Quote:
Originally Posted by meemooer
well, if they made an extra gear, say for FE, they could just put on the visor to only use it on the highway, at steady speeds and flatland. I mean they still print airbag info on them.
or like tasdrouille said, a button for FE. it could work it automatics as well, keep the TC locked, remap the timing and fuel, only for highway use though. "Manufacture not responsible for your own stupidity" could be printed on the sun visor for that
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That is what 5th gear is supposed to be, overdrive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Compaq888
I think it has to do with the fact that some cars don't have enough torque to get that gear any lower. On an automatic it can be lower but if you were to put such gearing on a manual it wouldn't necessarily increase your mpg. My civic barely makes over hills on the freeway in 5th gear. I drop about a good couple mph. In America everybody wants to have power, doesn't matter what gear they are in. Everybody has been complaining about gas mileage but have you noticed the displacement of engines go up every time they come out with a new model? Hello!
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A taller final gear ratio will most certainly increase mileage. If you look at almost any BSFC map you will see this. Many newer vehicles gear their automatic transmissions drastically lower than their manuals. This helps keep their mileage up when traveling on the highway. My guess is they don't do it on manuals because it may cause the operator to have to manually shift on hills like you mention.
IMO loose a few mph on the hill and get better mileage. I wish we had that choice.