Driving a manual

[Checkers]

I can drive my Eclipse 5 speed well around town, but there are a few points I'm still not clear on. For one, when is the best time to shift? I don't care about fuel economy, just keeping my engine and transmission healthy, and power. I've been told to listen to the engine, and when the noise levels out and stops increasing, then I should shift. But when I got the car, it had a full aftermarket exhaust with no cats, so the sound doesn't level out until around 4000 RPM, and I feel like that's fairly high. Since it's winter, my car idles around 900 RPM, and I've been shifting around 2500 RPM, but also because there's been a lot wrong with my car since I got it. I've heard things like "A redline a day keeps the torque wrench away" but I don't know about that.

Also, when going up a hill, should I downshift to get more power? If I stay in the same gear going up a steep hill, I usually slow down significantly, but I'm worried about revving the car too hard. The hill by my house is a real pain, and even in second gear it's hard to get up. Is it safe to be in first if the RPM don't go too high?

Are there any other tips to driving a manual I should know? Again, fuel economy doesn't bother me; I'm most concerned about balancing power and keeping my engine healthy.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Funny... ummm.
You should read the manual that came with the car. It shows when to shift. Say 1st gear 0-10, 2nd 10-20mph, 3rd gear 20-30, 4th 30- 40 and 5th gear will maintain 40mph and up. < just an example, I forgot how the book has it.
But in time grasshoppa you'll learn on your own from driving. I usually shift around 2.5k and when i hit 40mph im in 5th.
And yes when your going up hill and the rpm don't climb no more it's time to downshift.

 

[crash89]

2k 2500, 3k all good shift points. Once you drive your car more youll get a feel for it and you wont even think about it. Youll just do it. Dont worry about "revving the car too hard" These motors can take a ton of abuse, And from what it sounds your not doing that. Down shifting while going up a hill is normal, low rpm means low torque, which is why you think your car is bogging out. Is this hill right after a stop sign? Why are you going so slow up this hill?

 

[wkmitsu]

Doesn't the car have a tach in it? I usually shift at about 3000 RPM, sometimes a bit earlier depending on where/how I'm driving. You can downshift to get up a hill easier, it's better than letting the car just bog down. But you don't want to rev the hell out of it all the time. What gear you go down to in order to keep it from bogging is going to depend on how fast you're going.

 

[jmye86]

Thats a tough one to explain through a forum. I usually shift around 3k but really everyone has their own style and you will develop yours in time! Definitely downshift when going up a hill.

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Shift points should vary depending on the situation. The easiest way I could describe it is this:
If you are accelerating quarter throttle, shift a quarter of the way from idle to redline.
Half throttle,halfway between idle and redline.
Three quarter throttle, three quarter from idle to redline.
Full throttle, shift at redline.

The manufacturer deemed the redline a safe limit, and that's why they set it at the RPM they chose, so if you engine isn't already broken, redline won't break it. On the other end, running it at too low an RPM so it bogs down isn't good for it at all.

 

[Mellow23]

Shift points should vary depending on the situation. The easiest way I could describe it is this:
If you are accelerating quarter throttle, shift a quarter of the way from idle to redline.
Half throttle,halfway between idle and redline.
Three quarter throttle, three quarter from idle to redline.
Full throttle, shift at redline.

The manufacturer deemed the redline a safe limit, and that's why they set it at the RPM they chose, so if you engine isn't already broken, redline won't break it. On the other end, running it at too low an RPM so it bogs down isn't good for it at all.

good advice.

 

[johneclipse]

well...just around town/grocery getting i shift around 5-6k...granted my car also revs to 8.5k. built head for the win. however even when it was stock i would still rev to 4-5k before shifting around town

 

[NvDiS]

thats alittle high dont you think ..fuel economy must suck for you ^

 

[Checkers]

Crash89: I drive down my road, then to get to the main road, I have to make a sharp left and the hill is RIGHT there. Fortunately the previous owner put new suspension on (Atleast int he front) so I can take the corner faster than my mom's car (A BMW 323i) which is a nice ride but the suspension is too soft. Also int he winter, the plowed snow makes the turn even tighter so I can't go very fast up to the hill.

Colt4G63 also: Thank you very much. Often when getting on the highway I don't accelerate enough in fear of hurting the car, and in such a flashy car, I feel like people expect me to just shoot around, and it's embarrassing slowly creeping up to the speed limit. I'll definitely keep your advice in mind tomorrow on the way to school!

Johneclipse: Wow, I always thought of 5-6K as very spirited driving, but I don't really understand what a built head does, so that could change it a lot. I think my redline is a 8K, but someone told me my gauge cluster isn't stock, because it has white faces. Is that stock, or did the previous owner replace it?

Everyone, thank you so much for the advice. I've tried to ask this on a different forum (The auto section of 4chan) but if any of you have been there, you know it's not a place to get any real help. I will be sure to think about everything that has been said here next time I'm behind the wheel. Thank you again

 

[Tyeler18]

In my 3g I shift at 1500 and try to keep a cruising RPM of ~8-900, however, I have an aftermarket clutch that doesn't chatter when cruising at 700 RPMS+ so I wouldn't suggest trying it, but shifting around 2-2500 is good practice for both economy and cruising speed. There's no reason to sound like a jackass as your start raping out at 5-6k.

 

[Checkers]

In my 3g I shift at 1500 and try to keep a cruising RPM of ~8-900, however, I have an aftermarket clutch that doesn't chatter when cruising at 700 RPMS+ so I wouldn't suggest trying it, but shifting around 2-2500 is good practice for both economy and cruising speed. There's no reason to sound like a jackass as your start raping out at 5-6k.

Is clutch chatter that shaking that happens right before a stall? And if you mean sounding like a jackass just from the volume of the exhaust, I sound like a jackass everyt ime I start my car, haha. I'm not sure what brand it is, but the previous owner put an aftermarket exhaust system on it that sounds amazing, although incredibly loud, especially because I live in a fairly small town and probably have 1 of maybe 3 cars with aftermarket exhaust

 

[SpawnedX]

Our cars like 3200~ RPMs.

 

[NvDiS]

i use to shift my srt around 2k...intill i put the 6-puck ..had to rev alittle high ### that sucker engaged hard

 

[eligst21]

Our cars like 3200~ RPMs.

agreed.

 

[crash89]

Since you have to take the corner relatively slow and depending on weather it would be alright to take the hill in 1st shifting to second. Now with snow, be careful. Dont want the tires to lose what little traction you do have and send you to the curb or get spinning enough to where you stop. Then your stuck on a hill going nowhere!!

 

[white92talontsi]

I shift when i hit the rev limiter

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[1990AWD]

I shift when i hit the rev limiter

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haha there is a guy in my town with a Cobalt SS that does that all the time. I think he thinks that's what your supposed to do .

To the OP, it all depends on what you want to do. Shifting at 3000 is a good balance of fuel economy, power, and engine life; shift higher if you want to be spirited, lower if your just in a lazy mood.

 

[ChiTownHussla]

Any real driver will tell you it varies. Not everyone will like what the manufacturersays. I shift at around 2200 when I'm on a cheap kinda mood. if I'm doing spirited driving, around 4k. racing around 6.5 k as to not beat on the tranny and or sychros. hope this helps

 

[Tanro]

I've been driving a 5 speed for just over a decade now. Its natural to me. But, I just shift when I feel the engine start to level out. I would have to second the advice on full throttle = redline, 3/4 throttle, 3/4 redline and so on. That would be the best to describe it in text. After a month or two or three you should get the feeling of the car down pat.

 

[eddie_dsm12]

Me personally I shift at around 3k. You can tell when to shift though the more you drive your car. It becomes somewhat of a habit and you'll know when to shift. As for going uphills I keep the car in gear and not rev it out. I'm patient when it comes to hills but if you need to downshift to gain more power up the hill then do it. Its all up to how you drive.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

I always shift before 3k rpm if im just driving it in town. You do not need to downshift on a hill unless your rpms get too low and the engine starts bogging.

 

[zanderson]

It all depends on the situation, in the winter, I would shift up if you start to loose traction. By shifting you should hook up better. Otherwise around turns in my talon sometimes I wouldnt shift till 4. Usually I shift between 2500 and 3000. After driving for awhile you will pick up on it, every car is different.

 

[adamc95tsi]

I just shift when I hit full boost... but your na

 

[psx]

2500 rpms
its great
it keeps the noise down