Changing gear and RPM - How do you do it?

[Jamie]

Couple of discussions building up in some threads regarding peak power and changing gear. I was wondering how and where everyone else changes gear in terms of RPM.

Personally I short shift by quite a bit, I don't notice the car accelerating much harder when closer to the red line and often shift up from 2nd to 3rd around 50-55mph.

I also like to think I am being softer on the engine as I don't like to thrash the s**t out of it.

 

[markhinton]

Redlining it won't damage the engine, the rev limiters there for a reason.

I do share the same sentiments as you though, I always change where peak power is made. There's no more pulling power after that, just momentum.

 

[Jaws]

I take it to just under redline tbh, if it hits redline its usually becuase im a bit busy concentrating on the road and just listening to the engine. But most of the power is up top so may as well use it.

 

[Tupps]

Same as jaws, 2-3rd is usually about 65-67mph (so the speedy says)

 

[Chris n nic]

Technically its right to short shift as the power drops off but whenever I have had blasts with people with mine having a higher limiter they change earlier but mine still pulls away then I change and it stays similar until they change again and so on. If you do change at 55 do the revs drop below 5k? Can't remember tbh lol

Chris

 

[Icarus]

When it goes "bababababababa" I change gear ;-)

Cheers
M

 

[Tupps]

When it goes "bababababababa" I change gear ;-)

Cheers
M

In the wet it does it quite often

 

[pagey6005]

As the title says - Changing gear and RPM - How do you do it?

1. Clutch down
2. Change from 2nd to 3rd
3. Clutch up & magic pedal to the floor!

 

[iimushroomzii]

I change about 2.5k rpm Dervs Ftw.

 

[Tupps]

Sensible tupps changes at about 2.5-3k rpm and gets 39-40mpg

Insane fun day out tupps changes at 7k+ and gets 24-25mpg

 

[172head]

As the title says - Changing gear and RPM - How do you do it?

1. Clutch down
2. Change from 2nd to 3rd
3. Clutch up & magic pedal to the floor!

Weird i change gear like that too lol 1+

 

[JoedotwasT5phy]

Redlining it won't damage the engine, the rev limiters there for a reason.

I do share the same sentiments as you though, I always change where peak power is made. There's no more pulling power after that, just momentum.

It won't damage the engine as such but it's still not gonna do it any favors.

I change gear when the mood dictates. no more than 4k on everyday use

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Couple of discussions building up in some threads regarding peak power and changing gear. I was wondering how and where everyone else changes gear in terms of RPM.

Personally I short shift by quite a bit, I don't notice the car accelerating much harder when closer to the red line and often shift up from 2nd to 3rd around 50-55mph.

I also like to think I am being softer on the engine as I don't like to thrash the s**t out of it.

IMO you're just going to turn it into a dog of an engine.

It's not a coincedence that when you hit the rev limiter often that the engine tends to be more powerful than one that's left below 6,000 rpm until the very odd occasion you take it past there.

That said, I think short shifting into 2nd and 3rd is a good idea if you're not particularly slick with your shifts.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

With regards to what I do if I'm going to cain it.

I goto 5k tops if the engine's cold (driving less than 5 minutes). After that I'll goto 6k until the temperature guage is actually showing it's warm at which point I'll hit the limiter.

 

[TooneySonic]

before i fitted cams from my car had a range of 8bhp from 5500rpm to 7250, peaking @6600rpm, so it makes sense to go to the redline as the shorter ratio's of the lower gears will benefit acceleration.

Seem to remember the 996 GT3 has a higher limiter in first and second, despite a drop in power higher up, to aid accel.

 

[JoedotwasT5phy]

With regards to what I do if I'm going to cain it.

I goto 5k tops if the engine's cold (driving less than 5 minutes). After that I'll goto 6k until the temperature guage is actually showing it's warm at which point I'll hit the limiter.

5k when cold you must be mad!! i know yours is Jap but still. The guage on the dash only shows water temp not oil temp. I would even contemplate going over 4k until at least 10mins of running the engine

 

[2 live]

when it wont go any quicker in 2nd, and just before the limiter puts me thru the screen......i hit 3rd

 

[Yellow Dave]

If i'm really blatting it, I'll take it just over 7k when fully warmed up, just before it hits the limiter.

Yes there is less power than that at the peak point, but the car will still accelerate quicker than short shiftin up into the next gear at lower revs, and you run the risk of not being in the power band when you do. You will not do any damage hitting the rev limiter, that's why it's there.

 

[bmh.01]

In the 172 used to change up circa 6800rpm when giving it a lashing. These days I don't worry so much as I now have torque :evil:.

 

[Firas]

wait for it to hit the limiter then change gear

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

5k when cold you must be mad!! i know yours is Jap but still. The guage on the dash only shows water temp not oil temp. I would even contemplate going over 4k until at least 10mins of running the engine

lol.

5k warms it up quicker and oil is thinner than water so it should warm up quicker than the water anyway tbh.

If all else fails a new engine is £250. But all I've noticed so far is that it feels stronger since the first time I drove the car (the engine felt very reluctant to goto the limiter, an oil chance and 5000 miles later and I've hit it a few times in 5th:star

 

[Luke.]

its different for me everytime! but usually 6k+ once nice and warm!

shift light anyone?

 

[bmh.01]

I agree with T5PHY, and I think you'll find that the coolant temp comes up faster than the oil temp does. I run the car for at least 15mins before giving it any great ammount of throttle/load.

 

[Chris n nic]

When Nic got her 182 it felt a bit of a dog but after a while of healthy thrashing it feels 100% better.

Chris

 

[Cupster]

They love a good all thrash, wish the mrs did though, lol

 

[Tom84]

lol.

5k warms it up quicker and oil is thinner than water so it should warm up quicker than the water anyway tbh.

lol at that comment

 

[Fletcher]

Depends what mood i'm in.

 

[JoedotwasT5phy]

lol at that comment

I know, couldn't be bothered after that

 

[mcphee197]

I change when my big green upchange light illuminates in my instrument cluster :approve:

 

[mcphee197]

lol.

5k warms it up quicker and oil is thinner than water so it should warm up quicker than the water anyway tbh.

If all else fails a new engine is £250. But all I've noticed so far is that it feels stronger since the first time I drove the car (the engine felt very reluctant to goto the limiter, an oil chance and 5000 miles later and I've hit it a few times in 5th:star

Mate,

Oil is not thinner than water. lol

 

[Inferno]

Depends on the circumstances at the time, but if I'm having fun it'll be between 6500 and 7000rpm.

 

[Gaz_]

FLOL!

I'd say my Cup and 197 have strong engines, because of they way their driven. They all get/got driven hard when warm, near the limiter everynight. One thing Renault did right with these cars is the lump, VERY strong in standard to mild states of tune imo. Believe this or not, but when Ben RR my old 172 cup it made over 190bhp. This was BEFORE the ITB conversion its currently having. Mods were Grp N ecu, Maxogen, decat, and cat back system. That was it. Also my 197 is strong as f**k, went past a 172 Cup the other day, both giving it full berries. http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=384793

Keeping them serviced with good quality clean oil helps, short shifting will numb it imo!!!!

 

[Ben..]

3k
anyone else in a 1.2??


and yes, i know 1.2's are slow

 

[msisleman]

I agree with T5PHY, and I think you'll find that the coolant temp comes up faster than the oil temp does. I run the car for at least 15mins before giving it any great ammount of throttle/load.

High load won't hurt it when cold, will just warm it up quicker (high gear, fair amount of throttle, low rpm).

 

[tazzy-lee]

im in a 1.2 3k for me to

 

[Pep]

I let mine warm up properly, 15mins ish of driving, then it usually gets some hell. Not everyday though as my commute is only about 15 minutes!

 

[Tucker]

just before i get the 'help me' light, with the temp gauge in the middle

you can feel that the power trails off after here anyway, feels so much stronger when you get a good shift

 

[Brett]

im in a 1.2 3k for me to

when driving normally of thrashing it?

Driving normally 3k does me, but on a nice b-road blast or when trying to keep up with CS hooligans on meets just before 6K is nice in the 1.2.

 

[superbenji88]

i shift just before the red line

 

[alex-avfc]

Was gonna say...we talking normal driving here or??

As Brett said above, my 1.2- 3k normal driving for me, though like to give 2nd a bit of stick :evil:

If having a blast then once engine;s warmed up usually about 5k only ever redlined it couple times

But then again I imagine a 172/82 engine is completely different, generally hear that thrashing gets the best out of them.

So is the general consensus no real long term damage from revving hard daily?