Anyone use this in town at circa 30mph? Just interested what others are doing, I find the 2.0 170 Diesel "chugs" along in this gear, any sort of damage being done using it a lower speeds?

Yes. Probably.

Most manufactures will state don't run at less than 1,200 rpm.

Anyone use this in town at circa 30mph? Just interested what others are doing, I find the 2.0 170 Diesel "chugs" along in this gear, any sort of damage being done using it a lower speeds?

I would think that's much too slow! I don't use 6th until I'm up to at least 50, and then only if it's flat or downhill. Uphill at 50 I would choose 5th or even 4th. I don't think 6th at 30 will do it much good, and would advise against it.

Bob.

Your DMF won't thank you for any attempt to gain speed at such low revs...

I'll use sixth gear at a steady 50, but prefer to stay in fifth until the sixty mark. Depends on the traffic.

Certainly wouldn't use it under 40 mph.

any sort of damage being done using it a lower speeds?

Yes, Having the side of your car caved in because you couldnt react in time to get out of the way of a driver that fell asleep at the wheel and veered into you.

[/Devils advocate]

The DMF doesn't like anything between idle and about 1_200, and I'd suspect the only reason you can even "chug along" in 6th is the idle stabiliation working overtime.

I know I'm running a different car etc.. but only get into 6th at 50 minimum.. and evne then if I slightly slow or hit an incline it's straight back into 5th.. if not 4th!

When I first got the car I played around with the gears and it'd do 28ish in 6th but worked out almost instantly from the disgruntled sounds that it was a baaaad idea, same story with 5th.. 30mph needs 4th at the most, and even then don't push it to hard or up any slopes that're much more then gentle.

The DMF doesn't like anything between idle and about 1_200, and I'd suspect the only reason you can even "chug along" in 6th is the idle stabiliation working overtime.

You chaps are confirming what I feel, I have not done it for long periods, just noticed that between 30-40mph I never have the 6th gear selected. In fact I have to remind myself on the motorway to go up to 6th gear.

Is now a good time to point out that mine seldom gets driven off-boost?

Different car (Octavia Scout 2.0 PD) but when going for all out economy (no ice / puddles & pot holes as there are now) I generally change as follows 1-3 as quick as possible or skip 3 and get into 4th at 20 mph, 5th gear for 30 mph except up hills and 6th at 40 mph or above, car was giving between 50 & 55 mpg. Now driving less economically but for the conditions of winter roads using 3rd at 30mph more, 4th at 30 mph a lot and only getting into 6th on open 60 mph roads or motorway, result: 46 mpg never had the DPF light come on.

DMF will Inhilate !! :S

Is now a good time to point out that mine seldom gets driven off-boost?

Likewise, as long as there isn't some pensionermobile holding me up! But when these engines are boosting at 1_400rpm or so...

Are you a mini cab driver?

I only use 6th above 45mph, and at 30mph tend to use 5th for steady driving, and change down to 3rd or 4th to speed up. 6th gear even at 40mph is labouring the engine and not doing it any favours at all.

It would not be good driving practice, poor control of car, no engine braking, no acceleration, difficult to respond. Could do damage to the engine. The pistons go up and down but the tend to make the cylinder oval this action would be accelerated at high loads low speeds. Also the leverage on the engine would be massive so expect early damage to bearings and journals as well as cylinders going out of round faster. People concern themselves with revving the engine up to the red line but putting an engine under under load like this is far more destructive. One careful "lady owner" stay well clear, I would much rather have a used car that has been allowed to flow freely.

Is now a good time to point out that mine seldom gets driven off-boost?

I hope you are talking about when the engine is hot! I try not to go past 2k rpm when cold, I certainly do not use full throttle/boost then.

I do drive at 30mmph in top, the engine acts as a kind of cruse control and regulates it to the same speed. You can do this through the gears, each one adds 5mph, ie, 3rd = 15mph, 4th = 20, 5 = 25. It can be the parts of town useful in 20mph zones. However as mentioned above it is not recommended that you do this all the time.

Edited 19 January, 201016 yr by Jim H

im presuming you have a diesel then cos i dont get any sort of chugging above about 24mph.

I do it if we are crawling in traffic at 30mph, i regularily leave my car in 6th in cruise and dont find the need to change gear to accelerate unless i go below 30mph. prob wouldnt do it so well in a std TFSI, but i dont have any issues with mine.

Still ifim going to accelerate upto a decent speed from 30mph, i change up as i dont want to **** my clutch.

my standard tfsi vrs will happily plod in 6th at 30mph, and picks up straight away no need for down change

great engine loads of torque

In 30 zones I'll go to 4th max. 6th seriously not a good idea.

I did this about under 30 as I was curious? in a new FL and the speed shot up to about 35

without my foot on the gas or cruise control, is this right (i know nothing about cars).

@ Jim H, as I said earlier, the diesels are on boost at about 1_400, so you can hold revs under 2_000 and stay on boost all day!

@ vRSy, the grumbling in the diesels at maybe 1_000rpm comes from the DMF, not the engine. Given that the 1.8T (at least in 180 and higher tunes) is also a "high torque rise" engine, I'm surprised that you don't get the same issue.

@ stuardo, that sounds like the idle stabilisation cutting in. Does the car run at about 2_000rpm in 6th for 70mph by any chance?

I did this about under 30 as I was curious? in a new FL and the speed shot up to about 35

without my foot on the gas or cruise control, is this right (i know nothing about cars).

Probably shot upto 35mph as 6th gear and idle speed of around 800 - 900 rpm = 35mph.

I tried putting my CR 170 Diesel in 6th last night at 30, was curious as I don't normally think about what gear I am in at what speed, quickly came to the conclussion that 30 in 6th = not a good idea.!!

The CR is better than the PD and probably will run down to 45 mph in 6th if I am being lazy, however in reality 50 mph is a more sensible limit.

my standard tfsi vrs will happily plod in 6th at 30mph, and picks up straight away no need for down change

great engine loads of torque

Ditto. If the engine is warm it'll trickle along quite happily in 6th at 30mph.