What speed do you shift your 5-speed M/T at?

So, i'm just curious when/at what speeds other people are shifting at.
What i've been doing for the last 5k miles:

1-2 : about 8-10 mph
2-3 : 20 mph
3-4 : 30-35 mph
4-5 : 55-60 mph (as advised by 1st owner)

I've got an ultragauge, and my driving habits are getting me 22+ mpg combined city and highway driving. Granted, i usually won't go over 70 on the highway. I also coast in neutral as much as possible.

 

I watch the tach and shift at about 2k. I generally shift down at 1500 rpm.

I don't coast in neutral, except possibly for a few feet when approaching a stop signal. My top speed is generally 65 (the speed limit most places where I drive). I live in a rural, mountainous area. I generally get 25+ mpg overall.

 

whats the earliest/slowest speed that you'll use 5th gear?

 

If you're using your speed to determine your shifts, you're doing it wrong. It depend on required rate of acceleration, road conditions, all kinds of other things.

You shift by *FEEL*, not by speed. When it FEELS like its right to shift, THAT is when you shift. In some driving conditions, I'm at 50 kph in 5th gear. In other conditions, I could be 85 kph in second.

 

2500 to 3k rpm is generally where I shift, I throw it in 5th as early as 60kmph and as late as 90kmph, I get 21 mpg

 

/\ This. I usually end up shifting up between 2000 and 3500 rpms.

 

45 mph is about the slowest speed that feels comfortable in 5th for me.

 

WELL, the question I posed was regarding speed. Obviously thats not all that I am considering when shifting. But that is what I was curious about. I use my ultra gauge which tells me my exact RPM far more accurately than the tachometer is capable of. For obvious reasons I didn't pose the question of how do you shift correctly? OR, What rpm do most people shift at? ...because those are stupid questions, with quite obvious answers... Those speeds I listed are simply where i'm typically reaching 2000 RPMs (accurate to within a hundred give or take). I more or less just wanted to know how other people are using 5th gear.

 

I honestly had no idea so I watched when I shifted yesterday. 15-30-40-50 on open roads, a little lower in town, 90% engine load either way.

If the road is flat and I'm not accelerating, I'll use 5th at 40 mph, but if any more throttle is needed I'll shift to 4th. At 35 mph it can maintain speed on the flat in 5th but according to the ultragauge 4th gear gets identical mpg with much less vibration.

Honestly it's 25 mph zones that bug me. The truck shakes in 4th gear so I use 3rd but that's revving near 2000 rpm.

 

I try to keep my cruising and shifting speeds simple:
1) 1-10 MPH
2) 10-20 MPH
3) 20-30 MPH
4) 30-40 MPH
5) 40+ MPH

 

3rd untIl 60ish, 4th until whenever, 5th if i feel like it. I won't bog my engine down, they work better for longer working as designed. Using the gear needed for the job at hand instead of worrying about speed imo.

 

I agree, shifting by feel is probably the best way.

It's nice to know what speeds each gear is good for, especially for down shifting.

 

This is pretty much how I shift as well..there are exceptions but in most scenarios this is it (flat roads, rural area here). I also hate 25 mph zones, 3rd is too low and 4th is too high.

 

That's how I used to drive mine when it was stock. Best tank ever was 26mpg. Went just over 45o miles before the low fuel light came on.

 

Right around 5500rpm always becuase racecar!

When I had it:

Without pulling the trailer I shift around 2000-2500 all gears. Pulling the trailer loaded I shift around 4500 because it's a pig and loses a lot of momentum between gears.

 

Still getting use to mine but 2500ish seems to be what the truck likes. Started out shifting at 2000 rpms but I found it struggling a bit so the higher rpms make for a smoother go and it doesn't seem to effect mpg.

 

1st-2nd : 10mph
2nd-3rd : 20mph
3rd-4th : 30mph
4th-5th : 40mph
all of thes are averages for me. They net me 25mpg highway/22mpg in town.
I agree with it's a "feel" thing.
Thanks, Tom

 

It should give recommendations in the owners manual. My '99 Tacoma 3rz:

1st (0-15)
2nd (15-25)
3rd (25-40)
4th (40-65)
5th (45 +)

 

I try to shift around 1500 rpm. Granny shift as much as possible. I don't see the point in revving the shit out of it. It gets me there.... eventually.

 

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