H.O "Sweet Spot"

[lawdog]

HAs anyone been able to determine the best RPM or "Sweet Spot" to run these new engines at when cruising with a load and/or empty????

 

[jimnance]

Your mileage may vary.



When empty I shift at aprox. 2,000 RPM. I like to run between 1,700 RPM and 2,000 RPM. The truck like this range when unladen.



Towing is another matter. I depends on how big the load is. I pick up the next gear at about 2,600 RPM with my big fiver. On the flats it is very happy at 1900 RPM. On the hills it likes 2400-2800 RPM.



Unlike my other Dodges I can't really say that there is one specific sweet spot. The answer is - it depends...

 

[The patriot]

Whatever RPM the peak torque is at will be the most efficient.

Is this what youre looking for?

Eric

 

[Fireman]

Mine seems to like 22-2400 when towing around here (rolling hills). Unladen, seems any rpm will do.



Fireman

 

[Garry Verheyden]

I have found the sweet spot as far as fuel economy goes is 2000 rpm (Unlike my 12 valves 1700 rpm fuel economy). Sweet spot for power is 2500 rpm.

Garry.

 

[bighammer]

I try to keep mine about 2k. If you go to a higher gear and lower RPM, mileage goes down. Also above 21 or 22k mileage goes down too.

 

[Badunit]

I've heard the peak torque rule-of-thumb before but with a flat torque curve from 1400 rpm through 2800 rpm, I find it difficult to apply in this situation. It would suggest that the best rpm is at the low end of the scale, at 1400 rpm, but that seems a little low to me.

 

[ladyjaine]

Badunit, I'm agreeing with you on that 1400 being too low. I'd love to be able to hum along at that RPM and save on fuel, but the best for mileage for me seems to be a hair under 2000. If I go a hair over, fuel economy goes down. I can get much better fuel economy at 1800-1900, but then I'm ticking along at 50-60.



If I need to open a can of "Haul A$$" I push it to 2500 or so.



Jean

 

[lawdog]

Thanks for the info. I figured that around 1900 would be good for X-way cruising. Trying to decide for tires and such and pulling my trailer. I had planned on getting 4. 10 as I wanted a new 40ft GN trailer, but she said NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I am going back to my original wants of a 3500 SB QC SWB 4X4 HO 48RE any color as long as it is black... . My 2000 pulls our current trailer great at 2000 rpm ...

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by ladyjaine

Badunit, I'm agreeing with you on that 1400 being too low. I'd love to be able to hum along at that RPM and save on fuel, but the best for mileage for me seems to be a hair under 2000. If I go a hair over, fuel economy goes down. I can get much better fuel economy at 1800-1900, but then I'm ticking along at 50-60.



If I need to open a can of "Haul A$$" I push it to 2500 or so.



Jean

Jean, Should have known, a woman would know exactly where that "sweet spot" is!

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by Elite1

Jean, Should have known, a woman would know exactly where that "sweet spot" is!

 

[krabman]

Where's the sweet spot in an 03 HO? Thats easy, the drivers seat.

 

[lschultz]

ladyjaine

ladyjaine see what you have started you have to be careful on here how you word things-sweetspot

 

[ladyjaine]

But I never actually used the words you are saying I did! Nope, I just answered a question!



Jean

 

[MattSt]

Originally posted by Fireman

Mine seems to like 22-2400 when towing around here (rolling hills). Unladen, seems any rpm will do.



Fireman

Same for me. Pulling anything over 5000 pounds in the hills this seems to be the spot. Anything below and I start losing mph.

 

[Wiredawg]

Howdy Ladyjane

How you been? I bought Viv a new 03 almost 3 weeks ago. It's an auto and runs 70 mph at 2000 RPM. Even on my 2d gen likes to run around 2000 RPM too.



Hope to see ya at Kaufman's in Oct.



Wiredawg