Quote:
Originally Posted by Chance
Please consider that while feeling and hearing downshifts may be annoying to some drivers, they may actually save fuel and be less stressful on engine. Running an engine at close to 100% torque so it doesn’t downshift is neither the most fuel efficient nor easiest on engine.
I know there are other things going on, but it’s not an obvious win-win all around. Many people think that running at lower RPMs always saves fuel but that’s not the case. Often it’s more efficient to downshift and let engine operate at faster RPMs.
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I'm (now) an old gearhead and I'll back this statement. It was referred to as: don't "lug" the engine down, particularly for long periods of time (long grades). To be fair the ECU will learn this driving habit and adjust the fuel mixture to add a little bottom end but Chance is right - you better know where the line is.
The opposite is also true. A 5:13 or 4:56 will launch you off the line like a rocket ship, but run those gears at highway speeds a lot and you're rebuilding the motor about every 30-40k miles; if not less (mostly bearings and rings).
Use your head.
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