Please settle a bet for a friend and I.

In a New Felicia, at what RPM should you usually be at while driving?

How low should you let it go before you switch to a lower gear?

Conversely, how how should you let it go before you need to switch to a higher gear?

Thanks!

hmmm, for what kind of driving? Cruising? Hard driving? Thrashed to an inch of it's life?

It all depends on how the engine delivers its power. You should know where the engine will pull from without labouring (probably a bit over 1000 rpm), and also where the power runs out. If you are about to drop below the "labouring" point, change down. When to change up depends on how fast you want to go, but always ensure that when you change up, you will not drop below the "labouring" rpm in the higher gear.

For me, that would be about 1250rpm, but my engine is somewhat different to the Felicias.

HTH

The Favorit, on which the Felicia is based, had a green strip on the rev counter indicating the range at which driving was considered economical.

Which engine do you have? 1.3 (spi/mpi), 1.6, or 1.9 diesel?

I would generally drive in 5th at 40mph or more (but would more than likely be in fourth if accelerating to get to 60/70), 4th - 30mph, 3rd - 20mph.

You should not need to change down a gear when slowing down unless you need to accelerate, or need to help maintain speed when going down a steep gradient - it should be perfectly acceptable to stay in fifth right up till the point you need to accelerate at a junction/roundabout/lights etc. When maintaining a steady pace would aim for above stated speeds/gears. It will quickly become clear when you need to change down a gear to go uphill.

how long is a piece of string

10k, else you're not trying

For most driving you'll be about 2-3K. The faster and more acceleration the higher they'll be.

For economy the current general recommendation is to change up at about 2000-2500 revs with petrol or diesel engines. It does depend on the engine and gearing, though.

Rob.

I've been driving my pickup around in 4th gear a lot at 30 and 40 mph speeds and it does appear to do more mpg that way... I'm sure that if you look there must be a formula for working out the most efficient engine speed based on torque, gearing and tractive effort...

I think for my 1.6mpi the most efficent speed is 1940-1970rpm. the car pulls smoothly and isn't laboured in top gear at this engine speed.

but you have to be quite disciplined to drive at 44mph everywhere.

Normal driving (cruising) should be between 2300 and 3k

Edited 23 November, 201114 yr by winway

Normal driving (cruising) should be between 2300 and 3k

Diesels tend to cruise at lower revs, normally 2000 ish for 70ish mph depending on the gearbox ratios.

I seem to remember being told to drive in 4th gear in a 30 but that got changed to 3rd as it gave better use of the engine power, outwith that don't think there are any real guides.

When I had my felicia I used to drive in 4th at 30 as it seemed pretty happy.

These are the speeds and gears I used to use:

1st - Up to 15mph (a crawl)

2nd - From 15mph up to 20mph

3rd - 20mph to 30mph

4th - 30mph to 40mph

5th - 40mph and above.

Obviously all depending on conditions and if I wasn't in a hurry

Glad in a way that I don't have it any more. In my opinion an engine shouldn't be near enough screeming at 70mph+ and having to do 60mph all the way (the long way) to Germany was never fun!

I can't get over how much lower the revs are on this car than the felicia even at high speed and the fuel consumption is like night and day.

If I was doing some "spirited" driving then oviously I would just take it near enough all the way to the red line

Phil