Is it really okay to drive 33 in 6th?

Averagejake96

Before you start hating and yelling at me I know it's a sports car not made for mpg, and that's awesome you bang every gear at redline xD

I know other threads talk about it but everyone always just says redline it and stop worrying about mpg so it's hard to get a legit answe.

SO... previous to this only manual car I had was a 1966 mustang with a 289 v8. When I kept low rpm in the car it didn't bog, just usually flooded the carb and I would downshift, romp on it, and clear it out.

With my 370, I just like to cruise and be stealthy. I don't really care for going fast on city roads cause in California it's a bunch of traffic. The manual says 6th gear you can be 33mph. I just want a better opinion. Is it safe? I'm literally keeping my foot in the same spot not accelerating and if I do I'll down to 3rd or 4th. Al the speed limits near me are 40 so people go like 35 of course so I just cruise it.

Thank you all so much for your time for reading and if you respond thanks even more! Have a great day!
-Jake

JC-Nismo

I think your putting to much strain on the 6th gear by doing that, that's the whole purpose of lower gears to begin with, but I don't think it'll cause any major damage.

lj909

It's more of a concern about lugging the engine. The VVEL helps a lot with this but 6th is really ment for high way cruising. I cruise the streets in 5th most the time

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JC-Nismo

I've honestly never used my 6th gear.

SouthArk370Z

As long as you are just "coasting" along, you'll be OK. Shift to a lower gear if you need to accelerate or go up a hill.

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JTM88

I think i'm usually in 4th when i'm going 30. I try to keep it between 2500-3000rpm when I'm staying at a steady speed.

Optimiser

Have a look at this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soJea7xEt-8

jaytirbhaw

It's bad practice IMO.

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TreeSemdyZee

Just read that in my manual. Pretty bizarre if you ask me.
Those engine speeds are WAAAAY too low.
I don't even like to shift into 4th at 33, let alone 6th.

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JC-Nismo

33 mph is 3rd gear for me, way to slow to be in 4th, IMO.

Cyber370

This would be the biggest concern. If you lug your engine you have a chance of doing a lot more damage than redlining it. Alot of people simply do not understand this and the manufacturers are to blame. Recommended shift points that they put in owners manuals are to please the EPA, that's all. They are completely unrealistic.

I remember a friend of mine who kept shifting way too early and I kept telling him that his engine would fail one day. Well, it actually did. He was in 4th going up a hill at an insufficient speed and boom! Blew his engine on his fairly new Ford Escape. If I recall, a broken connecting rod.

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2011 Nismo#91

I love all the people saying it's bad. 33+ and above is recomended in the owners manual for light or "normal" driving and acceleration.

For normal acceleration in low altitude areas
[less than 4,000 ft (1,219 m)]:
Gear change MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 8 (13)
2nd to 3rd 16 (26)
3rd to 4th 25 (40)
4th to 5th 28 (45)
5th to 6th 33 (53)
For quick acceleration in low altitude areas or in
high altitude areas [over 4,000 ft (1,219 m)]:
Gear change MPH (km/h)
1st to 2nd 15 (24)
2nd to 3rd 25 (40)
3rd to 4th 40 (64)
4th to 5th 45 (72)
5th to 6th 50 (80)

I know everyone here is a car racing expert and phd mechinical engineer but read your owners manual. Because of what was true of car's in the 60's and 70's may have changed in the last few decades.

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madeinjapan

scope22

This is what i was told, also that our engines are happiest above 4K rpm

JC-Nismo

LMFAO, true story man, 4th and 5th is all I need.