5th gear

[rfisher]

No not the cr@p Ch5 'motoring' thing but 5th gear on my Tamora.

What speed do you change to 5th?

If I change up before about 50mph the car isn't too happy (engine feels slightly laboured).

Is this OK?

[sideways mostly]

If its sounds laboured in any gear change down-unless you are in 1st of course.




I didn't need to tell you that did I......well Dah!

[madbadger]

50+ is about right. Gives about 2k revs which isn't too bad. I wouldn't use it any lower, though.

[rfisher]

Yes - I occasionally forget it's a speed6 not a RV8.

In my Chim I could cruise around in 5th right down to about 35mph.

The Sp6 engine requires better driving skills which I find more enjoyable.

Also, I'm getting some great reaction from the locals when just trundling around in 4th. It's easy to underestimate how great the engine sounds from outside the car - you just can't hear that from the inside.

[madbadger]

Try trundling around in 2nd, just to be sure.

[chris watton]

That is my least used gear! I even use no higher than third when on a duel carriagway (much to the annoyance of the people stuck behind me!! - kidding)
5th gear is strictly for long haul motorway journeys only, other than that, its quite redundant!

[icraigmy]

You seldom get the chance to use 5th gear on A&B roads because they are congested with slow lorrys, tractors, and dithering cars. It is a gear for motorway cruising. I find that the engine labours to when you change into 5th gear doing around 50mph, therefore I try to make a point not to change to 5th gear unless I'm doing 60mph+.

[lundinoir]

I use 5th all the time on the A & B roads as well as motorways and find it very useable from 50+ mph. Listen to your engine characteristics to know when it's labouring and when it's ready to go! go! go!

[targarama]

Mine isn't happy below 60mph. I'd rather be in 4th anyway on slower A/B roads to help me accelerate from any sudden danger (the Advanced Motorists like to tell you this too). Doesn't affect economy that much either in a modern engine if you're not on the throttle - I still get 22-24mpg in normal driving.

[alt]

madbadger said:

50+ is about right. Gives about 2k revs which isn't too bad. I wouldn't use it any lower, though.

I hope you're not doing this until the engine's properly warmed up?
Labouring while the engine's cold is as bad as over-revving.

[madbadger]

alt said:

madbadger said: 50+ is about right. Gives about 2k revs which isn't too bad. I wouldn't use it any lower, though. I hope you're not doing this until the engine's properly warmed up? Labouring while the engine's cold is as bad as over-revving.

Surely 2000 rpm isn't labouring it?

Especially keeping below 2500rpm to avoid over revving, that doesn't leave much you can use.

[rfisher]

Don't worry - strictly no playing until oil is at cooking temp.

[black sabbath]

Mine doesnt like to be in 5th below 2500 so I tend to change up at about 3000. So on the M25 its rare I get into 5th for very long.