6th gear, 5th gear, 4th gear punch - in the 1LE

MATTY-1LE · 03-12-2019, 03:20 PM

There is a dispute riling up about what gear to be in whilst at certain speeds. I will start by saying i am against the whole milk it as much as you can in 6th. I personally do not get into 6th until i am at my desired lane on the highway. Be it 50 or 70 mph. Then ill cruise in 6th.

In my opinion and my logic. Dont be afraid of 5th gear usage. This is afterall a gear that probably redlines at like 160 or more. So it can handle 60-70 with no engine strain. My logic on the matter branched from observing past automatic cars ive owned where im cruising at 90 (for instance my little 2011 328i) at 3500 rpms no problems. (i think redline is like 7k). But regardless. I think our cars can handle a little sub 3k rpm usage.

I apply this method to all my street and highway driving. I dont milk anymore. I used to on my vette all the time when i cared soooo much about mpg and trying to keep it tame (560bhp beast). But our stock 1les barely purr at 2500-3k rpms

Anyways lets politely fight over the matter

Cheers

Ryephile · 03-12-2019, 03:28 PM

Fuel economy: Pick the gear that gives the best BSFC vs load vs RPM for the axle torque you desire.

Acceleration: WOT, lowest gear possible, shift at redline (6600 RPM stock) for peak vehicle acceleration.

Ryephile · 03-12-2019, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MATTY-1LE

... I think our cars can handle a little sub 3k rpm usage. ..

How about we use data. The engine is SAE certified to delivery a guaranteed amount of torque at WOT from 1,000 to 6,000 RPM.

enzia35 · 03-12-2019, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryephile

How about we use data. The engine is SAE certified to delivery a guaranteed amount of torque at WOT from 1,000 to 6,000 RPM.

I prefer feels and what my old BMW did!

srcstc · 03-12-2019, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryephile

How about we use data. The engine is SAE certified to delivery a guaranteed amount of torque at WOT from 1,000 to 6,000 RPM.

It's your car. If you wanna go WOT in 6th gear at 1000 rpm go for it! Do it all day everyday for all I care.

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Boost Creep · 03-12-2019, 05:27 PM

The LT-1 has enough torque that you really don't need to rev it very much.

I will shift at 2000-2500 while driving in traffic, and shift to 6th at 50mph if cruising.
I'll use the instant mpg readout as a de facto vacuum gauge and downshift out of 6th to a lower gear if the mpg's drop to single digits while cruising and hit a hill, or traffic speeds up and I need to pick up some more speed.

High mpg is generally higher vacuum as the engine isn't working very hard. Low mpg is like low vacuum where your engine is under load.

s346k · 03-12-2019, 06:44 PM

i won’t use 6th unless i’m going 65 or over. dgaf about fuel mileage and anyone whining about rpm needs to trade their maro in for a volt.

MATTY-1LE · 03-12-2019, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s346k

i won’t use 6th unless i’m going 65 or over. dgaf about fuel mileage and anyone whining about rpm needs to trade their maro in for a volt.

this gentleman basically summed up what took me a whole paragraph to say

Wyzz Kydd · 03-12-2019, 08:07 PM

Easy, if I’m cruising on the highway, 6th gear, I’m cruising if I’m going over 80 and not trying to accelerate.

If I am accelerating on a highway it’s either 3rd or 4th depending on how fast I’m already going and how fast I want to accelerate.

Given the car’s abilities and my desire to stay out of jail hard acceleration in 5th or 6th makes no sense. 4th easily gets you well above 100 mph, so when am I shifting the to 5th at 130 mph+ and nailing it? Not often.

MAGAUSA · 03-12-2019, 10:13 PM

This is why I insist on the manual, I never bog the engine, I drive the car rather than it driving me (or some remote agency for mal), I never really use 6th, unless I figure it's okay to be cruising over 80, which makes no sense here in the US.

Gas mileage is a waste of time and not even in the equation. I actually can't wait for the excuse to drive the car to get more gas or stop and then be able to take care of it by feeding her and then hearing her start up again.

Boost Creep · 03-12-2019, 10:26 PM

On the highways around here if you aren't doing 80 you'll get run off the road.
60 you better have your hazards on.

MAGAUSA · 03-12-2019, 10:31 PM

Claro que si! All the more to not be in 6th gear!! Always need the ability to move fast quick!

JamesNoBrakes · 03-13-2019, 07:30 AM

Wow. 6th works just fine people. I guess if you want you can buzz along at 3000rpm like in my old wrx, but wow...

srcstc · 03-13-2019, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

Wow. 6th works just fine people. I guess if you want you can buzz along at 3000rpm like in my old wrx, but wow...

WOW is right. Some of the comments on this forum never cease to amaze me.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

03-12-2019, 03:20 PM	#1
MATTY-1LE Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Houston Posts: 211	6th gear, 5th gear, 4th gear punch - in the 1LE There is a dispute riling up about what gear to be in whilst at certain speeds. I will start by saying i am against the whole milk it as much as you can in 6th. I personally do not get into 6th until i am at my desired lane on the highway. Be it 50 or 70 mph. Then ill cruise in 6th. In my opinion and my logic. Dont be afraid of 5th gear usage. This is afterall a gear that probably redlines at like 160 or more. So it can handle 60-70 with no engine strain. My logic on the matter branched from observing past automatic cars ive owned where im cruising at 90 (for instance my little 2011 328i) at 3500 rpms no problems. (i think redline is like 7k). But regardless. I think our cars can handle a little sub 3k rpm usage. I apply this method to all my street and highway driving. I dont milk anymore. I used to on my vette all the time when i cared soooo much about mpg and trying to keep it tame (560bhp beast). But our stock 1les barely purr at 2500-3k rpms Anyways lets politely fight over the matter Cheers __________________ Current: 2018 1SS 1LE - stock Past: 2008 C6 - heads/cam/boltons 2005 GTO - cam/boltons

03-12-2019, 03:28 PM	#2
Ryephile Hot Dog Drives: '17 1SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 1,937	Fuel economy: Pick the gear that gives the best BSFC vs load vs RPM for the axle torque you desire. Acceleration: WOT, lowest gear possible, shift at redline (6600 RPM stock) for peak vehicle acceleration. __________________ 2017 "M1SS1LE" in Hyper Blue w/PDR

03-12-2019, 05:27 PM	#6
Boost Creep Drives: '18 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 2,571	The LT-1 has enough torque that you really don't need to rev it very much. I will shift at 2000-2500 while driving in traffic, and shift to 6th at 50mph if cruising. I'll use the instant mpg readout as a de facto vacuum gauge and downshift out of 6th to a lower gear if the mpg's drop to single digits while cruising and hit a hill, or traffic speeds up and I need to pick up some more speed. High mpg is generally higher vacuum as the engine isn't working very hard. Low mpg is like low vacuum where your engine is under load. __________________ '18 1SS *1LE* Black, PDR

03-12-2019, 10:26 PM	#11
Boost Creep Drives: '18 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 2,571	On the highways around here if you aren't doing 80 you'll get run off the road. 60 you better have your hazards on. __________________ '18 1SS *1LE* Black, PDR

03-13-2019, 07:30 AM	#13
JamesNoBrakes Drives: 2SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: AK Posts: 2,301	Wow. 6th works just fine people. I guess if you want you can buzz along at 3000rpm like in my old wrx, but wow... __________________ Everything happens for a reason, except when it doesn't, but even then, you can, in hindsight, fabricate a reason that satisfies your belief system. 2018 2SS 1LE 2023 Colorado ZR2 2022 Stinger GT-line AWD

03-12-2019, 06:44 PM	#7
s346k Drives: like an old lady Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: indiana Posts: 2,395	i won’t use 6th unless i’m going 65 or over. dgaf about fuel mileage and anyone whining about rpm needs to trade their maro in for a volt.

03-12-2019, 08:07 PM	#9
Wyzz Kydd Banned Drives: 2018 Camaro SS1 1LE Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,595	Easy, if I’m cruising on the highway, 6th gear, I’m cruising if I’m going over 80 and not trying to accelerate. If I am accelerating on a highway it’s either 3rd or 4th depending on how fast I’m already going and how fast I want to accelerate. Given the car’s abilities and my desire to stay out of jail hard acceleration in 5th or 6th makes no sense. 4th easily gets you well above 100 mph, so when am I shifting the to 5th at 130 mph+ and nailing it? Not often.

03-12-2019, 10:13 PM	#10
MAGAUSA Drives: 2017 Hyper Blue 1LE Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Tampa Posts: 579	This is why I insist on the manual, I never bog the engine, I drive the car rather than it driving me (or some remote agency for mal), I never really use 6th, unless I figure it's okay to be cruising over 80, which makes no sense here in the US. Gas mileage is a waste of time and not even in the equation. I actually can't wait for the excuse to drive the car to get more gas or stop and then be able to take care of it by feeding her and then hearing her start up again.

03-12-2019, 10:31 PM	#12
MAGAUSA Drives: 2017 Hyper Blue 1LE Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Tampa Posts: 579	Claro que si! All the more to not be in 6th gear!! Always need the ability to move fast quick!

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