Optimal shift point when dailying

antonch · 02-22-2008, 08:19 AM

Just got my STI last week. In regular cars I usually shift @3K and that puts me down in 2K range in the next gear. The turbo on the STI doesn't seem to come on until 3! If I shift at 4K it puts me right back at 3K which has a nice kick to it.

When just driving normally and conservatively to save gas/reduce wear what shift points are recommended?

mdiesel · 02-22-2008, 08:21 AM

Staying out of boost should help with the gas conservation. FWIW I usually shift around 3-3.5k but I also can't seem to ever get above 18mpg average over a tank.

Matt

kminda · 02-22-2008, 08:32 AM

For daily driving, I just use the factory recommended shift points. On my wrx its like 15, 25, 35, 45 I think. They list it for a reason (mpg).

V8Huntr · 02-22-2008, 08:58 AM

The owner's manual has suggested speeds at which to upshift for maximum efficiency. It's in MPH but if you shift at the suggested speed it will actually be at 3K RPM

niemkij · 02-22-2008, 09:02 AM

When I am mildly accelerating I shift around 3K. For all out max acceleration I shift around 6K RPM. My peak HP is about 5K.

antonch · 02-22-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdiesel

Staying out of boost should help with the gas conservation. FWIW I usually shift around 3-3.5k but I also can't seem to ever get above 18mpg average over a tank.

Matt

You should be able to get more than that. I got 20.5 on my first tank! Now I drive calmer. But then again I do a lot of freeway driving.

rabbisti397 · 02-22-2008, 11:43 AM

Shift at 7.5k for the least amount of wear LOL.

antonch · 02-22-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbisti397

Shift at 7.5k for the least amount of wear LOL.

Wouldn't be a problem if I had the japanese engine

Ying · 02-22-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antonch

You should be able to get more than that. I got 20.5 on my first tank! Now I drive calmer. But then again I do a lot of freeway driving.

I'm usually running around 19/20 mpg. I do mostly highway driving during the week. I'm sure I could get near the mid 20's if I didn't have to do 80 just to keep up w/ traffic.

Hybrid · 02-22-2008, 06:01 PM

I'm usually at 3500 or 4000rpms for a smooth shift

Iguana · 02-23-2008, 02:37 AM

I've tried several scenarios during the summer when fuel efficiency is higher than during the winter.

Scenario 1: Always shifting at 2,500 rpms. Mixed driving. Wonderful 23 mpg. Terrible fun factor. Feel like the slowest car on the road with grandmothers honking at me to go faster.

Scenario 2: Always shifting at 3000 rpms. Mixed driving. Average 20-21 mpg. Seems to be OK.

Scenario 3: Always shifting at higher than 3,500 rpms. Mixed driving. Average 18 mpg. This was harder for me to do since I feel like I'm always attracting too much attention. I only did it for a quarter of the tank, but in that time, I calculated 18 mpg.

Scenario X: My day up in the mountains, attacking the roads there, driving at aggressive levels, shifting at 6,600 rpms (buzzer) every time, a few launches. Mpg? 12. Oh yeah. Smiles per gallon (SPG)? 1000+

**boxtwo** · 02-23-2008, 09:21 AM

Scenario X FTW!!! LOL

I usually do about 3500-4000. I seem to get the smoothest shift in that range.

***Gondy*** · 02-23-2008, 09:26 AM

I try to shift at about 3K.. can get about 24 mpg with all the highway driving I do if I keep it at about 70 - 75 mph (on the speedo.. which is really 66 - 71).

stiltd683 · 02-23-2008, 09:38 AM

I shift a little over 3k and last tank I got 28 mpg 95% of that was on the freeway. I usually get mid twenties unless I step on it and then it goes to 18 or so. The most I have ever gotten was about 30 and I was driving like a grandma for a few days just to see if I could.

wrxtasy · 02-23-2008, 11:03 AM

i shift at about 3k in town and drive mildly and get about 18 or so. on my drive from ohio to georgia i got 30mpg driving on the highway the whole time at about 75 on the speedo. the highway had to be flat so it stayed out of boost, the mountains were not 30mpg worthy

02-22-2008, 08:19 AM	#1
antonch Junior STI Driver Car: Black 06 STI Fav Mod: Seatbelt fix, site avatar delete Location: SF Posts: 101 Join Date: Feb 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Optimal shift point when dailying Just got my STI last week. In regular cars I usually shift @3K and that puts me down in 2K range in the next gear. The turbo on the STI doesn't seem to come on until 3! If I shift at 4K it puts me right back at 3K which has a nice kick to it. When just driving normally and conservatively to save gas/reduce wear what shift points are recommended? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

02-22-2008, 08:21 AM	#2
mdiesel Junior STI Driver Car: 06 AW STi Fav Mod: Letting the air out of the tires to "shave a little weight at the corners". Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 131 Join Date: Jan 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying Staying out of boost should help with the gas conservation. FWIW I usually shift around 3-3.5k but I also can't seem to ever get above 18mpg average over a tank. Matt

02-22-2008, 08:32 AM	#3
kminda Amateur STI Driver Car: 07 WRX Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 15 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying For daily driving, I just use the factory recommended shift points. On my wrx its like 15, 25, 35, 45 I think. They list it for a reason (mpg).

02-22-2008, 08:58 AM	#4
V8Huntr Spec C Club Car: 04' WRB STi Fav Mod: TBE Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 1,641 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying The owner's manual has suggested speeds at which to upshift for maximum efficiency. It's in MPH but if you shift at the suggested speed it will actually be at 3K RPM

02-22-2008, 09:02 AM	#5
niemkij Silver Member Car: Blue 06 STi Fav Mod: The next one planned Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 89 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying When I am mildly accelerating I shift around 3K. For all out max acceleration I shift around 6K RPM. My peak HP is about 5K.

02-22-2008, 11:43 AM	#7
rabbisti397 STI Driver Car: Blue 06 STI Fav Mod: FP Green Location: So Cal Posts: 230 Join Date: Oct 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying Shift at 7.5k for the least amount of wear LOL.

02-22-2008, 06:01 PM	#10
Hybrid Amateur STI Driver Car: 05' OBP STi Fav Mod: none yet, but just wait!!!! Location: Stratford, CT Posts: 29 Join Date: Aug 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying I'm usually at 3500 or 4000rpms for a smooth shift

02-23-2008, 02:37 AM	#11
Iguana Spec C Club Car: 06 Aspen White STI Fav Mod: Defi's Location: Northern California Posts: 1,427 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying I've tried several scenarios during the summer when fuel efficiency is higher than during the winter. Scenario 1: Always shifting at 2,500 rpms. Mixed driving. Wonderful 23 mpg. Terrible fun factor. Feel like the slowest car on the road with grandmothers honking at me to go faster. Scenario 2: Always shifting at 3000 rpms. Mixed driving. Average 20-21 mpg. Seems to be OK. Scenario 3: Always shifting at higher than 3,500 rpms. Mixed driving. Average 18 mpg. This was harder for me to do since I feel like I'm always attracting too much attention. I only did it for a quarter of the tank, but in that time, I calculated 18 mpg. Scenario X: My day up in the mountains, attacking the roads there, driving at aggressive levels, shifting at 6,600 rpms (buzzer) every time, a few launches. Mpg? 12. Oh yeah. Smiles per gallon (SPG)? 1000+

02-23-2008, 09:21 AM	#12
boxtwo Gold Member Car: 07 OBP STi Fav Mod: Venison front Bumper mod Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 1,399 Join Date: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (2)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying Scenario X FTW!!! LOL I usually do about 3500-4000. I seem to get the smoothest shift in that range.

02-23-2008, 09:26 AM	#13
*Gondy* Fears smelly diff fluid Car: 07 WRB STI Fav Mod: Invidia G200 Location: Lemont, Illinois Posts: 656 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying I try to shift at about 3K.. can get about 24 mpg with all the highway driving I do if I keep it at about 70 - 75 mph (on the speedo.. which is really 66 - 71).

02-23-2008, 09:38 AM	#14
stiltd683 Senior STI Driver Car: '07 STI Limited Fav Mod: crashing Location: Antioch, CA Posts: 322 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying I shift a little over 3k and last tank I got 28 mpg 95% of that was on the freeway. I usually get mid twenties unless I step on it and then it goes to 18 or so. The most I have ever gotten was about 30 and I was driving like a grandma for a few days just to see if I could.

02-23-2008, 11:03 AM	#15
wrxtasy Amateur STI Driver Car: WRB 04 STi Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 42 Join Date: Dec 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Optimal shift point when dailying i shift at about 3k in town and drive mildly and get about 18 or so. on my drive from ohio to georgia i got 30mpg driving on the highway the whole time at about 75 on the speedo. the highway had to be flat so it stayed out of boost, the mountains were not 30mpg worthy This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.