Shifting the manual for better fuel econ

metroplex · Jun 16, 2008

I read that you could do a 1-3-5 shift for better fuel economy in the city. Will I break anything doing this? I just tried it this morning doing 2000 RPM shifts and it seems that it does 2 things:

1). Less shifting takes place
2). Less throttle is used

I recall GM's having the 1-4 skip shift which is rather aggressive based on our gearing. But the 1-3-5 shift seems do-able as long as you're not trying to race. My concern is wearing out something in the process.

racerraj · Jun 16, 2008

I skip gears all the time. I have since 1978. Never any problems from that.

EIGHTEIGHT_GT · Jun 17, 2008

I like to shift into fifth at or after 40 mph. If its near 40-50, I'll watch the miles per gallon go up a tenth at a time. Once it reaches 19.5-20.0, I get to mash the throttle at will. Its like saving up for a turbo on a video game. A fun little game I like to play.

PSYKOSTEVO · Jun 17, 2008

You are silly!

I get about 22mpg and I drive it like a granny but I rarely skip shift. Reason: I have open exhaust with no mufflers.....it doesn't sound good when you are in the wrong gear.

I usually cruise in 5th if over 40 as well.

And as for skip shift......uggh I hated that. I disabled it days after I bought the car. Because I was going about 20mph and it was telling me to go into 4th gear.

1990Coupe · Jun 17, 2008

My buddy has an 06 GT and around town he's always over 3k rpm's (he has SLP axel back and claims it sounds the best when cruising at higher RPM's).. he's a jackass i realize this.. but with his mix of city/highway driving he's gets around 28mpg. I thought that was pretty close to what the 05+'s did with 80% highway driving no???

Hoboattacker · Jun 17, 2008

lol uh...before FI i only got 24mpg tops on the highway at 77-78mph. I don't know what I get highway now, but with the whipple I get a fantastic 13.5mpg

CBus 06 GT · Jun 18, 2008

1990Coupe said:
My buddy has an 06 GT and around town he's always over 3k rpm's (he has SLP axel back and claims it sounds the best when cruising at higher RPM's).. he's a jackass i realize this.. but with his mix of city/highway driving he's gets around 28mpg. I thought that was pretty close to what the 05+'s did with 80% highway driving no???

Your buddy is full of . There's no way he's getting 28mpg in mixed driving.

1990Coupe · Jun 18, 2008

I didnt believe him either but he definatly is. I even calculated a 27mpg raiting on 3 occasions. His mix of driving is 20%city 80% highway. on the highway he stays between 55 and 65. mostly 60 mph cruise setting.. maybe his is a factory freak? all he has is axle back exhaust thats it

racerraj · Jun 18, 2008

Driving to work (40 miles Dickson TN to Nashville), mostly highway, going between 65 and 70, never exceeding 70, in 5th gear by 35mph I got 31 mpg in my stock 06 GT Monday. Going right at 70, driving carefully I can average an easy 26 or more round trip (Worse traffic on way home).

Just letting it run, around 85, I still manage at least 22 mpg, punching it a few times, but mostly driving smart. But I don't hit stop and go on the way to work, and usually only slow downs on the way home.

SlideWRX · Jun 18, 2008

I usually start in 2nd since 1st is so low & jerky anyway. Shift at 1250-1750 depending on traffic.

10HoleLX · Jun 18, 2008

On long drives I cruise it about 65-70mph and i get 28-31 mpg (without any grades). Once I hit some grades it goes down to 22mpg plus or minus. Once I get into town it slowly drops to 16-18mpg (granny driving)...The Diablo Sport Tuner made a big difference in fuel mileage by the way (87 tune).

ranger04 · Jun 19, 2008

It won't hurt a thing, just be carefull when skipping gears as not to shift to soon as you can labor the engine and use more fuel. The most efficent way is to hit all your gears whiling shifting at a lower rpm. I'm running all synthetic fluids in my drivetrain, 40 psi in my tires and drive her gental. I'm getting 23-24 mpg local, but I live in the country, no big city driving. I can now drive to work for 2 weeks on one tank of gas where as I use to only get one week out of a tank. The difference is now I'm trying to conserve, before I drove it like I stole it. These cars aren't really bad on gas at all for what they are, we have a small tank to boot at only 16 gallons.

metroplex · Jun 19, 2008

Yep, I'm just trying different things to maximize fuel economy. I wouldn't be happy in a 30 MPG Toyota, but in the same time I don't want a 10 MPG street rod either.

DarkFireGT · Jun 19, 2008

1990Coupe said:
I didnt believe him either but he definatly is. I even calculated a 27mpg raiting on 3 occasions. His mix of driving is 20%city 80% highway. on the highway he stays between 55 and 65. mostly 60 mph cruise setting.. maybe his is a factory freak? all he has is axle back exhaust thats it

If it's 80% highway, I can believe it.

On the way to the track, it's about a 30 minute drive, mostly 55, though in a few places it goes down to 30. I get 31-34MPG on the way there and back. I wouldn't say it's a factory freak, it's all in how you drive. I don't drive like an a-hole 'cuz I'm heading to the track, where I can play as much as I want.

CBus 06 GT · Jun 19, 2008

1990Coupe said:
I didnt believe him either but he definatly is. I even calculated a 27mpg raiting on 3 occasions. His mix of driving is 20%city 80% highway. on the highway he stays between 55 and 65. mostly 60 mph cruise setting.. maybe his is a factory freak? all he has is axle back exhaust thats it

20/80 is not mixed driving. If 80% of his driving is on the highway with cruise set at 60, then it is possible. I know on a recent road trip that was 2 full tanks of straight highway and cruising 80+, I was pushing 25MPG.

UrbanRedneck · Jun 19, 2008

Darkfire what track do you go to?

And the tunes must really help fuel milage. Most I ever get is 25-26 on the highway. But I've never tried going under 70 either.

racerraj · Jun 20, 2008

I've got as high as 31 keeping it under 70. Keeping it right around 70 I tend to get 28 29. This morning I set the cruise at 80, and slipped up to 85 a few times, but otherwise drove to save fuel. Got 25.8. So I guess the Max speed makes a big difference.

69mach1-409 · Jun 20, 2008

Decided to try and 'save fuel' on this tank just to see what the GT could get. I've been shifting into every gear around 1800 rpms and doing 'roughly' the speed limit +3-4mph.

Currently I have 180 miles on the tank, my avg speed is indicated at 23 mph, and I'm getting an 'indicated' 24.9 mpg.

racerraj · Jun 20, 2008

[QUOTEI've been shifting into every gear around 1800 rpms and doing 'roughly' the speed limit +3-4mph.
[/QUOTE]

I've been shifting at about 1500. I'd really like to have time to experiment to see things like how much idle time makes it worth shutting off, how much help coasting helps, and what RPM is best to shift at.

metroplex · Jun 20, 2008

I tried shifting at 1500 RPM but during the 1-2, I almost got the Dodge Ram logo imprinted in my rear bumper on several occasions. I normally cruise at 70 MPH on the highway (70 MPH zone) but I'm starting to get the urge to cruise at 60 MPH to save on fuel since people tailgate me anyhow.

Shifting the manual for better fuel econ

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