4th or 5th for cruising?

[ArkansasMystic]

I just got a 96 Cobra. Most of my driving is done on roads with a few hills and turns. My question is which gear should I drive in to give the best fuel economy? If I am in 5th, I find myself downshifting when going uphill or through several turns. My speed is somewhere around 55, and in 5th it runs at about 1900 rpm and in 4th it is at 3000 or so. It is a lot more fun driving in 4th, but I was just wondering if one would give me better gas mileage than the other. Thanks for any input.

 

[Mach1Run]

6th but I dont really have any hills to deal with.

 

[Pearl02]

I would say 5th gear. If you have to down shift to 4th sometimes, thats better than driving in 4th all the time. What rearend gears do you have? Depending on what you have, you may want to step up to the next gear ratio. That will help with your 5th gear driving. Pearl02.

 

[ArkansasMystic]

It has 3:73's. I thought about moving to 4:10's, but was told that it would decrease my mileage and not be much different than the 3:73's. Thanks for the input.

 

[bhuff30]

What the heck kind of hill do you need 4th at 3000rpm for. Yeah, it might be fun, but do you really have to? Just give it some gas in 5th and she'll pull you up.

Are the 4 valves really that down on low end torque (<2000rpm) compared to a NPI 2 valve? I have yet to find a hill with a speed limit of at least 45 that I couldn't pull over in 5th... and I've got factory 3.27s. Eisenhower pass in colorado was taken in 4th gear, but that's a mountain and at elevation and we are still talking about only 2500-2800rpm.

 

[2002MineralGray]

I hardly EVER use 5th gear unless in on the highway or something like that. The only time I find myself using it is when Im messing around and really opening her up. Maybe thats why my mileage sucks. haha

 

[StangYellow]

You own a 96 Cobra and dont know which drive gear gives you better gas mileage????????

 

[ArkansasMystic]

I just picked the cobra up Sunday, and I have had lifted trucks in the past, so yes I have no clue which is better. The hills can be pulled in 5th, but it seems to bog a little, so shifting down to fourth is an easy fix. Thanks.