Engine lugging

Does anyone shift earlier than needed when you don't need to quickly accelerate? I'm guilty of it and wondering if its harmful to the trusty 2.7..

 

I shift as soon as I know I won't slow down by shifting up most of the time when I don't need to keep up with traffic. If you're not experiencing vibrations from the engine struggling you should be fine. I think it's a thing most guys who drive manuals get a feel for over time...

 

I usually shift between 2-2.5K. Any lower and it bogs down for me.

 

2.7 engine. When coasting I shift up as low as 1700rpm (on the new gear), but then I don't step on gas or the engine will vibrate (no good). Coasting at 1700 feels OK. If I need to accelerate out of the coasting, I just downshift and then step on it.

When I am accelerating (in the traffic) I shift to start new gear at 2500rpm - truck loves that. That means the lower gear gets around 4000 rpm before up-shifting. Then I don't have a problem with keeping up with even aggressive city traffic.

 

Lugging your engine with a lot of throttle puts un needed stress on it. It's also unable to produce much torque and runs inefficiently. As stated coasting and slowly accelerating are fine. Just don't go full throttle.

My truck is an auto but my daily driver is a manual. It hates lugging. It clanks and won't accelate fast at low rpms. If I start out in 3rd gear (and slip the clutch a bunch to get it rolling) I can get to 60mph in probably 8 or 9 seconds. Using the same amount of throttle and using 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear and getting near red line it'll go 0-60 in about 4 seconds.

 

see the link in my sig. There is a part of the Tacoma manual that tells you exactly what RPM to shift gears for optimal MPG and engine performance (not including factors such as hills and excessive hauling load)

Page 132.

 

That's good info to know, thanks!

I find it funny that it says to downshift 2 - 1 at 15 mph....I have to be practically rolling to a stop for my truck to let me go into 1st without forcing it.

 

I always have to blip the throttle to put it in 1st. But I rarely need to "downshift" into first anyways lol. Unless I'm creeping up a hill.

 

It's a habit I got into with my manual trans Scion tC that I had before...shifting gears on that car was so easy and buttery smooth that I would rarely use my brakes at all except when coming to a complete stop after downshifting all the way. I only had to do the brakes once in 155k miles on that car and it was at right around 90k.

The Tacoma is a different beast, that's for sure. Doesn't like downshifting very much especially going from 2 -1.

 

If you're lugging the engine to a detrimental degree you will know.

 

Cars are usually geared taller in first than trucks - I'm with you if I don't stop I'm not going into first except for the steepest hills. I can start my trucks in second with a little gas from a dead stop. First is the one for the job of course.

 

I won't let ole whistlepig (her name) ever vibrate again...thats a good link ib your sig, saved the pdf.

 

I hope there is a non PDF version in your glovebox