Driving at 1000 RPM

Hello folks,
new member with first question:

Just got myself a TRD OR manual as my first truck ever. I've been driving the same old, totally beat up Subaru Outback 97 for 24 years (also a manual) and it finally went to the big junkyard in the sky.
Part for the reason of its demise was probably that I'd been starting to use it beyond what it was meant to do - hence the replacement with a truck.

Anyways, for the better part of my life I've been driving 4 cyl vehicles that didn't really want to be driven below 1500 RPM and let you know in no uncertain terms that this was not an option. Now, it seems, the Tacoma is just fine running at 1000 RPM or slightly above when I am just cruising along at 35 MPH, in 6th, on a flat road. Engine sounds fine, of course has almost no pick up, but it sure seems like nothing is wrong.

So question: Is this ok or should I gear so it runs with higher RPM because not good for the engine for whatever reason?
Again, I have no experience with trucks or V6 engines. And pardon me if my terminology may be off - English is not my first language.

(Also, I tried to search for an answer, but nothing satisfying came up. So a thread-link to an anwser will be just fine.)

Thanks!

 

Welcome!

The motor is perfectly happy on flat roads in 6th doing about 35. I'm cruising there all the time. With grades, I will drop down a gear.

But, be sure to vary the RPMs for at least the first 1,000mi. I noticed some break in happening in the syncros for about the first 10,000mi. From there, the transmission just gets silkier.

Enjoy!

 

Thank you - all at ease now! On a grade, I go to 2000 to not stall out immediately if I have to slow down and off road (for me, mostly bumpy, sandy fire roads with fairly high water bars and the occasional rocky section) around 2500. I'm at 600 miles now. Would you recommend going to higher RMP, like 3000 - 4000 for longer distances for the sake of break in?
I've got to say - compared to my last car the shifting is an absolute joy already.

 

No need to drive that high unless you want to. Just varying the RPMs and mostly not using the cruise control for as long as you can tolerate it. But, don't be afraid to feel out the rev band either.

It is a very good transmission and will only get better. There are a lot of resources here if you have questions.

I would mention some easy mods, like the accumulator delete mod (ADM) and 2Lo mod (2LM), but TW is kinda dangerous like that. If you want to fall down that rabbit hole, just search on them.

 

I'd certainly vary the RPM according to the break in schedule.

If you haven't hit the rev limiter by the time you've got a couple thousand miles on it, you should try a little harder

 

Schedule seems to be very easy to follow!

Can I claim extenuating circumstances due to being an old fart?

 

Welcome to TW. A wonderful place to be!

I’d check your Owners Manual for break in procedures and recommended shift points. See how they compare w your driving habits esp. after the break in time.

I really want to ask how you got to 6th by 35 mph but I’ll hold off seeing you’re new here .

BTW, with any engine, it’s good to get ‘em close to redline every once in a while. At least IMHO.

 

I'm regularly in 6th at 30-35 during the back road part my daily commute. The roads are mostly flat, so the truck has no problems with it.

 

Can't find any shift points in the Owners Manual. I'm just relying on my life-long driving habits with manuals - no wobble or sudden de- or acceleration = good shift.
As for getting into 6th by 35 mph - is that an inside joke that I will become aware of in due time? Having fun with a noob?
If not: well - I kind of get up to 35 mph using that clutch thingy and that lever on my right until I am in 4th and then go to 6th (5th doesnt seem to help that much)

Yeah, I'll leave that as just your duly respected opinion until you provide a reason why that should be the case.
It vaguely smells of "It's good to spin your tires once in a while".

 

MOC221_ - your avatar rocks!

 

That is the beauty of MTs. Everyone can choose how they want to shift and when to shift. Ask 30 MT rowers and you're gonna get 30 different opinions. The only right ones aren't replacing their clutch at 30k, rather 300k.

 

Very low rpms. Oil pump delivering less oil pressure at those rpms.

 

If the load is low enough that you can maintain speed at ~1000 RPM, is that really an issue?

 

I was going to ask the same thing. Of course I downshift when I am not just coasting along. Wouldn't There be a low oil pressure warning coming on when / if I'd get into critical conditions?

Edit: Also - why is that not a problem when idling then?

 

Oil pressure is lower only barely above idle and you’re water pump is also turning slower, load is increased and you are probably right on the edge of lugging. I have the 6MT also and my engine growls in 2nd gear going 8-9mph which is about 1000rpms too.

 

Nope, no inside joke. I’m just unfamiliar of shifting into 6th at that low of a speed.

I’ll do some research on the redline. Just to clarify, I’m not talking about bouncing it off any rev limiters or bringing it up to redline while it’s not under load.

I don’t have access to the 2020 manual but the 2015 manual had manual transmission shifting info in Section 2.1. It might be similar for your 2020.

 

Personally, I don't cruise around at that low of RPM. 1400 is typically as low as I'll let it go. As long as you don't feel it lugging no harm is being done. It's personal preference. Worrying about lubrication or cooling wouldn't even cross my mind in the scenario you're describing. The danger with lugging has more to do with bearing wear, piston slap, and general engine stress in my opinion.

Edit: In fairness to specter208, lugging could cause hot spots and mess with timing or result in pre ignition.

 

Understood. I didn't think you were.

It's not. The only thing I could find re: manual shifting is in section 4.2 Driving Procedures and it deals with max speed for gear (and those speeds actually almost sound insane to me. Never would I ever! 4LO 1st 12mph)

 

This is Toyota’s recommendation for 05-06 Tundra 6MTs with the 4.0. They are geared very similarly 1-5 except 6th which they will turn very high RPMs
1>2 15mph
2>3 25mph
3>4 40mph
4>5 45mph
5>6 50mph

6th gear rpms are 2000 at 50mph
The 3rd gen Tacoma turns 2200rpms at 65mph in 6th.

 

Ok - again, I am not a native speaker. "Lugging" means that the engine is starting to strain at those RMP and load? Like it would sound if you'd try to get going from a halt in 2nd?