When to shift?

Trentin24 · 01-27-2013, 02:21 AM

I have a 2010 1LT Camaro, its an automatic and I like to drive in sports mode a lot ("M"). And i see when its not being put to the floor it will shift between 3000-4000 rpms. But when put to floor it will redline. Sometimes i like to use the "paddle shifters" to shift on my own. Depending on how i am feeling i usually wont go past 5000. But what I am wondering is at what RPM is it best to shift? And how long can you stay at 5000 RPMs for? Because i know when getting on an on ramp to highway they have a bend and keeping the speed up is fun. Can it hurt your engine?

TheGhosty · 01-27-2013, 02:35 AM

It will override you and shift automatically if you are going to hurt the engine. no worries!

Trentin24 · 01-27-2013, 02:38 AM

So if i stayed at 5000 for too long it would shift? I have been in a "race" a few times and was paying attention to another car and left my rpms at 7000 for a bit and it didn't shift for me.

TheGhosty · 01-27-2013, 02:58 AM

Ya, that is the hard part. It is designed not to let you hurt your engine but, it will prob let you run all day at 5000. I wouldn't do that.. The car is built to take some abuse but if your sitting at 7000 shift up.

Trentin24 · 01-27-2013, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGhosty

Ya, that is the hard part. It is designed not to let you hurt your engine but, it will prob let you run all day at 5000. I wouldn't do that.. The car is built to take some abuse but if your sitting at 7000 shift up.

It was no more than 3 seconds if that, at 7000. How long would you stay at 5000 for?

Macrackie · 01-27-2013, 08:25 AM

Holding rpms through a corner at 4000-5000 rpm is fine in my eyes for that motor. I do it all the time hitting the on ramps around town. Without doing that you would be in the next gear and out of your ppwerband which equals no fun. 7000 rpm for any period on time is bad for thinks.

Thery is you always want a load on the engine at higher rpm. Either speeding up or slowing down the high rpms are fine.

Trentin24 · 01-27-2013, 01:58 PM

The RPMS will never go past 7000. But why is it bad to shift right at 7000?

TheGhosty · 01-27-2013, 02:17 PM

"shifting" at 7000 would not be bad. What Macrackie is saying is don't drive around at 7000. If your at 7000 you either need to shift or let off the gas, slowing down. If your feathering the throttle to stay at 7000 your hurting your engine. That is what he means by "load" the engine it's either working to drive you faster, or working to slow you down.

Macrackie · 01-27-2013, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGhosty

"shifting" at 7000 would not be bad. What Macrackie is saying is don't drive around at 7000. If your at 7000 you either need to shift or let off the gas, slowing down. If your feathering the throttle to stay at 7000 your hurting your engine. That is what he means by "load" the engine it's either working to drive you faster, or working to slow you down.

Yeah you worded that better.

Steve Dallas · 01-27-2013, 03:06 PM

The reason you don't want to shift at 7000 is because at that RPM, you have less power & torque than you would shifting and letting the next gear take over.

Trentin24 · 01-27-2013, 09:03 PM

I hardly ever do. i was just wondering. I want to know the best shift spots for my car. But every car is different

01-27-2013, 02:21 AM	#1
Trentin24 Trentin24 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Washington Posts: 1,377 View My Garage	When to shift? I have a 2010 1LT Camaro, its an automatic and I like to drive in sports mode a lot ("M"). And i see when its not being put to the floor it will shift between 3000-4000 rpms. But when put to floor it will redline. Sometimes i like to use the "paddle shifters" to shift on my own. Depending on how i am feeling i usually wont go past 5000. But what I am wondering is at what RPM is it best to shift? And how long can you stay at 5000 RPMs for? Because i know when getting on an on ramp to highway they have a bend and keeping the speed up is fun. Can it hurt your engine?

01-27-2013, 03:06 PM	#10
Steve Dallas Commits weekly crime Drives: 2017 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Camano Island, WA Posts: 9,513 View My Garage	The reason you don't want to shift at 7000 is because at that RPM, you have less power & torque than you would shifting and letting the next gear take over. __________________ 2017 Camaro 1LT - Blue Barchetta IV I fire up the willing engine, responding with a roar. Tires spitting gravel I commit my weekly crime.

01-27-2013, 02:35 AM	#2
TheGhosty Drives: '11 SW 1LT RS Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Granite Bay, CA Posts: 717	It will override you and shift automatically if you are going to hurt the engine. no worries!

01-27-2013, 02:38 AM	#3
Trentin24 Trentin24 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Washington Posts: 1,377 View My Garage	So if i stayed at 5000 for too long it would shift? I have been in a "race" a few times and was paying attention to another car and left my rpms at 7000 for a bit and it didn't shift for me.

01-27-2013, 02:58 AM	#4
TheGhosty Drives: '11 SW 1LT RS Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Granite Bay, CA Posts: 717	Ya, that is the hard part. It is designed not to let you hurt your engine but, it will prob let you run all day at 5000. I wouldn't do that.. The car is built to take some abuse but if your sitting at 7000 shift up.

01-27-2013, 08:25 AM	#6
Macrackie Drives: 2011 Camaro LS Stripper model Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: South Beloit IL Posts: 641	Holding rpms through a corner at 4000-5000 rpm is fine in my eyes for that motor. I do it all the time hitting the on ramps around town. Without doing that you would be in the next gear and out of your ppwerband which equals no fun. 7000 rpm for any period on time is bad for thinks. Thery is you always want a load on the engine at higher rpm. Either speeding up or slowing down the high rpms are fine.

01-27-2013, 01:58 PM	#7
Trentin24 Trentin24 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Washington Posts: 1,377 View My Garage	The RPMS will never go past 7000. But why is it bad to shift right at 7000?

01-27-2013, 02:17 PM	#8
TheGhosty Drives: '11 SW 1LT RS Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Granite Bay, CA Posts: 717	"shifting" at 7000 would not be bad. What Macrackie is saying is don't drive around at 7000. If your at 7000 you either need to shift or let off the gas, slowing down. If your feathering the throttle to stay at 7000 your hurting your engine. That is what he means by "load" the engine it's either working to drive you faster, or working to slow you down.

01-27-2013, 09:03 PM	#11
Trentin24 Trentin24 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Washington Posts: 1,377 View My Garage	I hardly ever do. i was just wondering. I want to know the best shift spots for my car. But every car is different