Hey

 

Ive been driving around with my new octavia for a while now and my usual driving in town (50-55 km/h) the maxidot says to change from forth to  fifth. But is fifth gear in town good ? I mean car have low rpms. Doesnt it kill the engine faster that way ? Have 1.4 TSI with 6 speed manual.

The torque curve has maximum torque in a big band from about 1700 rpm to 3500 rpm. The maxidot will suggest changing up as soon as doing so will still lave you above 1700 rpm and hence at maximum torque. That is the most efficient way to run the engine and from reading here seems to mirror what the DSG box does. 

 

I don't know what impact that would have on the lifetime of the engine. The cynic in me thinks that the engineers will be fully aware of the 5 year/100,000 mile warranty that can be selected as an option and make sure everything will last that long at least. 

Not clear cut in my opinion.

 

Peak torque is supposed to start at 1500rpm, and the car's perfectly capable of cruising at this engine speed. I would say that at urban speeds it's even good for a bit lower than this. At 55kph 5th should be fine, but 50kph = 1300rpm in 5th, so depends on road traffic conditions. I'd say OK under light load, but 4th would be a more universal choice and would avoid changing down for hills and small speed fluctuations caused by the fool in front.

 

My wife will happily sit in 3rd at that speed, which is just downright lazy. I'm trying to educate that it's less hassle to change gear than to have a row about it with me!

Personally, I ignore the gear change recommendation and drive the car sympathetically, as I always have done.

Usually when i drive forth gear in town its on that sweetspot of 1500rpm, little bit faster and then maxidot suggest to switch.I suppose 5th in town is more economical ? 

Not clear cut in my opinion.

Peak torque is supposed to start at 1500rpm, and the car's perfectly capable of cruising at this engine speed. I would say that at urban speeds it's even good for a bit lower than this. At 55kph 5th should be fine, but 50kph = 1300rpm in 5th, so depends on road traffic conditions. I'd say OK under light load, but 4th would be a more universal choice and would avoid changing down for hills and small speed fluctuations caused by the fool in front.

My wife will happily sit in 3rd at that speed, which is just downright lazy. I'm trying to educate that it's less hassle to change gear than to have a row about it with me!

For 'system' driving 3rd gear is taught as the most responsive.

Geek42 I admire the fight in you but, fear you should have picked a winable battle, I picked a DSG which my wife says she can't drive, I agreed.

For 'system' driving 3rd gear is taught as the most responsive.

 

Well, I don't know what 'system' driving is, but every car is different. She was taught by her driving instructor to use 3rd at 30mph (nearly 20 years ago!), but the car she learnt to drive in had neither a 6th gear, nor a turbo, and probably developed peak torque at about 4000rpm. I feel she ought to adapt to circumstances more than she does, but then she thinks that I ought to use the "correct" lane at junctions instead of the one with the shortest queue. We're probably both right, but not worth getting divorced over! 

The recommendations are to achieve the most economical consumptions figures, and following them is fine if the driving conditions are suited to not unduly labouring the engine at low revs.

So on a flat road, where you do not have to accelerate with any undue haste, you can be gentle with the accelerator and obediently go through the gears.

OR you can change fairly early to second gear and rev up the required urban speed and then short-shift to 5th or even 6th gear to cruise on light throttle, nothing wrong with running at 1200rpm if it is not under a significant load.

I find the second approach is almost as economical and a progress is a lot quicker.

You can turn off the maxidot gear recommendations via the infotainment centre if you don't like them.

Personally, I leave it on but choose the gear best suited to the driving conditions. It is a good gearbox so have fun and use it.

You can turn off the maxidot gear recommendations via the infotainment centre if you don't like them.

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Unfortunately you can't.

What I would like to know is if the dualmass flywheel is taking a beating if you drive the engine at 'low' rpms?

Exactly why I will often ignore the recommended gear selection, to not have the engine running at low rpms. Especially with a DMF on a diesel! Not fancying a DMF change if I don't have to. I don't think there is a big effect (if any) on fuel efficiency either.

I went on a speed awareness course a year or two back (43 in a 40 zone, camera, clear empty road, late at night, no other traffic, but there ya go).

The "instructor" for the practical test demanded that we changed up at 1500 rpm, right though the gears. All in the cause of fuel saving.

The engine in his car (BMW 1 series, gutless 1.6 petrol) was struggling like hell with four onboard. And when slowing down, we had to leave it in the highest gear until it was nearly stalling.

Buggr any thought of mechanical sympathy.

Couldn't argue with him, would've failed the course.

Personally, I ignore the gear change recommendation and drive the car sympathetically, as I always have done.

Spot on. My mk2 1.4tsi had the indicator and I ended up ignoring it in the end as it often wanted me to change up when to do so would make it struggle in the higher gear. Fortunately my vRS doesn't have one.......

 

You can turn off the maxidot gear recommendations via the infotainment centre if you don't like them.

 

 

Unfortunately you can't.

You are right, only eco-tips, not gear-change recommendations