low rpm driving

Shifting lower and skiping gears will not hurt the engine, and is best for fuel economy, but you have to take off much slower. You have to keep in mind though, that the lugging everyone has been talking about only occurs when you try to accelerate too fast for that gear. For example, you can get the car rolling, then shift the car into fifth gear and let off the gas. As long as you are not on a hill the car will continue to accelerate and the actual load on the engine will be very low. If you shift low or skip gears and still try to accelerate at the same rate as you normally would that mileage will go out the window.
I've had my best gas mileage around town mileage by shfiting 1,3,5 around town and staying under 65 on the hwy., but I don't do it very often because it isn't worth the hassle of taking off so slow.

I agree with Jstreet, I get my best mileage when I keep it around 65-70 on the highway. By skipping gears I mean when I get on it in 2nd to 60mph or so and then go to 4th then fifth if I want to even out around that speed. I realize that the synchros are not a strong point in our cars but in no way can skipping gears hurt them.

If you are going accelerate hard to 55 mph or so in 2nd and don't want to go any fast what's the point of going to third then second then 5th? I often skip 4th in the same manner if I am merging on the expressway in 3rd and reach my cruising speed. I guess this is more for convenience than for gas mileage.

Mustang5L5 said:

My Fox LX is faster than my 2003 GT

Click to expand...

Hes got a automatic GT vert 5.0 with Flow's, o/r h, and intake. From like 60mph up he hung with me for a few seconds before we let off. I was pissed...

I totally slaughter it off the line no matter what speed its untill though... maybe its cause its an auto and im still learning the whole 5 speed deal, especially from a roll.



/hijack.

Can someone explain to me how skipping gears has any effect on the transmission? It shouldn't effect the syncro's at all, they just help you get the shifter in and out of gear without grinding. Once it's in gear, the syncro's have done their job and the clutch can still be depressed.

I usually shift to 5th @ 50ish when trying to save gas...if im slowing down, i wont pull the car from 5th until 40MPH. If I can speed back up ill leave it in 5th.

My best milage comes from 2000-2500RPM shifts in EVERY gear and speeding up very slowly. I usually donts skip shift when getting up to highway speeds, unless im not worried about gas. Then ill wind out 3rd to 65ish and just hit 5th.
Other times I go 1-2-4-5th.