th on the highway should be the exception, not the rule!
Not a good analogy, but interesting...Ford did a study in the late 60's or early 70's when they took a hi performance 271 HP 289 equipped Fairlane and ran it on a race track for 100,000 miles averaging over 100 mph. They did all the normal maintenance on it like changing oil and oil filters. When they finished 100,000 miles, they tore the engine apart to look for ware and tear. What they found was an engine in almost new condition with very little wear and tear. The conclusion was high speed driving did not cause excess wear on the engine bearings and parts. This car by the way did not have any overdrive gears and would be similar to driving your C5 in 4th gear. High speed non abusive driving will do less wear on an engine then the typical stop and go type driving. The only disadvantage you will have in using 4th gear over the overdrive gears in in gas mileage. I wouldn't worry at all about having engine damage or premature wear.
Another good example is a human who must walk 5 miles a day. What would happen if you RAN those 5 miles every day? Do you think that your joints would last until you were 70?
Driving in 4th on the highway should be the exception, not the rule!
Not a good analogy, but interesting...Ford did a study in the late 60's or early 70's when they took a hi performance 271 HP 289 equipped Fairlane and ran it on a race track for 100,000 miles averaging over 100 mph. They did all the normal maintenance on it like changing oil and oil filters. When they finished 100,000 miles, they tore the engine apart to look for ware and tear. What they found was an engine in almost new condition with very little wear and tear. The conclusion was high speed driving did not cause excess wear on the engine bearings and parts. This car by the way did not have any overdrive gears and would be similar to driving your C5 in 4th gear. High speed non abusive driving will do less wear on an engine then the typical stop and go type driving. The only disadvantage you will have in using 4th gear over the overdrive gears in in gas mileage. I wouldn't worry at all about having engine damage or premature wear.
That being said, I still stand by all the courses I had (many moons ago) that taught me that, all things being equal, more rpms = more cycles = more wear. Whether that wear is significant is relevant to your definition of "long life".
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Re: 4th gear driving (Dave68)
I would stay in a gear that gives you "comfortable" flexibility for the terrain in which you're driving, and the speed at which you want to travel. Generally, in this area, in the Z06, at anything less than 70, I would be in 4th, since it's pretty hilly and I want responsiveness without lugging the engine. In my A4 coupe, I usually stay in 3 when under 70. In the Z, I only use 5th & 6th for straight-and-level cruising at "higher" speeds. Regardless of which car I'm in, I like to ensure the revs are at least a tick over 2000 when cruising - and much higher when I'm pushing the envelope and want to be in the engine's sweet spot.
Personal preference, and jmho...
[Modified by steve hummel, 8:00 PM 10/8/2001]
Personal preference, and jmho...
[Modified by steve hummel, 8:00 PM 10/8/2001]
