Driving question for day: When should you use 6th gear?
03-19-2002, 08:57 AM
#15
Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VERY serious. Audi rates the 225 at full throttle and max torque starting at 2200 rpm.
180 hp @ 1950 for max torque, BTW.
This engine (and many other modern engines) was intentionally designed to run well under load at rpm even below the 2200 max torque point. Believe me, there is no way they would do that if it was harmful to the engine. I find 1400 at about 1/2 throttle is fine with the 180.
Lugging is mostly urban (or maybe farm) legend.
If the engine is starting to buck or shake, you are at too low a speed. I wish you had the opportunity to watch an engine dyno test on this engine. You would be amazed at how well it pulls @2000.
I won't change you mind, of course, but neither would I want to buy your car after 40,000 miles of buzzing. Hey, you might consider changing oil more frequently than the suggested intervals.
Maybe you should ask an automotive engineer about this. Oh, TTanman already did.
This engine (and many other modern engines) was intentionally designed to run well under load at rpm even below the 2200 max torque point. Believe me, there is no way they would do that if it was harmful to the engine. I find 1400 at about 1/2 throttle is fine with the 180.
Lugging is mostly urban (or maybe farm) legend.
If the engine is starting to buck or shake, you are at too low a speed. I wish you had the opportunity to watch an engine dyno test on this engine. You would be amazed at how well it pulls @2000.
I won't change you mind, of course, but neither would I want to buy your car after 40,000 miles of buzzing. Hey, you might consider changing oil more frequently than the suggested intervals.
Maybe you should ask an automotive engineer about this. Oh, TTanman already did.
03-19-2002, 01:27 PM
#18
Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ever drive a 6-speed Vette or Camaro with LS1? Rarely need to get over 2000 in traffic..
Think about how engineers program (good) automatic transmissions. At part throttle acceleration or cruise they shift up quickly into the highest possible gear, and only downshift as you demand acceleration with lots of accelerator pedal. Why not do the same thing with your stick?
The GM 4T80E automatic in the Cadillac STS has a neat program which senses lateral g as well as vehicle speed, throttle position, etc. If you start to drive aggressively throwing the STS around and use a lot of throttle, it will select a gear which keeps the engine in the upper third of it's rev range and not shift up or down until you quit throwing the car around! It you exceed max engine speed (above 6000 or so) it will select the next higher gear and then hold it. It's just what a good driver would do whe he/she was pushing it through the twisties. After you stop horsing around it goes right back to normal.
At a GM ride 'n drive we got to REALLY hammer an STS through a fast auto-x course. My son (the auto-crosser) was driving, I was riding shotgun. He pushed that 2 ton FWD car as hard as he could: the stability program and trans program did their jobs. All you could hear was continuous tire squeal and engine intake roar; it wouldn't spin or push out.
At the end of the course there was a straight which let the car get to about 60+ mph with a tight offset gate at the end. He was max anti-lock braking from 60 and turning thru the end gate. He clipped a cone lightly. As we got out, the folks running the show pulled his ID badge (for the cone), and all the people waiting to drive gave him a big round of applause. I had ridden with him like that previously at speed, so I was just grinning.
We were both very impressed with the car. It should still be RWD, IMO. Perhaps it will be soon.
Save the revs until you need them. Your engine will thank you.
The GM 4T80E automatic in the Cadillac STS has a neat program which senses lateral g as well as vehicle speed, throttle position, etc. If you start to drive aggressively throwing the STS around and use a lot of throttle, it will select a gear which keeps the engine in the upper third of it's rev range and not shift up or down until you quit throwing the car around! It you exceed max engine speed (above 6000 or so) it will select the next higher gear and then hold it. It's just what a good driver would do whe he/she was pushing it through the twisties. After you stop horsing around it goes right back to normal.
At a GM ride 'n drive we got to REALLY hammer an STS through a fast auto-x course. My son (the auto-crosser) was driving, I was riding shotgun. He pushed that 2 ton FWD car as hard as he could: the stability program and trans program did their jobs. All you could hear was continuous tire squeal and engine intake roar; it wouldn't spin or push out.
At the end of the course there was a straight which let the car get to about 60+ mph with a tight offset gate at the end. He was max anti-lock braking from 60 and turning thru the end gate. He clipped a cone lightly. As we got out, the folks running the show pulled his ID badge (for the cone), and all the people waiting to drive gave him a big round of applause. I had ridden with him like that previously at speed, so I was just grinning.
We were both very impressed with the car. It should still be RWD, IMO. Perhaps it will be soon.
Save the revs until you need them. Your engine will thank you.
