How high to rev before shifting in each gear?

eurojjj19 · 11-27-2013, 07:53 AM

Hey guys, new 2014 Z owner and I have a question. As the title states, im wondering what RPM is ideal to shift at through each gear for daily driving and for having a bit of fun. The car is still under 100 miles, so ive been keeping it below 4k RPM. I set my shift light to flash at 3k and remain steady at 3500 RPM. Thats what ive been going with so far. I tried searching a couple different keywords, but came up with nothing. Sorry if this has already been asked. Thanks to anyone who can provide some help!

onzedge · 11-27-2013, 07:58 AM

7,450 RPM is ideal.

Mt Tam I am · 11-27-2013, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

7,450 RPM is ideal.

Why not?

Justice97 · 11-27-2013, 08:00 AM

I shift as the mood sees fit.

I can shift as low as 2k or as high as the redline.

Mood, it's all mood.

Normal driving though I shift about 2500 to 2800

onzedge · 11-27-2013, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justice97

I shift as the mood sees fit.

I can shift as low as 2k or as high as the redline.

Mood, it's all mood.

Normal driving though I shift about 2500 to 2800

eurojjj19 · 11-27-2013, 08:07 AM

So you can essentially shift at any point up to the redline and there will be no damage done to the car? Still learning about manual transmissions and trying to wrap my head around everything. I normally shift out of first gear between 3-3500 RPM and at that point it starts to sound like the engine is starting to whine a little. But people are saying you can go even higher than that in first gear (5k+ RPM), so that is ok to do and wont damage anything?

Should i worry about what MPH im at when shifting through each gear or is it all about RPM? I assume there a max MPH for each gear that i should stay below?

zeeder · 11-27-2013, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurojjj19

So you can essentially shift at any point up to the redline and there will be no damage done to the car? Still learning about manual transmissions and trying to wrap my head around everything. I normally shift out of first gear between 3-3500 RPM and at that point it starts to sound like the engine is starting to whine a little. But people are saying you can go even higher than that in first gear (5k+ RPM), so that is ok to do and wont damage anything?

The redline is there for a reason. In cars like ours you don't get into the meat of the power band until 5k+ RPM. That said, if you drive it hard all the time you should shorten your maintenance windows and things will wear out sooner.

eurojjj19 · 11-27-2013, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeeder

The redline is there for a reason. In cars like ours you don't get into the meat of the power band until 5k+ RPM. That said, if you drive it hard all the time you should shorten your maintenance windows and things will wear out sooner.

I dont plan on driving it like i stole it all the time. But everyone likes to open it up once in a while. So can you, or anyone else, give me a rough estimate of max MPH for each gear (ie. what NOT to go over, if such numbers exist). I dont plan on coming close to those ranges, i just want to know for informations sake.

The reason all of these questions sound so noobish is because my first manual was a 94 Civic and it did NOT have a tachometer, so i had to base everything off of mph and engine sound. So im now trying to wrap my head around RPM being the main gauge of when to shift. So, sorry for the simplistic questions, but i am learning.

speedfreek · 11-27-2013, 08:49 AM

I like to keep it in 1st so I don't wear out my clutch with all those shifts.

DIGItonium · 11-27-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurojjj19

I dont plan on driving it like i stole it all the time. But everyone likes to open it up once in a while. So can you, or anyone else, give me a rough estimate of max MPH for each gear (ie. what NOT to go over, if such numbers exist). I dont plan on coming close to those ranges, i just want to know for informations sake.

It's in the owner's manual.

eurojjj19 · 11-27-2013, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

It's in the owner's manual.

I did see those numbers in the manual, they are:

1st to 2nd - 15mph
2nd to 3rd - 25 mph
3rd to 4th - 40 mph
4th to 5th - 45 mph
5th to 6th - 50 mph

But i couldnt wrap my head around the point of having to shift in 5mph increments (4-->5-->6). That just seems to make 4th and 5th gear pretty worhtless imo. Im not trying to argue, just explaining my thought process.

RoadsterST · 12-27-2013, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurojjj19

I dont plan on driving it like i stole it all the time. But everyone likes to open it up once in a while. So can you, or anyone else, give me a rough estimate of max MPH for each gear (ie. what NOT to go over, if such numbers exist). I dont plan on coming close to those ranges, i just want to know for informations sake.

The reason all of these questions sound so noobish is because my first manual was a 94 Civic and it did NOT have a tachometer, so i had to base everything off of mph and engine sound. So im now trying to wrap my head around RPM being the main gauge of when to shift. So, sorry for the simplistic questions, but i am learning.

Everything is still based off feel and sound. Drive the car more and you will find the sweet spots for both city and frisky driving. Shifting down above the rpm range for a specified gear is really the only way to damage anything. Even though the car has a blinky shift light, the computer still shuts the car down at 8k so over rev is not as much of a concern.

Just drive it. There are NO magic numbers or recomended ranges. Its all ears and feel.

luigi90210 · 12-28-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurojjj19

I dont plan on driving it like i stole it all the time. But everyone likes to open it up once in a while. So can you, or anyone else, give me a rough estimate of max MPH for each gear (ie. what NOT to go over, if such numbers exist). I dont plan on coming close to those ranges, i just want to know for informations sake.

The reason all of these questions sound so noobish is because my first manual was a 94 Civic and it did NOT have a tachometer, so i had to base everything off of mph and engine sound. So im now trying to wrap my head around RPM being the main gauge of when to shift. So, sorry for the simplistic questions, but i am learning.

if i remember correctly these are the max MPH for every gear

1st 42mph
2nd 67mph
3rd 95mph
4th 122mph
5th 155mph(electronic limiter and gearing limit)
6th 160mph(mfr drag limit claim without electronic limiter)

andre12031948 · 11-27-2013, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eurojjj19

So you can essentially shift at any point up to the redline and there will be no damage done to the car? Still learning about manual transmissions and trying to wrap my head around everything. I normally shift out of first gear between 3-3500 RPM and at that point it starts to sound like the engine is starting to whine a little. But people are saying you can go even higher than that in first gear (5k+ RPM), so that is ok to do and wont damage anything?

Should i worry about what MPH im at when shifting through each gear or is it all about RPM? I assume there a max MPH for each gear that i should stay below?

I think you should first learn what RPM means & what it does to the pistons/rings & all moving engine parts. Then get some cool sounding mufflers & enjoy yourself for the rest of your engine's life, which should be apx. 25k miles.

DIGItonium · 11-27-2013, 08:13 AM

Just don't money shift to a lower gear that's not designed to handle that speed. In other words, don't shift into 2nd when your speed is beyond 62 MPH.

11-27-2013, 07:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
eurojjj19 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 13 Drives: 2014 Nissan 370z M6 Rep Power: 12	How high to rev before shifting in each gear? Hey guys, new 2014 Z owner and I have a question. As the title states, im wondering what RPM is ideal to shift at through each gear for daily driving and for having a bit of fun. The car is still under 100 miles, so ive been keeping it below 4k RPM. I set my shift light to flash at 3k and remain steady at 3500 RPM. Thats what ive been going with so far. I tried searching a couple different keywords, but came up with nothing. Sorry if this has already been asked. Thanks to anyone who can provide some help!

11-27-2013, 07:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
onzedge A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Battle Lake MN Age: 64 Posts: 183,964 Drives: 370Z 240Z Rep Power: 2684736	7,450 RPM is ideal. TreeSemdyZee, 03g35coupe6mt, JARblue and 12 others like this. __________________ Koni\|Swift\|Michelin\|Motordyne\|Berk\|RJM Performance\|Gates\|SPL\|Motul\|Technafit\|Ate Super Blue\|Hawk Tommy Kaira\|Momo\|Optima\|Hella\|Hotchkis\|Red Line\|ZSpeed\|Stillen\|B&M\|H&R

11-27-2013, 08:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Justice97 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: San Antonio Posts: 387 Drives: 11 370Z MB M6 Rep Power: 16	I shift as the mood sees fit. I can shift as low as 2k or as high as the redline. Mood, it's all mood. Normal driving though I shift about 2500 to 2800 UNKNOWN_370, VABAM, jaedub and 5 others like this.

11-27-2013, 08:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
eurojjj19 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 13 Drives: 2014 Nissan 370z M6 Rep Power: 12	So you can essentially shift at any point up to the redline and there will be no damage done to the car? Still learning about manual transmissions and trying to wrap my head around everything. I normally shift out of first gear between 3-3500 RPM and at that point it starts to sound like the engine is starting to whine a little. But people are saying you can go even higher than that in first gear (5k+ RPM), so that is ok to do and wont damage anything? Should i worry about what MPH im at when shifting through each gear or is it all about RPM? I assume there a max MPH for each gear that i should stay below? Last edited by eurojjj19; 11-27-2013 at 08:09 AM.

11-27-2013, 08:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
speedfreek A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntsville,AL Posts: 1,724 Drives: '12 370Z PW 6sp Rep Power: 19	I like to keep it in 1st so I don't wear out my clutch with all those shifts. cdoxp800, LMBmikeZ, kidkotic2001 and 6 others like this. __________________ Tomei\|Berk\|Takeda\|ZSpeed\|Fortune Auto\|Swift\|Eibach\|SPL\|Carbotech\|Motul\|Powertrix\|Stillen\|Aerojacket\|Z1\|Forgestar\|Enkei\|Project Kics\|Nismo Ti\|Llumar speedfreek's journal

11-27-2013, 08:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	Just don't money shift to a lower gear that's not designed to handle that speed. In other words, don't shift into 2nd when your speed is beyond 62 MPH. birdman71 likes this. __________________

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