Rpm

[SoniCraze]

This is my first manual and i basically had to teach myself. I usually shift around 3k, and cruise around 2500k. so usually when im going between 35 and 40 im always in 4th.

I started stayin in 3rd and cruisng around 3200rpm all the way up to 3600. Only shifting into 4th at speeds 45+. I notice alot more power when i get on it and i really like it.

Is this bad? where does everyone else usually shift at?

[mspeed101]

whats the point of this thread???

[ELEmental59437]

Why stay in 3rd or 4th if your already at the speed you want to cruise at? Thats what 5th is for.. higher gears = lower RPM's = less gas to go the same speed. Shift wherever you feel comfortable shifting at..

I shift higher than 3k because I'd rather NOT just drive for a second or two between shifts.. 4500-5000 is still more than safe.

[2K3 MSP]

You've got to be kidding me. You've got a turbo, and you've already started modding your car. Run that bitch up to 6,000 and enjoy what you are paying for. I don't pay enough attention to know for sure, but I'm probably in 2nd gear(3rd gear max) when I'm going 35-40mph.
"all the way up to 3600 rpm's"??? Seriously, you're barely hitting boost, and if you are gradually reaching that rpm, you aren't even boosting.

[SoniCraze]

whats the point of this thread???
whats the point of your life?



You've got to be kidding me. You've got a turbo, and you've already started modding your car. Run that bitch up to 6,000 and enjoy what you are paying for. I don't pay enough attention to know for sure, but I'm probably in 2nd gear(3rd gear max) when I'm going 35-40mph.
"all the way up to 3600 rpm's"??? Seriously, you're barely hitting boost, and if you are gradually reaching that rpm, you aren't even boosting.
Dont get me wrong, i tear into it when i wanna go have fun, (less now seeing how if i get one more ticket i get my license suspended for 30 days). I just waznt sure if you wanna roll around at a steady 4k+ all the time.


sorry if its uber noob of me, but its just a question ive never asked, and never heard the answer to.

[jonnydoe48]

do what you want. i usually shift @ 3k and stay in the 1-2.5k range when cruising. if you are just cruising, it will probably be better to use the highest gear possible (ie 5th at around 45+) less gas. of course, i do push it, but only when needed. the MSP is my baby.

[charles]

I shift into 5th at 35 in my Protege. If I do that on the WRX it barely drives. It depends on the gear ratios and the car.

[joka1]

damn i shit at over 5 k all the time....... yes i dont have a msp but still..... i am over 20000 miles now at have always shifted over 5 k...... i am in 3rd at 45 most of the time....... when i am at the track i take it until i feel power loss...... around 6500 or so sometimes more then redline but oh well.

[jflo]

it doesn't matter really...it's like driving an automatic car. if you're comfortable w/ wasting your gas by keeping the tranny in 3rd gear doing 65 mph on the freeway @ 4000RPMs go for it...but if you wanna save gas, use 5th gear and cruise w/ less RPMs. simple as that. sure, it gets annoying having to wait for the car to accelerate, but you're not racing anyone are you ? i have to limit myself from shifting above 3K because the only places i should be driving are between school and home, yet i race around between those areas and end up having to fill the tank every goddamn week.

[joka1]

just the way i drive i guess. just more fun to me plus filling up doesn't bother me. plus i normally get in atleast one race a day..... i hate crx's that think they are the shit. maybe next weekend when my turbo is finally installed it will change but i highlt doubt it!!!!!!

[mp5jeff]

don't waste gas and cruise at a lower rpm, if you need to accelrate quickly, then just downshift and rev match, thats what a clutch and shifter is there for....to shift...

[Kain]

don't waste gas and cruise at a lower rpm, if you need to accelrate quickly, then just downshift and rev match, thats what a clutch and shifter is there for....to shift...
Exactly. I'll tell you where you'll see a difference in the long haul is your gas mileage because you'll be dipping into boost longer and more often. If you simply want to cruise, you're better off shifting at 3,000 rpms and even skipping gears (if I'm in no big hurry I'll usually skip 3rd and go directly from 2nd to 4th). But if you want to take advantage of what makes your car an MSP, then rev that sucka!

[jersey_emt]

Exactly. I'll tell you where you'll see a difference in the long haul is your gas mileage because you'll be dipping into boost longer and more often. If you simply want to cruise, you're better off shifting at 3,000 rpms and even skipping gears (if I'm in no big hurry I'll usually skip 3rd and go directly from 2nd to 4th). But if you want to take advantage of what makes your car an MSP, then rev that sucka!


I hate skipping 3rd gear...I'm always afraid i'll accidentally slam it in reverse!!

When I'm just cruising i shift around 3K..a lot of times just floating the gears to save wear & tear on the synchros & clutch.

I just can't stand how shallow of an overdrive gear we have...the engine is revving so damn high @ 75mph.

[rocketspeed]

If you've ever owned a car with one of those fuel mileage computers, you'll probably change the way you drive a little. I had one on my GTI VR6.

What it taught me is that fuel economy isn't so much RPM dependant as it is throttle position dependant. If you're in 5th gear at 35-40 mph around here (its hilly), you're going to be into the throttle and brakes a lot to hold speed steady. When you're on the throttle, your mileage will be really lousy, even at 1,500 RPM's. When you're coasting downhill, it will be really great.

If found that you tended to get better mileage on the the whole if you let the RPM's come up a little, but were lighter on the throttle.

So if you're driving to save gas, RPM's isn't the only thing you should factor. At full throttle at 1,500 RPM's in 5th, you're probably pulling less than 10mpg.

[funnylittlman]

Dont get me wrong, i tear into it when i wanna go have fun, (less now seeing how if i get one more ticket i get my license suspended for 30 days). I just waznt sure if you wanna roll around at a steady 4k+ all the time.


sorry if its uber noob of me, but its just a question ive never asked, and never heard the answer to.
Soni,

It's not a problem cruising around at 4K, it is the ideal spot for the turbo, but why keep it spooled if you're just cruising? That'll waste gas. This is the 3rd manual car I've owned, and I always keep the RPM's as low as possible to save gas. 93 octane is $$$$ ! :D So cruise in 5th wherever possible, and when racing use the lower gears :D

It's up to you in the end.

[BinaryRotary]

I shift at 2500 rpm in every gear. I like to pamper the car. I open her up everyday though and let her loose till the shift light comes on.

[SpeedMcheen]

I'd hate to get stuck behind you low RPM shifting geezer wannabes. It's a turbo MSP for gripes sake.

[Titanium]

Most manual shift cars are designed for its best fuel ec. to stay in the 2k to 3k range. This means dont let the cars rev get below 2k in one gear. Shift to a lowwer gear if the revs fall below 2k rpm. To get the best fuel milage shift at 3k rpm. You will notice that shifting at 3k rpm your next gear will start above 2k everytime. This will put less strain on your engine also. If you drive your car below the 2k mark and stay in a higher gear and want to increase your speed, you will put more strain on your engine and it will take more fuel than if you were to down shift. So if you want to baby your car drive it in the 2k to 3k range. To bad there isnt a 6th gear to get better highway gas milage.

[funnylittlman]

(rofl) lol.. You'r funny SpeedMcheen.

Do you pay for your own gas? If not then I'd be at 6K every gear! :D

[SpeedMcheen]

Thanks funnylittlman, I do pay for my own gas, dangit, and the MSP is a heavy drinker, and because of this I'm in the process of tracking my MPG and have found that my MSP gets a lot less MPG than is stated on the window sticker. I've read that it could have something to do with the flash, but I'm not sure.

When I get a little more data (for accurate averages) and if it doesn't look good, I'll post it here and I'm going write Mazda a very thoughtful letter.

[BinaryRotary]

I'd hate to get stuck behind you low RPM shifting geezer wannabes. It's a turbo MSP for gripes sake.
Your point?

[SpeedMcheen]

You're dull!

[SpeedMcheen]

j/k man, pull your g-string back down.

Cool car by the way.

[funnylittlman]

Thanks funnylittlman, I do pay for my own gas, dangit, and the MSP is a heavy drinker, and because of this I'm in the process of tracking my MPG and have found that my MSP gets a lot less MPG than is stated on the window sticker. I've read that it could have something to do with the flash, but I'm not sure.

When I get a little more data (for accurate averages) and if it doesn't look good, I'll post it here and I'm going write Mazda a very thoughtful letter.
I've done 2 styles of driving:
Heavy foot - 18- 19 MPG

Grandpa - 21-23 MPG

This is all city driving... so driving like an old fart actually does well in this car :D

[yashooa]

I hate skipping 3rd gear...I'm always afraid i'll accidentally slam it in reverse!!

When I'm just cruising i shift around 3K..a lot of times just floating the gears to save wear & tear on the synchros & clutch.

I just can't stand how shallow of an overdrive gear we have...the engine is revving so damn high @ 75mph.Right on Skankbrain! I skip the gears as well and a 6th gear would be a huge plus for me. I get anywhere from 30-36 MPG depending on my speed.

[yashooa]

I'd hate to get stuck behind you low RPM shifting geezer wannabes. It's a turbo MSP for gripes sake. Hey I AM half way to geezer-ville allready there JUNIOR!
So just peddle that crap on down the fast lane (ricer)

[SpeedMcheen]

I've done 2 styles of driving:
Heavy foot - 18- 19 MPG

Grandpa - 21-23 MPG

This is all city driving... so driving like an old fart actually does well in this car :D
Hmm, thanks for that info, that's about what I expect to find with my MSP. I think that our cars (or mine) runs a little too rich, and if so, and if I deem it a problem, I'm going to write Mazda and try to hold them accountable for mismarketing. And try to get some reimbursement for the extra $$ they're making me waste. Mismarketing is a crime, unintentional or not, Mazda should address this concern, create a permanent fix, and/or reimburse it's customers somehow, especially if we/I can back it up with good MPG data.

[funnylittlman]

^---

Supposedly Mazda will have a new ECU Flash in July one that fixes A/F and Timing :D

[SpeedMcheen]

Yeah, I read that thread to, I really hope it's true.

[Damaga]

How can anybody get 36 mpg with our car??? That's highway driving I hope!
I get 26 mpg 25% city/75% highway and I don't push it "that hard" :) *4k shifts*

And if you guys bought this car for fuel efficiency, you should of gotten a Prius or something...

[murdock_]

yo brotha bounce the rev limiter its fun :)

[SpeedMcheen]

hahaha buck hahaha buck Weeeeeeeeeeee

[03MSP]

I always shift early when just cruising...why the hell would you drive in 2nd gear going 35?? That is stupid unless you are about to race :rolleyes: , why waste gas?

[yashooa]

How can anybody get 36 mpg with our car??? That's highway driving I hope!
I get 26 mpg 25% city/75% highway and I don't push it "that hard" :) *4k shifts*

And if you guys bought this car for fuel efficiency, you should of gotten a Prius or something...Yes it's 100 miles a day Highway driving. I skip gears and just ease up to 60-65MPH in the slow lane.

[yashooa]

^---

Supposedly Mazda will have a new ECU Flash in July one that fixes A/F and Timing :DNO! YOU LIE! Really? Sweet. (nana)

[unwrittenLaw]

dude i redline it all the time, every gear, everywhere i go...public roads are my street circuit.

[Damaga]

slow lane? what's that?

[computerGeek]

Ive heard of this "slow lane" I believe my grand parents drive there!!!

[rocketspeed]

Gas is cheap for this car, though. I mash it all day long. Unless you're a 22 year old kid with no money............oh, I forgot, there aren't too many geezers like me driving these. ;)

[mazdaowner123]

^---

Supposedly Mazda will have a new ECU Flash in July one that fixes A/F and Timing :D
Can you link me to a thread of this? I must've somehow missed this!

~brian

[2K3 MSP]

dude i redline it all the time, every gear, everywhere i go...public roads are my street circuit.(werd) Even racing like I do, the worst gas mileage I get is 24mpg(city/highway mix). On my trip to Vegas I averaged 29mpg (doing about 90mph average). I got almost 31mpg a few weeks ago averaging about 60mph. There isn't much difference in my opinion, so I just keep it floored:)

[03MSP]

I read something about the new flash that is supposedly going to come out. Someone said that they heard it from another person that (I can't remember exactly what his job was) had pretty realiable connections.

I don't know for sure what's going on with that, but I can't wait to find out.