yeah around the 2500 to 3000 rpm is good for me, there the torque is.....

even coming up to rounderbouts, let the engine brake you

knocking it outa gear and coasting can use more fuel apparently

thats one i dont understand. i drive to a nearby town often to see mates, and 50% of the journey is uphill (1st half), and then you hit downhill and its possible to roll about 6 miles without knocking it into gear at all. (its up in the mountains of wales)

I've been told coasting in silent sixth will use more fuel but i cannot see how that is possible....?

well....when you use the engine to brake you, theres no fuel being put in the cylinders, or very little at least

you knock it out of gear and coast, the engine uses fuel to idle

simple

but in gear it would never be able to roll that far. it would just slow down and id have to open the throttle

Start driving then change when the car starts making that waaaa waaaa waaaa waaaa waaaaa noise.

miles per gallons :lol:

real men do gallons per mile

Here we go....

I always think if your not trying to accelerate then a lower rpm providing the engine isnt stressing is ok but to get a shifty on say out of the 30 zone to 60 deffo drop a cog....or two.

My GT, 5th at 40 and its happy, down to 4th/3rd to speed up or it doesnt happen but no labour.

My GTD, 40 in 5th no bother, up a hill drop to 4th and shes ok normally just rumble along at 1500+ less than that in the highier gears and she grumbles badly - no boost at all and lots of soot lol

My A4 is very lazy big heavy flywheel just cruises doesnt do acceleration.

My FR 1k any gear inc 6th at anything over 40 and it was happy boot it, soot, boost whoooo your doing 100mph....

Matt

I wish I could keep my engine between 2-2.5k... on the journey to work I'm lucky if it drops below 4k, and motorway/dual carriageways - fuck that!

the lowest cruising RPM I would accept myself is about 2k rpm, that's 30mph in 4th - using throttle in anything lower is rarely game unless crawling in 1st.

In any case, 2k and up is the healthiest region for your car. You should also make an effort to reach highish revs and (4k or so) and nudge full throttle every now and then, but only provided the engine is at operating temp. It's a bit like a 15 minute exercise in the middle of a workday sat still at a desk, it is healthy for the engine because most have oil pumps driven by the crankshaft. Higher revs will mean higher oil pressure and that can ensure that the engine is rinsed with the very stuff keeping it alive.

An engine that never goes above 3k won't be too happy.

I let my cars warm up fully, and let them wander up the revs how they want to. Even with heavy footed action combined with this techinque I get 36MPG daily from a 1.5 16v Toyota, and 40MPG++ from any of the Polo's I've had.

I found strangely... a stainless exhaust IMPROVED my economy when driving 'normally'

BOLLOCKS to all this driving at 2k with light throttle openings and coasting downhill.

I nail it everywhere for a week or so then walk for a week! Its surprising just how much fuel you save!

BOLLOCKS to all this driving at 2k with light throttle openings and coasting downhill.

I nail it everywhere for a week or so then walk for a week! Its surprising just how much fuel you save!

LOL interesting technique... might have to try that

Surely that means you'll get twice the MPG?

Like your thinking...

you say your driving a mk4 8v? i have the same and always fill the tank to the brim and run til I'm empty, and get the same miles out of it if i drive miss daisy or hoof it, so you can do what you like in that car!

BOLLOCKS to all this driving at 2k with light throttle openings and coasting downhill.

I nail it everywhere for a week or so then walk for a week! Its surprising just how much fuel you save!

joker

i find changing at 4k is alright for driving sensibly, and not letting it drop below 2k. i can get 45mpg form my 2.0 if i sit at 65 doin 2,700 in 5th on the motorway, great if the road is empty bit not worth the hassle if its busy, i get 35mpg if i sit at 20 above the limit

all depends on how you drive, and ussing your gearbox, thats what its there for, taxi drivers cant drive anyway...