What is the right RPM to shift gears?

Question

This question has been in my mind for a time now, what is the right RPM when to shift a gear to have the best fuel mileage? I usually shift at around 1000rpm, is it good or bad? if good, is there a better way to have it more efficient? if not, when is the right time? I am very light footed, and i usually do city driving only, when is the right time to shift gears to get the most of our fuel? fuel prices has rocketed to $5 a gallon here in the philippines if you convert it since we use liters.

Answer 1

well 1000 is pretty low concidering most cars idle anywhere from 5 to 1000+. theres also a light on the dash that tells you when to shift

Answer 2

You want to shift at the peak of the torque curve, not horsepower, this point will be at a lower rpm. Anything lower than that and you have to put your foot in to it to get anywhere.

Answer 3

Generally in newer cars, letting it bog too low will use more gas.  If you shift that low and have to step on the gas more to get the car going, you use more gas than using less throttle at a higher RPM.  I shift so that the rev's drop to about 2000 and also keep cruising at about 2000 and I get better mileage than the manufacturer claims it gets.  For regular city driving I would shift at around 2500.  

Answer 4

Depends on the engine. I have a V6, it redlines at 6000rpm and idles at about 600rpm and I used to get 18mpg shifting at 5800 or so (yeah I know, bit high) and recently decided I'm bored with going fast and I started shifting at 2-3K and I'm getting 23mpg which is better than EPA city which is where I do most of my driving. I still haven't figured out what works best since I know one guy that drives my car and swears by 2000rpm, another that swears by 2500rpm and another that swears by 3000rpm.

Answer 5

Shifting at too low of an rpm will actually waste fuel. If you feel the engine lugging, you are shifting too early

Answer 6

It all depends on what kind of engine you are running, gears you have, tranny and so on.