Hi,

Excuse my possible wrong usage of these specific terms as I'm new in this...

So, for diesel engines at how many rpm I should change the gear speed? What problems I might encounter if I'm changing the gear speed inappropriately?

I posted this here as I intend to buy a mk2 Superb and I used to drive a gasoline engine car so far and I use to change the speeds at 2500rpm even if I heard that it's good to change at ~3000rpm...

Thanks

Is this question linked to: when should I use my wipers? and how much should I turn the steering wheel?

Is this question linked to: when should I use my wipers? and how much should I turn the steering wheel?

Hey Bartatman, cut the OP a little bit of slack. I think there's a fair chance English isn't his first language. Your response might seem humorous (to some), but doesn't really help answer Johnny Bravo's question

Hi,

Excuse my possible wrong usage of these specific terms as I'm new in this...

So, for diesel engines at how many rpm I should change the gear speed? What problems I might encounter if I'm changing the gear speed inappropriately?

I posted this here as I intend to buy a mk2 Superb and I used to drive a gasoline engine car so far and I use to change the speeds at 2500rpm even if I heard that it's good to change at ~3000rpm...

Thanks

Hey Johnny Bravo

You just drive it normally, don't labour at too low an engine speed, but don't rev the head off the engine either. If moving from a petrol (gasoline) engine to a diesel, you will find that you can pull strongly from much lower revs, and will rarely need to see the rev counter rise above 3000 rpm. Most, if not all, Superb's have a gear change indicator as part of the dashboard display. Telling you if you should be changing up or down a gear.

Regards

KSR

Most, if not all, Superb's have a gear change indicator as part of the dashboard display. Telling you if you should be changing up or down a gear.

Interesting - I did wonder if this would be on my 58 plate Elegance (manual) but have not seen it. How would it be displayed? Maybe all my gear changes are perfect so it has never needed to warn me

Interesting - I did wonder if this would be on my 58 plate Elegance (manual) but have not seen it. How would it be displayed? Maybe all my gear changes are perfect so it has never needed to warn me

Mine has it, top right corner of the trip display tells you what gear your in and then gives an up or down arrow and the number of what gear you have to go into is displayed

It is a handy feature buy sometimes wants you to change gear to early and drops the car out of its turbo range

Edited 8 March, 201313 yr by racing boy

Interesting - I did wonder if this would be on my 58 plate Elegance (manual) but have not seen it. How would it be displayed? Maybe all my gear changes are perfect so it has never needed to warn me

Hi Martin

I have it in the top right hand corner of my information display (between the rev counter and the speedo).

It numerically displays the number of the gear you are in if you are 'in the zone'. But if you are in 5th, and revs are a bit low, it will show a '4', and a downward pointing arrow. There again, if you're running at a steady 30 in 4th, it will show a '5', and an upward-pointing arrow. I'm guessing the EIegance will have Maxidot, but I thought it would have something similar to my all be it more basic trip computer.

Hey Johnny Bravo

You just drive it normally, don't labour at too low an engine speed, but don't rev the head off the engine either. If moving from a petrol (gasoline) engine to a diesel, you will find that you can pull strongly from much lower revs, and will rarely need to see the rev counter rise above 3000 rpm. Most, if not all, Superb's have a gear change indicator as part of the dashboard display. Telling you if you should be changing up or down a gear.

Regards

KSR

thanks for your hints!

today I learned that if you change the gear speed at low revs your turbo will be affected so, as recovery you have to drive at high speeds (eg. 120-130km/h) for a certain time...do you share this opinion also?

I'm new to cars' technical English words and even in my native language some of such terms I have to look up in dictionary as it's not quite my domain...

thanks for your hints!

today I learned that if you change the gear speed at low revs your turbo will be affected so, as recovery you have to drive at high speeds (eg. 120-130km/h) for a certain time...do you share this opinion also?

I'm new to cars' technical English words and even in my native language some of such terms I have to look up in dictionary as it's not quite my domain...

Hi Johnny Bravo

In most diesels, you should be changing up by 2000 rpm, unless you are accelerating hard. Since I don't know where you sourced the information you learned about the turbo from, I can't comment, but it sounds more like a comment about diesel particulate filters (DPF) than turbos. A modern diesel which is used at lowish revs most of the time is at a higher risk of the DPF clogging up, and a sustained high speed run (where revs are above 2000 rpm) every so often can help prevent the filter clogging.

Don't worry about the language. You give it your best shot at choosing the words, and we'll give it our best shot figuring out what you mean!

KSR

Even my petrol Superb advises changing up at 1500rpm and pulls strongly from that speed and there's no sign of labouring (engine feels rough!) . In that respect it's like a diesel. (Wish it had the fuel consumption too!).

I'm currently driving a 1.6TDi (diesel) Octavia which also recommends changing up at 1500rpm. It feels a little laboured at that speed; 1600/1700 rpm feels much more smooth.

Even my petrol Superb advises changing up at 1500rpm and pulls strongly from that speed and there's no sign of labouring (engine feels rough!) . In that respect it's like a diesel. (Wish it had the fuel consumption too!).

The current generation of small / medium capacity turbocharged petrol engines from manufacturers like Ford and VAG are engineered for low down torque, rather than outright power (at higher revs).

This is what makes them more diesel-like in driving characteristics. I do know what you mean about consumption - a modern small diesel will give outstanding consumption - but my 1.4TSi suits my driving style, has averaged 43 mpg in the 4+ months I've owned it, and for the mileage I do seems to have been the right decision. ( I paid effectively £10,500 for a truly unmarked, immaculate 10 month old, 14k mile direct from Skoda car, with the additional spec. of dual-zone climate control, steel spare and jack, and auto headlights)

Even my petrol Superb advises changing up at 1500rpm and pulls strongly from that speed and there's no sign of labouring (engine feels rough!) . In that respect it's like a diesel. (Wish it had the fuel consumption too!).

Strange... my 1.8TSI "advises" to change the gear at around 1800 rpm but I never go lower than 2000rpm (unless I'm cruising with constant speed on rather "flat" roads)

....learned from previous TDIs engines, that 1500-3000rpm are most effecient for gears 1-5, 6 - depends on highay, you cant gear up anyway.

K.