6-Speed Driving Tips...post them here

After reading all the hoop-la about 6-speeds and how some find them hard to shift, and hate the engine RPM hanging, and the gas mileage, I figured perhaps I start a tip thread for efficient 6-speed driving.

After much reading here and other sites, I learned a few things to add to my driving habits.

One was to shift to 6th to coast versus neutral. I tried that today doing 40kph (25mph) and the engine reved at 1k versus 12-1300 in neutral. I read that the coasting in gear will shut off the fuel injectors and keep the engine running versus neutral that needs gas to keep the engine running.

Anyway, if this is a dumb idea or was done before, oh well...I tried!

 

Doesn't seem to do that on mine. I get the slightly lower readings on my gauge coasting in 6th vs. coasting in neutral. Neutral has always resulted higher mpg readings for me than coasting in gear, especially at freeway speeds. On one particular stretch of road for me on the way to work, if I coast in 6th, my gauge will read about 75mpg. As soon as I switch to neutral, it'll read 115 mpg. The main disadvantage of coasting in 6th at freeway speeds is that the engine will slow the vehicle down so you won't coast as far.

Most of those who reported the higher mpg while coasting in gear were automatics and they used scangauges. I don't know of anyone who has a manual who has confirmed the same thing with a scangauge. My gauge is an Aeroforce gauge.

 

For me personally.

I find the smoothest up shifts for city driving is around 2500-2700 RPM, downshifts I do at 1900 and use the gears to help slow me down, thus saving my brake pads. When cruising, I up shift a gear (40 Kph I'm in 3rd, 60 Kph I'm in 4th) to cruise at about 1800-2000 RPM. Less RPM means less fuel being used.

 

most of the time if hard acceleration isnt needed i'm in 6th gear by the time i'm at 30mph. i rarely downshift to slow down as brake pads are cheaper to replace than transmissions.

 

You want mpgs on the 6 speed?, try not to go over 2K rpms on any gear. Best mileage I got was about 21.8 mpgs on the freeways.

 

Although I know this truck has more power than my old 03 4-banger, I am not realizing that while I drive. From reading this forum the past few days about keeping RPMs as low as possible, I am realizing that this truck is fine at 1000-1200 rpm while cruising. I can do 50+kph in 6th and not have any struggling. My 4-banger would struggle with any bit of throttle. This truck does not. So I am making an effort to get it to the highest gear possible and see how my next tank does.

 

x2

Never did understand the whole downshifting thing - brakes and brake pads are way cheaper than a transmission

 

It isn't going to hurt anything. I've had manuals for many years. It's never been a problem. If you think about it, you're engine braking every time you take your foot off the gas while you're in gear.

 

Down shifting with proper rev matching does not harm trans or clutch just saves brakes. A short shift kit is a must.

 

if you downshift right you arnt going to do harm to your tranny so not wearing down your brake pads is cheaper than wearing them down basic economics and when shifting to second i find that a little more feathering is needed to make that gear engage as smooth as say 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to 4h

 

How are you in 6th gear at 30? Isn't the lowest recommended speed for 6 at 41 according to the manual?

 

Some things I've noticed:

-shift between 25-3000 for smoothes changes
-Only push the clutch in a few inches when up shifting, just enough to disengauge the clutch.
-I always downshift when slowing down. Engine braking FTW.

Don't really have any other tips, what speed do people find is the best for cruising in 6th? I find it hard to narrow down a speed as I always seem to be driving up/down hills on the 400 highway.

 

In most places, Pennsylvania for one, it is illegal to coast in neutral on the road, tough to prove for certain, but illegal nonetheless. It is also a bit unsafe as you would want the ability to accelerate in the case of some emergencies and may not have time to put it back in gear in such cases. I know what you are going to say it only takes a split second to put it back in gear, but in a true emergency a split second is huge.

 

not over 2000 rpm?? in 6th u would only be doing 90kph , lol

 

x2. Best fuel economy and smoothest shifts at around 2000 rpms

 

i cant read so i wouldnt know

 

yea.. 6 gear is not coasting. "coast" in the best gear for the speed... always, always, always. Did I mention always? ONLY time I've coasted is when I'm out of gas on a mountain side and when changing shoes. Neither are safe.

If you can't feel it you can't fake it. There's a formula that you could follow sure, but too complex to relate in text. Just pay attention not only to how much foot you're using but how long and the feel of the pull of the engine. Stay out of the gas more so than light on it. Start from there and you really have to learn it. its a skill not a checklist.

Get a CDL. Those trucks are a lot less forgiving as would, likely, be your instructor.

 

yea... the speed limit in canada where/when i was last there...