Is it really okay to drive 33 in 6th?

Averagejake96 · 01-11-2017, 04:53 PM

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 · 01-11-2017, 05:18 PM

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 · 01-11-2017, 05:31 PM

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

JC-Nismo · 01-11-2017, 05:41 PM

I've honestly never used my 6th gear.

SouthArk370Z · 01-11-2017, 05:58 PM

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.

JTM88 · 01-11-2017, 08:03 PM

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 · 01-11-2017, 08:09 PM

Have a look at this:

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

jaytirbhaw · 01-11-2017, 08:11 PM

It's bad practice IMO.

TreeSemdyZee · 01-12-2017, 12:29 AM

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.

JC-Nismo · 01-12-2017, 04:06 AM

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

Cyber370 · 01-12-2017, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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.

2011 Nismo#91 · 01-12-2017, 07:53 AM

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.

madeinjapan · 01-12-2017, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC-Nismo

I've honestly never used my 6th gear.

scope22 · 01-12-2017, 08:11 AM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

JC-Nismo · 01-12-2017, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madeinjapan

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

01-11-2017, 04:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Averagejake96 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: San Diego Posts: 1 Drives: 12' 370z spt/tour 6m Rep Power: 8	Is it really okay to drive 33 in 6th? 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

01-11-2017, 05:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
lj909 Track Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Riverside Posts: 584 Drives: 40th 370Z Rep Power: 11	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 __________________ PW 07 HR350Z R.I.P. Totaled by 82yr old woman 2010 40th Anniversary 370Z

01-11-2017, 05:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
JC-Nismo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,244 Drives: 2011 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 12	I've honestly never used my 6th gear. lj909 likes this.

01-11-2017, 05:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324197	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. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

01-11-2017, 08:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
jaytirbhaw Track Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 814 Drives: 350z HR , Nismo 370z Rep Power: 16	It's bad practice IMO. Z-Girl 12 likes this. __________________ 2014 Nismo #350 , Built Motor, Top Mount Single Turbo .... 620 whp/ 500 lbs wtq 2012 Track/Drift Z, build coming soon. Build Thread - http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...70z-build.html

01-11-2017, 05:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
JC-Nismo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,244 Drives: 2011 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 12	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.

01-11-2017, 08:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
JTM88 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 276 Drives: 2012 370Z Rep Power: 13	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.

01-11-2017, 08:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
Optimiser Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 453 Drives: 2012 Nissan 370Z MT Rep Power: 20144	Have a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soJea7xEt-8

01-12-2017, 12:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 59 Posts: 4,880 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27408	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. __________________ Borla S-Type \| Motordyne \| Z1 (lots) \| South Bend \| K&N \| Nismo/Nismo S-Tune \| Eibach \| Aerojacket \| Fujimara \| Spl \| ZSpeed Performance \| Kenwood-Infinity-Sound Ordnance \| Whiteline \| Ecutek \| Hotchkis \| Clazzio \| VQ Vortex \|Morimoto XB \|Dynosty Tune 329.64hp 265.73 ft/lb

01-12-2017, 04:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
JC-Nismo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,244 Drives: 2011 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 12	33 mph is 3rd gear for me, way to slow to be in 4th, IMO.

01-12-2017, 07:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,381 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 33858	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. __________________ GTR TT 493Whp/431lbft, Ecutek, Southbend 6puck,Quaife, RPM RollBar 4Point, R888R, JRZ RSPro F(10R/10C) R(10R/6C) 1000f500r inlbs+150inlbs Tender, SPL everywhere.Full Specs

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