Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Please submit 6-speed driving techniques..

[Hohn]

I am trying to get an idea of how you other DEE owners drive your trucks. Do you start in first or second? What rpm do you shift it for normal (around town) acceleration? What RPM do you cruise at around town? What gear do you take 90° turns in? Do you just coast around the turn, or DRIVE through it? How low of an RPM do you go? What exactly is considered lugging?



I say this because I often round a corner in 4th, and then accelerate out at 1K rpm. No funny noises if you don't gun it. Is this too low an rpm?



How is this for a rule of thumb: no lower than 1000 rpm in First, and add 100 rpm to that for each succeeding gear (thus, 1500 rpm would be as low as you want to be in 6th).



I just want to keep from hurting my truck by giving it (low-rpm) abuse. .



Hohn

 

[BigDan]

I'm not an expert but I will tell you how I drive.



I always start out in 2nd unloaded.



I only start out in 1st when I'm towing or on a very steep hill.



I always down shift when I get below 1500rmp.



90' turn I use 2nd gear.



I use 3rd if I'm already rolling, california stop, or in traffic.



I usually upshift around 2200rmp



Now this might be different is you dont have 4:10's like I do. My rpm's climb much quicker then 3:54's. With 4:10's 1st is REALLY low, 2nd kinda low and 3rd is just a little too high to start out from a dead stop.

 

[Gray Ghost]

I start in second and shift by 2k. I downshift to keep above 1k.

Missed a few times when new. I was use to driving a 5 speed.

After a while you get the feel for it and just automaticly go for

the correct gear.

 

[JWhitcomb]

I up shift at 2400/2600, usually allows the next gear to be in the sweet spot.



Down shift from 6th to 5th at 1900 climbing hills loaded (maintains mph well)



Leave it in the same gear sometimes at 1500 (only on level ground), always down shift if I want to add more than just a slight amount of fuel at that rpm.

When crusing, I try to keep rpm in the 1700/2000 range.



I have higher gearing (3. 73????)



I am almost always carrying 5,000 pounds in the bed.



Pretty anal huh!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Looks like most of us so far pretty much drive the same - I usually start off rather gently in second gear - rarely rev much higher than 2200 or so, town corners in 3rd - country corners in 4th - biggest difference is when loaded, towing the fiver - then start usually in 1st unless on a downhill grade, then second works fine. Lugging has been pretty thoroughly discussed in past threads - but the short description is ANY engine speed or condition that forces it to obviously labor and have clear difficulty in accellerating - that can as easily occur in too low a cruise gear unloaded in town, or pulling up a grade loaded - it's not all that hard to sense when the engine is struggling to maintain speed, or to accellerate - and lugging can lead to excessive main bearing wear and premature failure if done constantly, and the low speed firing impulses of the high-torque Cummins has destroyed MANY auto and manual trannies...

 

[1tuffram]

Anyone know if the 6spd is prone to loosing overdrive (6th) like the 5spds. I'm assuming the 6spd has a fully splined shaft, but it has been said one of the attributing factors for the 5 spds loosing over-drive is from driving below 1500-1600 RPM while in over-drive. Is this still a concern with the 6spd??

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

No...

 

[athompson]

I start in 2nd, unless the gridheater is on.



During normal, easy acceleration around town, I upshift anywhere from 1200-1500 rpm, depending on traffic flow.



My normal cruising rpm around town is between 900-1200 rpm. My normal cruising on the freeway is between 1600-1800 rpm. I rarely get over 2000 rpm.



I idle through the school zones in 4th (about 15 mph). I idle through the parking lot at work in 3rd (about 10 mph). I idle through my neighorhood in 5th (about 20 mph).



If I need anything but gentle acceleration, I downshift to get the RPMs around 1600 and upshift around 2000.



I generally take the corners in 3rd.



You will know when you lug the engine.

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

Upshifts: 2000 rpm or higher

Downshifts: 6-5 - 1500

5-4 - 1375

4-3 - 1250

Above is for empty truck (7500 pounds), towing or heavily loaded, I add about 400-600 rpm (depending on weight and grade).

I don't usually downshift into 2nd unless I'm under 5 mph.

Usually start off in 2nd unless loaded, towing, or on a hill.

3. 55 gears with 285/75's.

 

[Barnstormer]

With fuel at 1. 89/gal, I let the load determine the shift point.



When empty, I short-shift. I start in 2nd and grab a fresh gear just above lugging revs. I'm usually in 6th by 35 mph.



Heavier loads, more revs, more throttle.

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

As far as saving fuel, I find that cruising at less than 1750 rpm in 6th uses more fuel than 1900-2000 rpm; and cruising in 5th up to 2200 rpm uses even less fuel (not that much slower road speed, but a lot louder).

 

[Rman]

I found the same with mine, I try and keep the engine rpm's up when cruising in 5th or 6th. Luggin it too much uses more fuel it seems. My shift points really depend on the situation, but for the most part are right in line with FDNYMOPARGUY. I try to use 1st gear (don't want it to feel left out) on every outing. Generally it'll be when i'm in the middle of nowhere or on a hill. And maybe idling in traffic, I'll let it roll to keep pace with the auto's. I like to cruise between 1600 and 1900 on the smaller roads (under 50mph) and on the highway i cruise around 2100. I'm normally not in a hurry and go under the speedo to save on fuel, i'm cheap and dumping fuel to get there 2 minutes faster isn't worth it to me. I will dump fuel to show a ford up though!

 

[Rman]

Oh yeah i meant to ask, what do you guys do about clutching at stops. Do you hold the clutch in very long or wait until its go time and go. Sometimes i gear down through the gears when i slow down while holding the clutch in, that way if i need to go i can dump the clutch and be in the right gear. Its an old habit from track racing, i don't double clutch or anything, but still find myself gearing through like that. Is holding the clutch for long periods really that bad on the pilot bearing? I've wondered on longevity issues with that. It's one of those things that's nearly impossible to test i guess.

 

[JBrookshire]

WOT

That is rite WOT in every gear but 6th and if I cant it is in the gear that sounds the best

 

[bighammer]

I rarely coast at all. When coming to a stop, I'm at (or just just below) idle speed before I push the clutch pedal. I shift about 2200 RPM (unless I have a load and/or going up a steep hill) Only times I am driving at less than 1500 RPM is downhill, or other low load situations. (thru town on flat grade, etc. )

 

[Sticks]

Start in 1st on first drive/warm up

Upshift at 1900 or 2000rpm

Hold speed on city streets above 1300rpm



After warm up, I start in second. I used to upshift at about 2200 or 2300rpm. Mileage just went to the toilet on the last fill up at 14 mpg (dropped 4mpg), so I am trying to keep the shifting revs at or under 2000rpm at all times, I am also gradually depressing the go pedal as the speed increases, rather than pushing it about 2/3rds and holding until rpm is hit.



I am a transmission braker (habit from my gasser days) and downshift frequently to slow down, rather than the brakes... for all the good thats doing (exhaust brake on the way). RPM's occasionally get to 2700rpm on the downshifts.



Rolling turns in third. Any movement under 5mph in second.



No towing yet, but I imagine I will always start in first with anything 1500#'s over my normal weight.



Sticks

 

[Silver]

When engine is cold, I start out in first and try to keep RPM between 1400 and 1900 until it's warm.



When unloaded and warm:

I start out in 2nd

I shift below 2200 unless I'm playing

I take corners in 3rd

I downshift when RPMs get to 1600 or less

I leave it in neutral at red lights



3. 54 gears

Avg about 19 MPG

 

[catoiler]

3000 rpm,dump clutch,go to rev limiter,shift as fast as you can,dump clutch go limiter... doh. . thought I was at the track

 

[Hohn]

OK, here's what *I* do..

Thanks for all the input. Here's what I pretty much do:



Upshifting: I upshift usually around 2K (except when cold). The higher the gear, the more I will wind it up. I shift into third @1800-1900, but I will hold 5th untill 2500RPM or more (merging onto freeway).



Downshifting: Only if I grab a gear and I feel RPM are too low (like out of a turn). Never downshift normally, I just clutch/neutral and coast until I stop. I feel the VP44 doesn't get enough lubricating fuel when you lift at higher RPM, so I let it idle and coast.



Clutch: I usually put in neutral unless I am the first person at the stoplight. By keeping it in gear, I can take off sooner and not let anyone behind me have to wait. Otherwise, I will put it in neutral and react to the light change, giving me plenty of time to put it in gear.



By the way, I ALWAYS start in first. I like not having to give it much (any) fuel to get moving- I think it's easier on the clutch. The article in TDR#38 supports my thinking. Yes, you shift more, but that's a drop in the bucket. Starting in second is OK, but it's doesn't feel to me like the truck is happy doing it.



My wife HAS to start in second- she doesn't know how to lift the fuel pedal smoothly, so she gets wicked engine braking if she starts in first.



Hohn

 

[Rman]

I'll use first when the engine is cold, doesn't seem to need as much pedal to get it going. Look at the ratio's, 2nd gear is the same as first gear ratio in a 5 speed. So technically, starting in second IS 1st on a normal truck. This one just has a granny for heavy loads. Clutch life is debatable, i guess either way it wouldn't really make too much a difference to notice. Perhaps a 1000 miles on the life, that would probably be pushing it. I think engine braking when unneeded does the most damage. So many of my friends do it, and they always tell me it saves the brakes. Well what doesn't get worn on the brakes gets passed on to the clutch... . which is easier for you to change the brake shoes or the clutch? I think it gets passed down from many years ago when brake shoes were crappy and engines were far more simpler.